First Black Miss Wisconsin hopes her passion for art fosters unity

Before Willow Newell even considered competing in beauty pageants, she practiced her contestant wave and smile in her bedroom mirror.

Now, at 22, Newell, who served as Miss Racine , no longer needs to pretend. In June, she made history by becoming the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Wisconsin.

In September, she will represent the state in the Miss America competition. Her pageant platform, “The Art of Belonging,” focuses on how everyone can feel a sense of belonging through the arts.

Newell, who graduated in May with a degree in art from Carthage College in Kenosha , described how art has been her guiding light, helping her navigate through life’s challenges, from the paralyzing grip of stage fright to the painful sting of bullying.

For Newell, art transcends mere expression;