Miss Nebraska's reign a life-changing experience
By Josh Wolfe
J Alumni News staff
Tina Foehlinger never thought the journey of her life would take place so close to home. But, after spending a year touring the state as Miss Nebraska, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln senior found a new outlook on life.
"It changed my life in a very positive way," Foehlinger said. "It opened up more doors than I could possibly imagine. I was proud to represent Nebraska." Foehlinger, a Ralston native, was named 2001 Miss Nebraska after losing four regional pageants. She never pictured herself being a pageant girl, let alone wearing the crown.
"I didn't think that pageants were for me," she said. The 23-year-old advertising major had a change of heart after receiving a phone call about competing in the Miss Omaha pageant. She realized she had an edge on her competition: She had a talent. Foehlinger and her twin sister, Tami, are life-long baton twirlers. Both have twirled for NU at events, including Huskers football games.
But Foehlinger finished as runner-up in the Miss Omaha pageant. Since many of the regional pageants are open to anyone in the state, Foehlinger kept trying. She would compete in three other regional competitions before winning the Miss Tri-Cities pageant.
Foehlinger had her sights set on the state pageant. "I gained experience with each pageant I did," she said. Winning the state crown not only took her by surprise but gave her a unique experience.
"I traveled all over the state," she said. "I got to meet a lot of children. That's (the part of) the year that's most memorable to me. I love children and youth."
Foehlinger's success at the pageants came as no surprise to Nancy Mitchell, associate professor of advertising and the advertising department chair at the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications.
"She is perhaps the most positive person I have met," Mitchell said. "I watch the way she interacts with people, and she really sparkles. She makes the people she talks to feel good."
Mitchell has been Foehlinger's adviser and teacher. She sees a bright future for a student with so much drive.
"She makes the best of situations," she said. "That is a valuable talent that will serve her well."
In order to make the best of her Miss Nebraska duties, Foehlinger took a year off school to travel four to five days a week. The money she earned from her appearances paid her living expenses, since she had no time for a regular job. Her success at the pageant also paid off for NU, when she was featured in an MTV special about the Miss America pageant. Foehlinger was shown performing at NU and preparing for the pageant in Nebraska.
Ultimately, she placed in the top 20 at the pageant. But she did not consider that placing a failure. The contest turned out to be a valuable life experience. She was in New Jersey, where the pageant is held, preparing for the contest when terrorists struck the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001. Organizers almost cancelled the pageant, which took place on Sept. 22, she said.
"That was pretty scary. The 50 girls in the pageant became very close," she said.
In May, Foehlinger faced another life changing experience: graduation. Foehlinger has spent 23 years with her identical twin, Tami. The two lived together in an apartment and worked together at Spaghetti Works.
Foehlinger's family wasn't excited about the twins splitting up after graduation.
"I've never lived apart from my twin," Tina Foehlinger said. "I'm sure we'll visit each other a lot."
The family's lives and expectations changed abruptly in May when the twins' younger brother Bobby was killed in a traffic accident. He had also performed as a twirler at NU.
Once she left NU, Foehlinger also left her days of performing and competing behind. She had planned to compete for the last time in this year's World Baton Championships, at Notre Dame University. Tina, Tami and Bobby had planned to defend their title as trio champions, a title they have earned three times. Tina and Tami were also planning to compete for a duet title, which they have won twice.
But even though the end of college means the end of competing and performing, Foehlinger plans to teach twirling in whatever city she moves to. She'll also have an eye on her brother Ryan, 16, and her sister Rachel, 12. Both are baton twirlers. She's also helping Tami prepare for the Miss Nebraska pageant. Tami was crowned Miss Metro last year. "She would be a good Miss Nebraska," Foehlinger said.
It's possible another Foehlinger will spend a year touring Nebraska and getting that life-changing experience.
