University of Idaho junior Breanna Kauffman, who currently reigns as Miss Idaho, is slated to graduate two years early.
steven devine | rawr
University of Idaho junior Breanna Kauffman won the title of Miss Idaho in May while competing in the National American Miss division ages 19-20, and will keep the title for one year.
“I did running start, because I am from Washington, so I was taking college classes while still in high school. I managed to combine my junior and senior years, and graduated early with a year of college credits,” she said.
Kauffman has competed in National American Miss, which along with Miss USA is owned by Donald Trump, for about five years. Kauffman started out competing for the Washington title.
“This year I aged up to the Miss division, and I decided I would rather do Idaho, because I live here 24/7,” she said. “I wrote an essay, did a phone interview and they selected me as the winner.”
But the title of Miss Idaho isn’t the end of the road for Kauffman, who will be competing at the next level in November.
“I will be competing at their national pageant, which is the week of Thanksgiving, which is called National American Miss,” she said. “I will be competing in formal wear, personal introduction, interview, and community service. The pageant is mostly a scholarship pageant. Makeup isn’t allowed in girls under the age of 13, and they just want to teach girls to be confident in themselves.”
While Kauffman, a general studies major, will graduate with minors in German, history and English, her career goal is to be an actress.
“When I graduate I am going to move to L.A., and I am going to try acting for a few years,” she said. “Being Miss Idaho for National American Miss really helps with that, especially because I am going to be competing for Miss Idaho USA next year.”
If she wins, Kauffman will be a first for UI.
“By the way, we have never had a Vandal for Miss Idaho USA, they have always been Broncos.” Kauffman said.
Besides pageants, Kauffman enjoys “hanging out with my friends, snowboarding, dancing, cheerleading, and figure skating. I am a little bit OCD, so I love organizing when I get stressed out during finals week.”
Her favorite place on campus is under the trees, and according to her friends, she has the largest DVD collection around.
And as for her school spirit, she said, “I am such a proud Vandal. I bleed black and gold.”
Nicole Lichtenberg can be reached at [email protected]