Kinley Shoemaker’s jaw drops as she finds out she is the 2023 Miss Indiana Teen USA. She missed the title of Miss Teen USA, but was grateful to represent Indiana in the competition.
Submitted photos by The Code CreativesMiss Indiana Teen USA didn’t prevail in the Miss USA pageant held Thursday night.
The contestant representing Indiana was Kinley Shoemaker, a Franklin resident and Butler University student.
This year’s Miss Teen USA is UmaSofia Srivastava, who is also the first Mexican-Indian to hold her title of Miss New Jersey USA. Among the other top finishers were Miss New York Teen USA Stephanie Skinner was named first runner-up, and Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA Maggie Ross was second runner-up.
Shoemaker is a freshman at Butler who studies sports media and journalism with hopes of becoming an accomplished sideline reporter while working as game day staff for the Indianapolis Indians. Whether reporting live from the sidelines, singing, acting, playing her guitar, rapping, or public speaking, Kinley is likely on a stage with a mic in her hand, her bio for the pageant says.
She will continue to advance diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives using her leadership skills as a Dr. Morton-Finney scholar. As a partner on the Unified Flag Football team, Kinley had four career touchdowns and developed a passion for bringing awareness to Unified Sports and the Special Olympics, her bio for the pageant says.
Through her personal experience, Shoemaker hopes to continue her work with teenage victim advocacy, specifically those of criminal cases. She encourages all young people that no matter what, they are forever capable of accomplishing their dreams, her bio for the pageant says.
In a July interview, Shoemaker said she was grateful to represent Indiana in the pageant.
“More than anything, I’m so excited to represent Indiana with grace and confidence,” she said. “Home is where the heart is, and my heart is here.”
