Mikaela Bannon earns title; will compete at Miss Michigan in 2025
by Richard Lamb–Advance Editor
She is going back to the Miss Michigan pageant. Mikaela Bannon, 22, daughter of Milissa and Bill Bannon of Rogers City, won the Miss Wayne County pageant Sunday. Mikaela, now a resident of Canton, topped the field of seven other contestants who all either work or live in Wayne County.
In addition to her title and the chance to compete again for the Miss Michigan crown next June in Muskegon, Mikaela earned $1,075 in winning the people’s choice award, miss congeniality and the onstage interview award along with various other gifts and certificates.
“Coming from one of the smallest counties in Michigan, to moving to the biggest county in Michigan has been such a gratifying experience. Now I have the honor of not only representing the biggest county in Michigan, but also the 19th largest county in America. With this title as I prepare to go to Miss Michigan I want to ensure that every day is a day spent doing good in the community and promoting my service initiative to bring awareness to skin cancer prevention, inspired by a good friend who is battling metastatic melanoma. It’s our goal to ensure that Michiganders are educated about sun safety, have proper sun protection resources, and our ultimate goal is to reduce the statistic,” Mikaela said.
“I have nothing but determination and joy in my heart as I head back to Miss Michigan once more.”
The contestants were judged in a private interview, onstage conversation, health and fitness, talent and evening gown.
“This was her goal to achieve this year and I’m just so proud to say she has worked incredibly hard to achieve it,” said Milissa Bannon of her daughter.
MIKAELA IS a graduate of Northern Michigan University with a degree in esthetician sciences/cosmetology. She currently works at Salon TORO in Birmingham as a manager/sales coordinator and head esthetician. Mikaela will now serve Wayne County for the year with appearances, interviews and working with her beloved platform, Cassidy’s Cause promoting skin cancer awareness, education and support.
For her talent, she performed a vocal presentation to “I Will Survive.”
The Miss Wayne County pageant, formed in 1991, is affiliated with the Miss America Organization. There have been seven former Miss Wayne County winners who went on to win Miss Michigan titles including back-to-back winners in both 1999-2000 and 2008-2009. Two of those finished in the top 10 at the Miss American pageant. Miss Wayne County is one of 19 pageants across the state that sends representatives to the Miss Michigan pageant.
This will be Mikaela’s third trip to compete at the Miss Michigan pageant competing in 2021 as Miss Shoreline and again in 2023 as an at-large candidate invited by the organizers. Previously, she made three trips to Muskegon as a Teen Miss candidate.
