Door County high school student makes local history at Miss Wisconsin's Teen contest – Green Bay Press-Gazette
For a second straight year, a Door County woman made local history at the Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Competition.
Reigning Miss Door County’s Teen Elise Jackson of Sturgeon Bay became the first representative in the 24-year-history of the Miss Door County’s Teen program to place in the top five of the Miss Wisconsin’s Teen pageant when she was named third runner-up in the 2025 state competition held June 20 in New Berlin.
And, Jackson wasn’t the only woman from Sturgeon Bay to be named to the top five in the teen pageant, as recent Sevastopol High School graduate Ophelia Linnan, entered in the competition as Miss Fond du Lac’s Teen, was fourth runner-up.
Jackson’s historic top-five result comes on the heels of Kylee Duessler becoming the first reigning Miss Door County in the program’s 27 years to place in the top five for Miss Wisconsin when Duessler was named fourth runner-up in the 2024 state competition.
In the 24-year-history of the Miss Door County’s Teen program, Jackson was the first to crack into the elusive Top 5 and was named 3rd Runner Up to the new Miss Wisconsin’s Teen 2025, Natalie Popp from Fitchburg.
Jackson, a student at Southern Door High School, won a total of $900 in scholarships at the state contest: $600 for her third runner-up placing and $300 for placing second in the special “Patriotism Reigns” award, an essay competition where she wrote about her brother’s enrollment in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and her work with her community service initiative, “Next Gen Civics.”
That’s in addition to the $2,000 scholarship Jackson earned when she won the Door County teen competition and another $525 in scholarships and prizes in the local pageant for being named Miss Teen Congeniality, winning the fitness and talent parts of the competition and tying for first in the interview portion.
For the talent part of the contest, Jackson played the well-known Beethoven composition “Für Elise” on piano.
Now back in Door County, Jackson is promoting her “Next Gen Civics” initiative in the hope of igniting civic interests in young adults, making them more civic-minded and preparing them to become strong future leaders. At Southern Door, she is the current class president, a student council representative and Senate President for Youth in Government.
Linnan earned a $500 scholarship as fourth-runner-up.
Miss Capital City’s Teen Natalie Popp of Fitchburg won the Miss Wisconsin’s Teen 2025 competition, with Miss River Cities’ Teen Ruby Marti named first runner-up and Miss Madison’s Teen Carly Doome second runner-up, followed by Jackson and Linnan.
The 2026 Miss Door County, Miss Door County’s Teen and Miss Cherryland contests are scheduled for Feb. 7 at Southern Door Community Auditorium in Brussels, and applications are being accepted. Winners of those competitions advance to take part in the Miss Wisconsin and Wisconsin Teen pageants, with the Miss Wisconsin winner moving on to represent the state in the Miss America pageant. Since its first competition in 1997, the Miss Door County organization has awarded more than $275,000 in scholarships, which the organization claims makes it one of the top local pageants for scholarships in the state.
To apply or for more information, visit missdoorcounty.org.
Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@gannett.com.
MORE:Here’s your guide to festivals and special events in Door County from July 10-19
MORE:Southern Door County resort and marina sold to new owner who plans upgrades
MORE:Shipwreck with Door County ties that was lost for 131 years is a national historic place
FOR MORE DOOR COUNTY NEWS: Check out our website
