Ashland resident combines passions for service and performance on the Miss Ohio stage
Mortuary science student Katie Harrigan is lifting spirits through grief support and education as she competes for the first time in the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program.
ASHLAND — Katie Harrigan is pursuing the Miss Ohio title. But the crown is not the only thing she hopes to take away from the experience in her own backyard.
The mortuary science student hopes to raise awareness about grief support through her community service initiative, The Silent Subject.
It’s personal for the Crestview High School graduate, now studying mortuary science at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science with hopes of becoming a funeral director.
Harrigan’s community service initiative, “The Silent Subject: Creating Safe Spaces for Individuals to Feel, Heal and Receive Grief Support,” focuses on grief education and healing from loss.
“Especially in this day and age, when people lose someone, we always feel in a rush to get back to work. There’s not really a lot of time to do that grief work,” Harrigan said.
“My community service initiative is about better understanding loss, healthy coping mechanisms for loss and how to help other people going through loss.”
Harrigan hopes her initiative will help normalize conversations on grief and loss while providing a safe space for these emotions to be processed.
“Death and grief is kind of a taboo subject but it doesn’t all have to be doom and gloom,” Harrigan said.
She earned her spot in the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program, and a possible shot at Miss America, by winning the Miss North Central Ohio title.
This year’s pageant is especially meaningful to Harrigan because it is in Ashland, the city she calls home.
The annual Miss Ohio competition is typically at the Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield. However, ongoing renovations, including seat replacements, have moved this year’s pageant to Ashland High School’s Archer Auditorium.
Competing on a stage is a familiar feeling for Harrigan. She has participated in several shows at the Renaissance Theatre, including Newsies, Mamma Mia! and Annie. Her love for theater began at the Opus II Dance Studio in Ashland.
Despite years of experience on the stage, this is her first year competing in pageants.
“I’ve watched it for several years just growing up doing shows at the Renaissance Theatre,” Harrigan said. “This was the first year I really felt like I had something I wanted to speak out, my community service initiative, I’m really passionate about.
“So, I just decided to take the leap this year and try something new.”
While Harrigan is passionate about her community service initiative, she also has a love for performing. She has years of experience singing, dancing and performing on stage. She said singing is her favorite form of expression.
“I took voice at Ashland University since I was in ninth grade, so I was 14,” Harrigan said.
“I learned guitar, started writing my own songs. Now I’m transitioning back to musical theater, it kind of feels like going back to my roots, on the Miss Ohio stage.”
Harrigan is excited to perform a classic song by Barbra Streisand, though she is keeping it a surprise.
Before the pageant, contestants will participate in the Show Us Your Shoes parade Sunday in Mansfield.
Participants decorate and display a shoe that represents their community service initiative, hometown, school or something that reflects their identity.
Harrigan hinted her shoe design is related to a sport, but the full concept will be a surprise for parade day.
Harrigan said contestants support each other throughout the pageant process, the community of strong women cheering each other on behind the curtain.
“Any of those contestants in that room could walk out as Miss Ohio, whether it’s me or someone else. I would be 1,000% excited for anyone who’s given the position,” Harrigan said. “They’re all ready, we’re all prepared.”
Harrigan also thanked former Miss Ohio titleholders Matti-Lynn Chrisman and Caroline Grace Williams for inspiring her to enter pageantry, as well as her dance instructors at Opus II Dance Studio for helping find her passion for performing.
Regardless of where she places, Harrigan hopes to leave Miss Ohio with new friendships, more confidence and professional skills.
Miss Ohio Week is June 13-20, with events including the Show Us Your Shoes parade and other festivities. The pageant concludes June 20, when a new Miss Ohio is crowned.
