Miss Kansas City in her glowing red gown and Miss Audrain in her shimmering blue gown stood before the crowd like fire and ice.

But it was the dancing queen of Kansas City, Courtney Rowe, who stole the judges hearts and claimed the crown.

Courtney Rowe, daughter of Michele and Mike Rowe, has been working toward that crown for five years. She is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and video production and works as a full-time news anchor at KQ2 in St. Joseph.

“It’s a long week, but it’s way worth it,” Rowe said. “You meet your lifelong best friends and I really just don't feel like this is real right now. I really have put in so much work this year.”

Rowe was awarded a $14,000 scholarship to put toward her future educational endeavors.

“I want to use this scholarship money provided by the Miss Missouri scholarship organization to go back to school,” Rowe said. “I want to obtain a second bachelor’s degree in social work so I could work more in more shelters for domestic violence victims.”

Her community service initiative, “The Purple Project” Raising Awareness, Saving Lives, uses her own story as a domestic violence survivor as a source of strength for other women who are going through domestic violence.

“I just want girls to know that you are not in it alone, (that) there are so many support groups available across the state of Missouri,” Rowe said. “I want to help them locate resources near them so I just hope those girls know that they don't have to stay in those relationships."

She spends a lot of her time volunteering with multiple shelters across Northwest Missouri.

“I am really looking forward to, as Miss Missouri, expanding my reach and really trying to get to as many cities across Missouri as I can to make a difference for domestic violence victims and support them and their families,” Rowe said.

Rowe has been competing for the past five years and said it has taken a lot of work to get to where she is now.

“I did my first ever pageant back in 2018 and that was the experience that kind of kicked it all off for me,” Rowe said. “You see the improvement not only in yourself but in all the girls around you every single year and it’s just the most inspiring experience.”

The sisterhood that runs deep within the Miss America organization is something that made this competition so special for Rowe.

“We just build these relationships that last forever and it’s what keeps bringing me back,” she said.

Another goal during her reign as Miss Missouri is to correct the narrative that pageants are an expensive investment. She fundraised for and/or borrowed her entire Miss Missouri wardrobe.

“Most of it is second hand from other people using it for free or I fundraised for it myself so I want girls to know that this is an attainable goal,” Rowe said. “I really want to expand the opportunities for young women in the state of Missouri by getting more local titles, getting more local title directors so that we can have the best and brightest in Missouri.”

If anyone is interested in competing and they can see themselves on the stage, Rowe said she wants to be their mentor and her inbox is open.

Former Miss Missouri Ashley Berry was excited to crown one of her own.

“It was a phenomenal year and I am so happy for Courtney (Rowe),” Berry said. “I was Miss Kansas City last year so second year in a row team K.C. has taken it so I could not be more proud of her, truly.”

Rowe will head to Orlando in September to compete on the Miss America stage alongside Miss Missouri’s Teen Greta Clark.

“It’s a quick turnaround compared to most years, but I just want to make Missouri proud so I am going to be putting in all the work,” she said.

Also recognized Saturday night were the following runner ups and scholarship recipients:

First Runner Up: Halie Hebron
Second Runner Up: Grayson Barnes
Third Runner Up: Hanah Schrader
Fourth Runner Up: Deja Grissom
Commerce Bank Service Award: Kaycee Krell
Jenna Terry Combs Spirit Award: Sarah George
Newcomer Award: Sarah George
Kathy Craghead Memorial Award: Kaycee Krell
Mentor Award: Halie Hebron
Kensie Garber Saunders Dancing Queen Award: Courtney Rowe

For more photos, see The Mexico Ledger's Online photo galleries.