This weekend, while here in New York we were waiting in anticipation for the Miss Finger Lakes and Miss Upstate NY results, a former Miss NY local contestant was also on stage, vying for the chance to be one step closer to Miss America.

Michela Moe, former Miss Maui (Hawaii) 2010, attended Ithaca College, where she pursued a degree in Communication Management and Design. An original Bomber Beauty, last year she joined the Golden Sisterhood and tried her chances at the Miss Thousand Islands pageant. Not only did she win the award for the highest talent score, but she walked away as first runner up.

After graduating Magna Cum Laude, she secured a job at the Advanced Learning Institute in the Chicago area as a Conference Director. She relocated to the area, and kick started her career.

Not ready to give up on her dream of becoming Miss America, Michela decided to compete in the Miss Chicago triple crown pageant. Low and behold, her dreams are coming true. Michela showed off her great public speaking skills, danced hula to Keali’i’s Mele ‘Ohana, and won the title “Miss Windy City” and will represent her new home at the Miss Illinois pageant.