Kylene Spanbauer, a native of Fond du Lac, first became involved in the Miss America Organization when she was a junior in high school. Kylene grew up competing in baton twirling competitions and wanted to become a collegiate feature twirler, so she searched for more opportunities to advance her twirling career and gain more experience performing for an audience. This led her to the Miss America Organization where she competed at her first local and became Miss Fond du Lac’s Outstanding Teen 2016. That same year, Kylene went on to become Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen 2016 and won a Preliminary Talent Award at the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition in addition to placing in the top 8.
After her year as Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen 2016, Kylene received a full scholarship to attend the University of Iowa as the featured “Golden Girl” baton twirler. She majored in Therapeutic Recreation with a minor in Disabilities Studies and remained the “Golden Girl” in the Hawkeye Marching Band for 5 years.
As her time in Iowa came to a close, Kylene decided to once again compete in the Miss America Organization and became Miss Harbor Cities 2022. At the Miss Wisconsin 2022 competition, Kylene won 1st runner-up to our new Miss America, Grace Stanke! Kylene is so honored to have this opportunity as the new Miss Wisconsin 2022, and she is so proud of her friend (and new favorite Miss America) Grace for everything she has accomplished.
After the Miss Wisconsin 2022 competition in June, and before Grace became Miss America, Kylene began working at Reach Counseling Services in Neenah, Wisconsin, as a sexual assault Prevention Educator and Youth and Teen Advocate. In her role, she provided abuse education through presentations to empower victims and contribute to the prevention of sexual violence As an advocate, Kylene would also provide legal, medical, personal and school advocacy to young survivors of abuse and their non-offending family members.
Now, as Miss Wisconsin 2022, Kylene is eager to continue providing education and empowerment through her social impact initiative, No Means No: Sexual Assault Education. She is a Certified Inclusion Ambassador and has received training for ACES, CPIS Crisis Intervention and De-escalation strategies, WCASA Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy School and AMAZE for prevention educators. She hopes to continue building community awareness about sexual assault and engage all individuals in the prevention of sexual violence and abuse through age appropriate, inclusive presentations on safe/unsafe actions and sexual assault.
Kylene has earned $15,000 through her involvement in the Miss Wisconsin and Miss America Organization and is now the second person to hold both the Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen and Miss Wisconsin titles. She is excited for Grace’s new role as Miss America and thrilled to have this opportunity to serve the state as Miss Wisconsin 2022.
