Miss Wisconsin

Myla Dalbesio

What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
I spend New Year's Eve with my oldest sister and her family every year. Two years ago we were all sitting around her kitchen table in the wee hours of the new year discussing how her husband Jim annually participates in the Polar Bear Plunge. The Polar Bear Plunge is a tradition in Racine where anyone and everyone is invited to jump into frozen Lake Michigan on New Year's Day. Jim was searching for someone to accompany him in his plunge, so my sister proposed a deal to me. If I jumped in the freezing lake with her husband, she would bring me on her family and friends' upcoming vacation. They were taking a trip up North to a ski resort to ski and snowboard for two days, and to finish off the trip, they were going to the Wisconsin Dells for two additional days. (The Dells is an area in Wisconsin that is famous for its waterparks and amusement parks.) They had made reservations at one of the nicest hotels in the Dells, which was equipped with a huge indoor waterpark complete with slides, a lazy river, and multiple indoor/outdoor hot tubs and pools. I simply couldn't refuse a free trip to two of my favorite places with my favorite people, so I agreed to take the plunge with my brother-in-law. On a freezing, snowy, and extremely windy New Year's Day I donned my bikini and ran straight into ice cold Lake Michigan. After I jumped in I knew that this was my first and last Polar Bear Plunge.

Please list, starting with the latest, any schools and universities (public/private/graduate/trade or technical) you have or are attending, as well as the area of study, last date completed and any degree or certification you received.
The Prairie School. 2003.

Please list any Honors/Awards you have received in the past 2 years.
Named a Famous Poet of America
Recipient of The Dave Drewek Art Award for excellence and creativity in the fine arts
Placed on both the Honor Roll and High Honor Roll for excellence in the academics
Recipient of various competitive dance related honors and awards

What is the most interesting or surprising thing about you, or that has happened to you?
Honestly, the most surprising thing that has ever happened to me was winning the Miss Wisconsin Teen USA pageant. I had decided to enter the pageant only two weeks prior to it. Being that it was my first pageant ever I expected nothing more than a good time, and I ended up coming home with a crown! It took me weeks to actually realize that I had won.

Are you the oldest, youngest or a middle child and what does that mean to you?
I am the youngest of five girls. When I was younger I would often become frustrated because my sisters were able to do more things than I was, and the rules were different for them, but now I wouldn't have it any other way. My sisters are my best friends and have taught me so much. I learn from their mistakes before I have chance to make them myself.

Name one person, family, friend, celebrity, who has had the most influence on your life.
Nacy DalBesio, my mother has had the most influence on my life. My mother passed away from breast cancer when I was ten years-old, but while she was alive she did a wonderful job of instilling her morals and values in me. She also taught me to be myself and not to be intimidated if I don't chose to do what everyone else does. Her death helped me become a stronger person and made me charish life more. She made me grateful for what I have and showed me that love and compassion for others is more important than material goods.

What charity/charities have you supported with your time and/or resources over past two years? Please provide the name of the charity, level of involvement.
I support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation by not only participating in Relay For Life every year, but by helping to organize my high school's relay team.
I participate in AIDS Walk every year to benefit HIV/AIDS research and prevention.
I annually participate in the 30-Hour Famine, which benefits World Vision, an organization designed to provide aid in third world countries.
Each year I am active in the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program by both participating and handing out and collecting the boxes in my high school.

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