How did you celebrate winning the Miss Shoreline crown?
The first thing I did was embrace my fellow contestants in a giant group hug! These girls have been some of my closest friends for the past three years, so celebrating that moment fresh off of being crowned with them was so special. However, after all the on-stage excitement was over, my family and I decided to go celebrate by eating at Applebee's to pig-out on 1/2 off appetizers...and yes...I wore my crown the whole time, but took the sash off so I didn't get beer cheese and spinach artichoke dip all over it!
Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Shoreline?
I have a goal to connect with 5,000 students over my year of
service! Healthy habits and a love for fruits and veggies start young, so I want to impact as many young Michiganders as possible. I have already been able to connect with about 300 students as Miss Shoreline since my crowning in February! I also have a goal to place in the Top 11 at Miss Michigan! Going to Miss Michigan is an accomplishment in itself, but I always set a goal for myself to work towards!
What did you learn about yourself at the Miss Shoreline competition that will help you compete for Miss Michigan?
I learned that when I strive to have a good time, I don't stress as much, I have a really fun time, and have an easier time letting myself shine through. I worked hard on changing my mindset for this past local season, and it made a world of difference from the previous year. I didn't place a single time last season! But after working on my mindset and reflecting, I was able to achieve my goal of earning my first local title! Going into Miss Michigan with this mindset will allow me to enjoy the experience no matter what happens. Win or lose, I want to have the BEST time ever!
How did you select your community service initiative, “Feeding Ourselves”?
There are multiple reasons why I selected my CSI! I grew up a fruit and vegetable lover thanks to my late Grandma Mroczek who always had fruit sitting out for me when I visited, but I grew a deeper appreciation for them once I began my degree at Grand Valley State University. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical science with an emphasis in nutrition sciences, so I had the opportunity to learn about how their nutrients fuel us and lower our risk of developing chronic diseases. My family has suffered from different chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, and I have even experienced losses in my family due to them. Not only do I care about the well-being of my own family, I also care about the well-being of community members and families all around Michigan and the United States. So, I was inspired by my desire to help my family and community, my passion for fruits and vegetables, and my knowledge of how they affect our health to create "Feeding Ourselves: The Importance of Fruits and Vegetables" and help people live longer, happier, and healthier lives!
As a talented dancer, what do you enjoy most about performing on stage?
I have been a dancer for 21 years and was a member of the GVSU Laker Dance Team during my time in college, so dance has been in my blood since I can remember! No matter what the style of dance is, I enjoy relaying emotions the most, and making the audience feel them along with me. Whether the emotion is excitement, joy, sadness, anger, etc., using my talent to tell a story and express a message has always been the most enjoyable and rewarding part of dancing. My current talent is a Jazz dance to "Let's Get Loud" so hyping the judges and audience using my choreography, body language, and facial expressions is always so much fun!
What can you tell me about “Growing Gardens for Growing Minds”?
"Growing Gardens for Growing Minds" is a not-for-profit community outreach project I began in 2021 to help combat the intense decrease of access to fruits and vegetables during the Covid-19 pandemic, and lack of access in general. I wanted to create something that can directly impact anyone from across the state, and even around the country! I provide free kits with educational materials, seeds, and activities so anyone can have access to a variety of nutritious produce, learn about how they help lower our risk of developing chronic diseases, and give them the opportunity to harvest and store produce that will last them for months. Not only that, gardening is a passion of mine, and I wanted to share this fun and rewarding activity with everyone! I create and gather all the materials myself, and each kit comes with 10 different seed varieties which is one of the coolest things about the kits! To date, I have been able to raise almost $4,000 and donated nearly 600 kits around the state. This year, I have the opportunity to send some all the way to Tennessee!
If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?
I would choose to be Belle for a week! Growing up, I loved watching Beauty and the Beast, and was even in the musical my sophomore year of high school! Not only does she look like me, but she taught me that being kind to everyone, no matter who they are and where they come from, is one of the most important things to remember throughout life. She looks past exterior looks and situations, and enjoys people for their true character and genuine souls. Also, in high school, I was on the Miss Mattawan court where I attended an event in a yellow ball gown and was called "Belle" by many community members since I looked like her!
If you had an extra ticket to see a baseball game between the Red Sox and the Tigers, who would you take with you? Why?
I would take my Teen, Elora! Elora and I met before we ever became Miss Shoreline and Miss Shoreline's Teen, and I always enjoyed seeing her at competitions and getting to know her. We had an instant connection when we met, and now that we are Miss and Teen, I am so excited to get to know her more and be a part of the Shoreline sisterhood with her! The teen program is one of the coolest things about the Miss America Organization, and is something I wish I knew about growing up. Having a teen is so special and giving her an extra ticket to hang out with me at a baseball game is a good day in my book.
Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?
I would LOVE to throw the first pitch at a baseball game! It is one of the top items on my bucket list. I actually played softball until the age of 13, so I would love to be back out on the field, especially as Miss Shoreline. Throwing first pitches are something many local, state, and Miss America titleholders have done. Their throws are always iconic, and it is a great way to connect with the community!
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I think that would be a great opportunity!
As always, I want to thank Lauren for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.
I also want to wish her luck when she competes for Miss Michigan! It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 Forever wear that crown.
I'm sure you'd like to follow along with Lauren during her journey as Miss Shoreline. You should be sure to check out her title's Instagram account. In fact, check out her whole linktree. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on.
Thanks again Lauren, and good luck!
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