Mikaela Bannon makes finalist again at Miss Michigan pageant

by Richard Lamb—Advance Editor

Rogers City native Mikaela Bannon made her fourth appearance on the big stage last weekend, coming away as a finalist for the crown of Miss Michigan. Mikaela, the daughter of Milissa and Bill Bannon of Rogers City, actually completed her eighth time at the historic Frauenthal Theater in downtown Muskegon, having competed four times for the teen miss title.

Mikaela said this year had a different feel to her compared to other years.

“Honestly, it’s weird. It has a duality to it. Parts of it feel the same and parts of it feel different. As you grow up and get older and you mature more and you step into your confidence a bit more, things kind of shift and they change. And this year, I kind of wanted to take a step back into the girl who started this whole journey for me,” Mikaela said. 

“This program has been kind to me, and I really just wanted to reflect on my years here. I’m getting to that age where it’s like, all right, like you got a couple more years left. So, I decided I just wanted to be the realest version myself and represent Rogers City as best I could.”

The thrill of the competition is still there for her, as is the glitz and glamour of performing on the historic stage. 

“I had so much fun. The number one thing I’ve heard so far is just, this is the realest we’ve ever seen you.’ And to me, that is better than winning the Miss Michigan crown because if I can go onstage and if I can represent people who might doubt themselves, people who might think maybe this isn’t for me, and just continue to stride forward with confidence, then I know I’ve won. That’s all I can ask for at the end of the night and to have so many young women come up to me and just say, I genuinely enjoyed your performance. I’ve done something then, and that means a lot,” Mikaela said.

(complete story is in the June 25, 2026 edition of the Presque Isle County Advance)