When Miss Missouri and Miss Missouri’s Teen are crowned on stage next weekend, it will be the tears of joy, rounds of applause, iconic shimmering gowns and beauty queen smiles that will be remembered by pageant-goers.

But before that crowning moment are long nights, countless rehearsals, public appearances, multiple shows and hard work behind the scenes.

According to pageant director Alice Leonatti, it is the dedicated team of volunteers who make it all possible.

“They come in and give up a week of their lives to make this happen,” said Leonatti. “It’s pretty remarkable.”

Leonatti’s involvement in Miss Missouri began when her daughter competed in the 90s and Alice was a supportive parent. Over the years, however, she found herself volunteering more and more.

“Each and every girl is going to gain something next week,” said Leonatti.

The girls stand to gain friendships, interview skills, the opportunity to perform in front of a large crowd, a chance to develop their community service initiative, and perhaps most importantly, earn scholarship money.

Every competitor will walk away from Miss Missouri, crown or not, with some scholarship money.

“Those are all the reasons that the people who do this get involved and stay involved,” said Leonatti. “We are making a difference in the lives of young women.”

Miss Missouri will also bring hundreds of travelers to Mexico. The tourism is a huge plus for the town and many business owners who are participating in some way or another.

Behind the scenes

Miss Missouri Week begins Saturday, a full day before any delegates arrive, and production crews will start transforming Missouri Military Academy by building the stage and runway.

“They’ll be hanging lights and turning what is a gymatorium into an auditorium,” said Leonatti.

The Miss Missouri delegates arrive Sunday to take over the MMA dorms, and will enjoy an arrival brunch at the Carlson House before spending all afternoon in intense rehearsals.

Dinner following Sunday night’s golf tournament will be at The Oaks and afterward, it’s straight back to MMA for more rehearsals. Leading up to the first preliminary show on Wednesday, the girls will rehearse until about 10 p.m.

“Most of them will be so excited they’ll stay up and talk way into the night and that’s OK,” said Leonatti.

Miss Missouri’s Teen delegates will arrive Monday morning for their arrival brunch at Fairytale Estates before joining everyone else for rehearsals.

They do not stay on campus but rather with their families in some of Mexico’s local accommodations.

“The rest of that day is spent doing lots and lots of rehearsing and people are pulled in different directions,” said Leonatti.

Judges will also be arriving Monday afternoon. Judging this year will be Dr. Debbye Turner Bell of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Dana Rosengard of Hartford, Connecticut; Natalie Davis Wendling of Columbia, Missouri; Ken Hussey of Jefferson City; and Robin Wenneker of Columbia, Missouri.

“The girls won't be seeing them at that point, but they’ll be getting settled and welcomed into town and we’ll be happy to have them,” said Leonatti.

By Monday evening, what was once a storage closet will be an office and Miss Missouri’s headquarters for the week.

Dressing rooms for the Miss delegates will be set up under the stage in a storage area that, during the other 52 weeks of the year, holds sports equipment.

“The teen dressing room is created around space in the weight room at MMA, so very sophisticated,” said Leonatti, jokingly. “But we make it work and it happens and that’s why we call it ‘camp pageant.’”

Tuesday morning marks the start of personal interviews with the judges for teens. Miss will have theirs the next day.

Both Miss and Teens will come together Tuesday night for a final dress rehearsal for Wednesday night’s show.

“It’s remarkable to me how they are able to pull together the quality of the show in basically two days,” said Leonatti.

The show’s producer, Erica Hebron, spent the last couple months on choreography, sending video tutorials of the various numbers to everyone in the show so they could practice. Miss Missouri Week, though, is the first time everyone will be in one place.

Competitions begins

Miss Missouri officially begins June 11 with a portion of the talent and evening gown routines.

“The show starts at 7 p.m. and then we are off and running,” said Leonatti.

A party at the Audrain County Historical Society will be held after the show so the Miss Missouri delegates can see their families and directors one last time.

“Once the Miss (Missouri delegates) have moved into the dorm, other than texting and phone calls, they don’t have any contact with their family,” said Leonatti. “Nobody is allowed in the dorm after moving in because, as you can see, there’s just so much going on there really isn’t time for that.”

Those who didn’t compete June 11 will be on stage the following day and the Miss Missouri’s Teen delegates will have their party, a taco night, at The Oaks following the show.

“By that time, they’ve done all they can do to get themselves in the top 11 and it’s just waiting for them,” said Alice.

Miss Missouri’s Teen will be crowned Friday night after competing in all phases of competition and then it’s time for Miss Missouri.

Then June 14, the final day of Miss Missouri Week, will kick off with Saturday in the square where the delegates will be signing autographs and holding meet and greets around the Audrain County Courthouse.

For lunch, they will join Miss Missouri 2024 Ashley Berry for her Kentucky Derby themed farewell where they will say goodbye and thank her for her year of service.

And with that, the Miss Missouri delegates will head back to MMA for just one last rehearsal before they take the stage one last time.

Miss Missouri anniversary

“Since it’s the 55th anniversary, we’re bringing some people back and doing some special things,” said Leonatti.

On Thursday and Saturday night, two former contestants will find themselves back on the Miss Missouri stage.

Former Miss Northwest Missouri DJ (Jones) Crossley and former Miss Kansas City Kim Kircher, who both chose to sing for their talents when they competed, will be joining forces.

“They are amazingly talented vocalists and they’re going to come back and perform during the shows,” said Leonatti. “They’ll blow the roof off the place.”

Crossley was first runner up in 1991 and Kircher was fourth runner up in 1990.

“We are really excited that these ladies are going to be back because, oh my gosh, these ladies can sing like it’s nobody’s business,” said Leonatti.

Leonatti said every aspect of this year’s competition will be a huge production and she is excited to see all the hard work of the volunteers, board members and delegates come together for a week of excellence.