Mrs. Cheyenne County In Final Countdown Toward Pageant

In just a little more than a week, Ylani Cole will join nine other women from across Nebraska, vying for the title Mrs. Nebraska America and a chance at Mrs. America.

As of Monday, she was still looking for that "just right" outfit for the interview portion of the pageant, still practicing for those interviews, and remembered with a start, "I've got to start packing."

While it might seem Cole is flustered at the last minute, she says she is really just "a little nervous," with the day she's worked so hard for rapidly approaching.

Cole's journey as Mrs. Cheyenne County began about, born of a wish to meet more of the people in her "new" community and serve the community itself.

Having immigrated to the United States from South Africa, Cole embraced a new life with her new husband Frank, and also looked for a way to fit in to her new country.

"When I first came here, I had no friends or job or a support network," Cole said. "I asked myself 'what did I do in South Africa that I can do here?' "

Cole had participated in pageantry in her home land, and check into it in the U.S. But one of the requirements at that time was being a resident of Nebraska at least six months.

"But in the long run, that was good for me," Cole said. "I didn't really know anyone."

As time passed, Cole got to know Sidney and the country better, but still yearned for more involvement. She said she re-visited the website and signed up for the pageant - which brought a surprised "you did what?" from her husband, who has since come to accept the move.

Having signed up for the pageant, Cole looked again to her past to determine the platform on which she would work forward with as Mrs. Cheyenne County. Again, her past revealed a natural choice to move forward with.

"I had done outreaches and community service (in South Africa)" Cole said. "It's something I enjoy, and seemed natural."

With that decision made, she developed her platform, #EachOneReachOne, which focuses on community service with an emphasis on caring for children and the elderly. While that has been the focus, Cole has reached out to many corners of Sidney and Cheyenne County.

Among her projects, Cole has assisted with a fund raising drive to help pay lunch bills for school families, organized a blood drive, helped with Sidney's 150th Anniversary celebration, appeared at Oktoberfest, and a host of other activities. Currently, she is working on an Armed Forces Appreciation Ball for Military Veterans. She has partnered with VFW Post 610, the local Veterans Administration office, Black Hills Energy, and the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office.

While she admits to being "all paraded out," she said she wouldn't trade the experience for anything. And, while she's found a way to work within the community, it also happens to fit like a glove with her pageant hopes.

"The pageant is really in itself a platform and a system that celebrates and honors married women who are making positive impacts in their communities," Cole said.

Cole said while the many appearances and work she has done over the past year benefits her pageant goals, they have impacted her personally as well.

"It's been confirmation that public service is important," Cole said when asked what the biggest effect had been. "It's important that it's not a one-and-done thing. To be in a spot to help others is incredible."

While competingfor the Mrs. Nebraska America crown, Cole and the other contestants will be performing an un-judged Opening Production where they do a choreographed dance.

They'll then go through a series of interviews, which count for 50 of the total preliminary score.

With fitness an important factor, contestants will appear in a solid color, one piece swimsuit with a sarong, worth 25% of the preliminary score.

Also worth 25 percent is the Evening Gown competition, in which Cole will appear in a gown from South Africa. The designer is Anel Botha Couture, the same designer that made the current Miss Universe's dress.

Aside from the Mrs. Nebraska America crown, nearly a dozen other award will go to contestants, including Mrs. Photogenic, Congeniality Award, Director's Choice and others rewarding the ladies for their accomplishments.

The pageant is Saturday, April 21 at the Scottish Rite Center in Omaha. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 6:30. Tickets for the 2018 Mrs. Nebraska Pageant are still available through the Mrs. Nebraska website http://www.mrsnebraskaamerica.net

One of the "extra" awards is Entourage Award: given to the contestant who has the largest audience following at the pageant.