Meet Your Neighbor: Desi Hunt takes title as Miss Mohican Valley
FREMONT — A Terra State Community College student has been named Miss Mohican Valley in the Miss Ohio Scholarship Organization’s digital competition and will compete in the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program this summer.
Desi Hunt, a music tech and recording arts major at Terra, was part of the first group of pageant contestants ever to compete online. If she wins the in-person Miss Ohio competition, which will be held in Mansfield in June, she will represent Ohio in the Miss America pageant.
The online pageant strayed from the typical ballgown and swimsuit competitions.
“The online competition was more resume-focused instead of walking across a stage,” Hunt said.
Native of Crestline, Ohio
Hunt, a Crestline native who now lives in Bay View, spent two years at Cleveland State University before transferring to Terra to study music.
“It was the best decision I’ve made in a long time. They care about you here. They care about your success,” she said.
Hunt describes her musical style as “contemporary,” and she sang her original song “Together,” for the regional competition. She will once again showcase her singing talents during the Miss Ohio competition when she sings “Opportunity” from the 2021 “Annie Live!” television movie about an adopted orphan.
The song tied in well with Hunt’s pageant platform, the “Forwarding Foster Futures” mentoring program she is creating which focuses on aiding children in the foster care system. The song also has a personal connection because Hunt spent a short time in the foster care system before being adopted as a baby.
“Both my brother and I are adopted, but we got really lucky because we have wonderful parents,” Hunt said. “I didn’t have to spend a lot of time in the system, but it’s always been a part of my life. Growing up in a small town, I saw a lot of kids who didn’t have parents who were in the system.”
As she prepared to organize the mentoring program, Hunt researched the needs of foster children.
“Many of them told me the hardest part was aging out. I can’t imagine that, and I thought maybe that’s where I can help,” she said. “The program is predominantly for kids aging out of the system or those struggling without support.”
Program offers practical and emotional support
The program will provide resources for current and former foster children who need practical and/or emotional support.
“This was something I was going to do regardless of the Miss Ohio competition. It’s overwhelming, but it’s worth it,” she said. “I like people. People are my thing. That’s my purpose — to help people.”
In addition to being a full-time Terra student, Hunt will soon return to her summer job with the Jet Express ferries on Lake Erie, which also gives her many opportunities to help people.
“I’m a crew member and a dock person. I work ticket sales and am a shift leader. It’s fun. It’s like a big family,” she said. “I feel like I can do anything after working there. I know I can take care of people now.”
After graduation, Hunt plans to continue writing songs and singing, and she hopes to one day own a recording studio.
“In the far, far future, I’d also like to own a nonprofit recording studio. Music and art are the best outlets for people who are hurting,” she said.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Meet Your Neighbor: Desi Hunt takes title as Miss Mohican Valley
