The new Miss Nebraska and Miss Nebraska’s Teen crowned Saturday in North Platte both came from Panhandle pageants.
Miss Nebraska 2023 Morgan Baird of Gering competed as Miss Scotts Bluff County while Miss Nebraska’s Teen Boston Pettera of North Platte was Miss Alliance’s Teen.
Both now advance to the national pageants that will crown Miss America and Miss America’s Teen.
Baird, a graduate of Scottsbluff High School and UNL, won both of her preliminary rounds – taking Evening Wear on Thursday and Talent on Friday as a dancer. Pattera won the opening night Evening Wear at the Teen level.
Finishing 1st runner-up to Baird as Miss Nebraska was Miss Douglas County Alayna Wilson with Miss Star City Makinzie Gregory of Gering, another contestant from a Panhandle pageant, 2nd-runner up
Miss Omaha Francesca Stessman was 3rd runner-up and Miss Hastings Brooke Bode 4th runner up.
Pettera’s court as Miss Nebraska Teen has Miss Omaha Teen Clara Johnson, who won both of her preliminary rounds, as 1st-runner up and Miss LIncoln Teen Maggie Wadginski 2nd runner-up
Still another contestant from the Panhandle, Miss Old West Balloon Fest Teen Ella-Kathryn Anderson, was 3rd runner-up, and Miss Douglas County Teen Olivia Terwey was 4th runner-up.