Crowned & Candid: A Real Look at Life as Miss Montana 2024 with Kaylee Wolfensberger

When you see a state titleholder walk across the stage, crowned and glowing, it’s easy to picture the highlights: the gown, the photos, the perfect answers under the spotlight. But what about everything that happens after the crown is placed? The exhaustion, the growth, the real moments of vulnerability and pride?

In our debut Crowned & Candid interview, I sat down with Miss Montana 2024, Kaylee Wolfensberger, for a truly honest look at what it’s like to hold a state title; from her first night as Miss Montana to her lessons from Miss America, and everything in between.

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Q: Kaylee, let’s start from the beginning. Tell us a little bit about who you are outside of pageantry.

Kaylee:
I’m 20 years old and a student at Montana State University studying business marketing with a minor in small business and entrepreneurship. My dream is to work in professional sports, ideally the NFL, in athlete representation, promotion, or community relations.

I grew up as a competitive dancer and pianist, and my mom volunteered in the Miss America system, so I was always around pageantry. I competed once when I was younger, didn’t do great, and thought that was the end of my pageant journey. But this year, I wanted to do something bigger than myself. I saw pageantry as a way to grow personally and professionally, and that’s what inspired me to compete again.

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Q: You said you didn’t expect to win Miss Montana. What was going through your mind on crowning night?

Kaylee:
I genuinely didn’t think I was going to win. I signed up just two months before the state competition and thought of it as a learning experience. I was literally writing thank-you cards to my directors before finals, planning to come back next year.

Then I started winning preliminary awards, and suddenly it hit me that I might actually place. When they called my name, my first thought was to find my mom in the crowd. It’s something we’ve always done together, so having that moment with her meant everything.

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Q: What do you think helped you stand out that week?

Kaylee:
I competed like I wanted to win, but I wasn’t afraid to lose. That mindset freed me from perfectionism. When my onstage question didn’t go great, I decided to just have fun in the remaining phases. That’s when I ended up winning two prelims, because I let go of fear and just enjoyed myself.

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Q: How did your year as Miss Montana change you personally?

Kaylee:
I’m more confident than I’ve ever been. A year ago, I didn’t see myself as “that girl” (confident, articulate, ready for leadership). Now, I know my worth and I’m solid in my opinions and values. Competing at Miss America helped me realize that confidence isn’t about being perfect; it’s about trusting who you are and what you bring to the table.

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Q: What surprised you most about the job of being a state titleholder?

Kaylee:
How much work it really is, especially in a small state like Montana. We don’t have locals, a big board, or a ton of sponsors. I handle almost everything myself, from booking appearances to traveling solo to managing my own social media.

It’s been exhausting at times, but I’ve learned that people here really value authenticity. When I show up as the real Montana girl (no pageant façade) that’s when I connect most with people.

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Q: You mentioned the importance of asking for help. Why is that so hard for titleholders?

Kaylee:
Because we don’t want to seem ungrateful or incapable. There’s pressure to always look polished and put-together. But the truth is, doing it all alone is draining.

If I could go back, I’d ask for help with travel, logistics, and content. Sometimes, I just needed someone to ride along to events or snap photos so I could focus on being present. It’s not weakness to ask for support, it’s smart.

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Q: What was it like preparing for Miss America?

Kaylee:
It was intense. I practiced piano one to two hours every day, did constant mock interviews, and still balanced college and a part-time job.

The hardest part? Choosing the wrong song. I was advised against performing a slower, more emotional piece I loved and picked a high-energy one instead. I messed up during my talent performance at Miss America. It was heartbreaking after months of work.

But later, Nikki Sixx (from Mötley Crüe!) told me he admired how I picked it back up mid-performance. That meant the world. It reminded me that grace under pressure matters more than perfection.

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Q: What did you learn from that moment?

Kaylee:
That failure doesn’t define you – it refines you.

Yes, it hurt. But I also learned that I can recover, perform under pressure, and still make people proud. Miss America is one week. What matters more is how you carry yourself after.

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Q: How did you process the “after” – that post-Miss America transition?

Kaylee:
It’s tough. You work for months toward this one goal, and then it’s over. There’s pride and grief all mixed together. I took a few weeks off to rest and reset before jumping back into appearances.

People sometimes forget how emotionally and physically draining it is. You’re expected to bounce right back, but sometimes you need space to process and breathe.

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Q: Your Community Service Initiative, Healing Harmonies, has a powerful story behind it. Can you share more?

Kaylee:
Absolutely. Healing Harmonies is about giving underfunded youth access to music education. Music helped me heal from a traumatic event when I was young. I found comfort and strength at the piano. It brought my emotions back to life.

Children in poverty are nine times more likely to experience trauma, so I wanted to create opportunities for them to experience that same healing through music.

I partnered with Head Start, a government program supporting families below the poverty line, and traveled to rural communities teaching and performing. It’s been the most rewarding part of my year.

One student, who had been distant and distracted, handed me a drawing of myself after our session. That moment reminded me that impact often happens quietly, in ways we can’t always see right away.

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Q: What were some of your biggest lessons as Miss Montana?

Kaylee:

• Mental toughness. This year stretched me in every way, but I’m proud of how I handled it.
• Authenticity connects. People don’t want “perfect.” They want real.
• It’s okay to ask for help. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
• Your worth isn’t tied to a crown. One woman wins, but that doesn’t make her more valuable than anyone else.

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Q: What advice would you give to the next Miss Montana?

Kaylee:

1. Ask for help. You’re not weak for needing support.
2. Soak it all in. It goes by so fast.
3. Prioritize your well-being. You can’t serve well if you’re running on empty.
4. Don’t compare your journey. Every titleholder’s experience looks different.

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Q: When you look back five or ten years from now, what do you want to remember most?

Kaylee:
That I was only 20 and did something extraordinary. I represented my state, grew our program, and proved to myself that I’m capable of more than I ever imagined.

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Fearlessly Authentic Takeaway

Kaylee’s story is a reminder that the crown is not the reward – growth is. Whether you’re competing, coaching, or leading, the real victory lies in who you become through the process.

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Where to Find Kaylee

📸 Follow Kaylee’s journey: @kayleewolfensberger or @missamericamt