HOULTON, Maine — An Aroostook County cybersecurity analyst, crowned Miss Maine earlier this month, plans to help Mainers take control of their digital lives while staying protected online.
Kelsey Sewell, 24, of Houlton, chose to compete in the United States of America Miss Maine pageant because it gives her platform, “Empowering Digital Citizens,” a statewide voice, she said.
“It’s more than a title to me; it’s a mission that blends my passion for technology, education, and helping others navigate the digital world safely and confidently,” Sewell said about her Oct. 12 win at the Augusta Civic Center.
As Miss Maine, she aims to teach people of all ages practical, easy-to-follow habits that will build their confidence both online and off. People often think cybersecurity is something only experts understand, but it’s really about people protecting themselves, their families and their communities online, Sewell said.
“Beyond the screen, I hope to visit schools, community events, and local organizations across Maine to spark conversations about online privacy, digital kindness, and responsible technology use.”
USOA pageants, a national beauty and leadership competition, was founded in 2017 by a group of pageant professionals to modernize traditional beauty competitions and shift emphasis on community involvement, public speaking, and self-development rather than physical appearance alone, according to USOA.
Other national pageants include Miss America, known for its emphasis on academics and scholarships for winning contestants. Several years ago they eliminated the swimsuit category to focus less on body type and more on brains.
Sewell was taken by complete surprise when she won, especially since she often seemed to be first runner-up in some previous competitions.
“When I won it was a complete and utter shock,” Sewell said. “I had a good feeling that I performed well and that I was probably going to place well. Hearing it flipped was such an unreal experience and something I never expected.”
Her mother was a worship leader and she grew up on stage, she said, laughing about the many home videos of her singing and dancing. Those experiences made her comfortable with being on stage, and she finds that pageants have only strengthened her confidence and ability to be a leader.
Majoring in cybersecurity and minoring in digital forensics, Sewell graduated from the University of Maine at Augusta in May and hopes one day to join law enforcement cybercrime investigations with the state police or FBI.
Before the Miss Maine competition, Sewell represented The County as Miss Aroostook. In March she will head to Las Vegas to represent the state in the national USOA Miss pageant.
The USOA Maine pageant has several divisions — Teen, Miss, Ms. and Mrs. — with the Miss Division for 18- to 28-year-old women.
Each contestant is judged and scored in several categories that include a personal interview, community service and leadership, swimsuit for health, confidence and stage presentation, evening gown for elegance and poise, and onstage random question.
Beyond the actual competition, in the USOA community the women uplift and celebrate each other, proving that confidence and kindness go hand in hand, Sewell said. Competing is a journey that reminds her of her own strength, purpose and voice, she said.
Away from titles and pageants, Sewell enjoys community service and has been volunteering at the Houlton Humane Society, mostly taking care of the cat room, she said.
“I find that even doing the little stuff like doing the dishes, cleaning out the kennels, even the small things that we do can make so much impact,” Sewell said, adding she loves animals including her own dog, Molly, an 11-year-old German shepherd.
As part of her community outreach she has been creating an Instagram cybersecurity video series, and with her title plans to use her voice to reach a broader audience by offering workshops for kids and by providing adult education for seniors and at-risk people.
“I want to teach them that they deserve safety and privacy no matter how they use technology,” she said.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the pageant age range.
