As a young girl, Kelsey Schmidt was teased for being “chubby.” The taunts made her sad, led to overeating, and stuck with her as she grew up.
Now, as the new Miss Washington USA, Schmidt relishes the chance to inspire other young women who may not feel so good about their bodies.
“I’m really passionate about helping women embrace a healthy lifestyle and a healthy body image,” said Schmidt, a PhD and RD student in the Nutritional Sciences program at the University of Washington School of Public Health. “They can still honor where they are, who they are, and how they look, while striving to be a healthier version of themselves.”
Schmidt was first runner-up in the Miss Washington USA pageant, held in October, but inherited the crown in January when the winner, Stormy Keffeler, resigned after admitting to a DUI conviction.
“It’s unfortunate,” Schmidt said. “My heart goes out to her. I can’t even imagine what she was going through. At the same time, I feel really honored that I now get the opportunity to represent the state.”
Schmidt was officially crowned on Jan. 30. Later this year, she’ll take part in the pageant’s national competition. The winner of that contest will get to compete for the Miss Universe title.
As part of her duties, Schmidt will visit schools and take part in community events and public appearances – perfect platforms to share her views on eating right, sleeping well and exercising. She plans to visit Seattle Children’s hospital and has been asked to throw out a first pitch at a Mariners game. “I’ll have to practice for that,” she said.
A fourth-generation Japanese-American, Schmidt is also looking forward to building ties with the region’s Asian-American community, including taking part in a Chinese New Year gala.
Schmidt says she’ll be transparent about her pageant preparation, sharing details about her diet and workouts. “You don’t have to starve yourself or exercise excessively to get on stage to compete like us,” she says. “I eat real food and I eat lots of it. I’m not doing three hours of cardio a day.”
Instead, her workouts feature “nice morning jogs” and a bit of weightlifting. She also works out on a trapeze, partly to conquer a long-time fear of heights. She prefers grass-fed meat and food free of antibiotics. She loves dark chocolate.
Schmidt must balance her new duties with a rigorous pre-doctoral research program at the Fred Hutch research center. She and her boss there, Mario Kratz, a UW research professor of epidemiology, are working on a study that seeks to answer the questions: How does full-fat and low-fat dairy consumption impact metabolic health?
Schmidt says they plan to conduct a randomized control trial with 72 participants who have metabolic syndrome that evaluates risk factors that can lead to chronic conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. The researchers' primary aim is to study the relationship between low-fat and full-fat dairy consumption and how the body regulates blood sugar.
“Food is as important as getting enough sleep and as important as going out and getting 30 minutes of daily exercise,” said Schmidt, who majored in biology and minored in dance at Scripps College. “I became fascinated with food as a mechanism for improving your health and preventing chronic disease.”
Schmidt says she chose the UW for its innovative research, great reputation and for being local. “It was a natural choice,” said the Bellevue native. She has her eye on a career in teaching/mentoring and research.
As for pageants, Schmidt was drawn to them partly because of the preparation they require. “For me, it’s just to keep myself focused on my own health and well-being,” she said. “And they’re fun. Some of my closest girlfriends I met in pageants.”
The Miss Washington USA pageant marked the third time she had competed in the event. The contest included an interview with judges (“They can ask you about anything they want, so it’s a little nerve-wracking”); evening wear (“A time to celebrate, show your fun side”); and a swimsuit competition (“To look at your overall self-confidence – it’s more about the neck up”).
Schmidt volunteers with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and is engaged to be married in November. But the wedding may get postponed, she said. It’s going to be a busy year.