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Stevens smiles all the way to third runner-up at State Fair
INDIANAPOLIS -- It turns out one of the biggest pieces of advice the 2015 Putnam County Fair Queen got before this weekend's State Fair pageant wasn't necessary.
Fresh off of being named the third runner-up in the 2016 Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant on Sunday, Kristen Stevens said all the reminders she was given to smile during the competition were not necessary.
"While you're preparing for a beauty pageant, everyone tells you, 'Don't forget to smile.' When I was up there, I didn't have to remember to smile because I knew that looking back at me was the greatest support system anyone could ask for," Stevens told the Banner Graphic, echoing a social media post she made following the competition. "It meant so much to have a group from Putnam County there to cheer me on today."
Going into the three-day competition, Stevens said her main goal was to represent her home county, regardless of the final results.
"I didn't really have many expectations. I just really wanted to do well," Stevens said. "I was hoping I would place in the top 10, but I just really wanted to have fun and represent Putnam County well."
After modeling her evening gown for the public and introducing herself, Stevens found out she was a finalist without too much anxiety.
"I was the fourth person named to the top 10, so it was pretty early and I wasn't very stressed," Stevens said.
With that top 10 finish, Stevens had more work to do, again modeling her business and formal attire, as well as answering an onstage question.
This in addition to two days of interviews and preliminary judging.
Stevens apparently came through it all well, though, as she felt the joy of having her name announced as a member of the court.
"Wow! It was a great moment," Stevens said. "When I heard them say 'Miss Putnam County,' I just started smiling because I was so grateful to have that opportunity and just so happy to have that happen to me."
Stevens joins 2016 State Fair Queen Tate Fritchley of Vanderburgh County, First Runner-Up Alvia Roberts of Whitley County, Second Runner-Up Shelby Lamb of Boone County, Fourth Runner-Up Courtney Hinton of Madison County and Miss Congeniality Emily Bartsch of Wells County.
Although the competition is in now in January, the court will serve during the 2016 Indiana State Fair in August.
Until then, it's back to normal for the 2015 Greencastle High School graduate and Purdue University freshman. She was already back in West Lafayette Sunday evening, preparing to return to resume classes Monday.
"It'll kind of stinks having to go back to class, but I'm excited to get back to school and get the hang of things," Stevens said. "Thankfully, I don't have class until 11:30, so hopefully I get to sleep in a little bit."
The sleep should help, as there wasn't much of it to be had over the weekend.
"I haven't gotten much sleep and I'm hungry," Stevens said, saying the intensity of the competition made both sleeping and eating a challenge. "It's been great meeting all the other girls. I have made friends I didn't think I would meet. There were girls in my room who I really connected with. It was great to meet the girls from the surrounding counties and learn who they are and where they come from."