Mekayla Diehl Eppers (néeDiehl; born November 28, 1988) is an American beauty pageant titleholder. She was crowned Miss Indiana USA 2014 and later competed in Miss USA 2014, where she placed in the top twenty. In 2018, Diehl was crowned Mrs. America 2018 and went on to place in the top twelve in South Africa at the Mrs. World competition.[1] Diehl is the first woman of Native American descent to represent Indiana at the Miss USA pageant.
Mekayla with Chief Irene at the 2014 Zhiibaahaasing Pow Wow
Diehl was born in Elkhart, Indiana in 1988.[2] She is descended from the Ojibwe tribe, a member of the Ontario-based Zhiibaahaasing First Nation through her mother.[2] She was adopted and raised by her grandmother after being sexually abused by a family friend.[3] She went on to graduate from White Pigeon High School in 2007 after having successful sports careers in basketball, volleyball, and track.[4]
Careeredit
Diehl graduated in 2011 from Albion College with a bachelor's degree of liberal arts in mass communication[5] where she played on the volleyball team and track team.[6] In June 2012 she competed in the Miss Indiana 2012 pageant where she placed second runner-up and won the "Joy of Life" award.[7] In October of that year she competed in the Miss Indiana USA 2013 pageant where she was a semi-finalist.[8]
In 2012, Mekayla accepted a position at Froggy 102.7 WLEG in Goshen, Indiana as the production director and afternoon DJ until the station's format changed in 2013.[9]
In October 2013, Diehl won the Miss Indiana USA 2014 title which qualified her to compete in the Miss USA 2014 pageant the following year, where she placed in the top twenty.[10][11] She is the first contestant of Native American descent to represent Indiana at the Miss USA pageant.[2]
Diehl, who is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) tall, has been praised for being a "normal", healthy size 4 and for not being skinny, a common stereotype of beauty pageant contestants.[11][12] Nia Sanchez, the winner of the 2014 pageant, stated that Diehl is no different than the other athletic pageant contestants she competed against. "I felt like this year we had a really healthy class of girls, and that’s what the pageant is about, not being skinny and having the clothes fall off your bones, but being fit, healthy and active. And Mekayla is," she said. "We were at the gym working out together. She was telling me how she does different sports. We all do." Diehl has ignited a wave of positivity encouraging women to be healthy and not go to extremes of having unhealthy habits to be skinny.[13]
Though Diehl is celebrated for being a healthy role model encouraging young women to be active and healthy, a few critics created backlash by stating that even though she represents something new she isn't normal.[14] Their main argument was that the average American woman, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is 5-foot-3 and 166 pounds with a size 12 or 14 waist size and has a BMI of 33.[14]
She went on to gain her real estate license with Century 21 Affiliated serving the Northern Indiana region.[20] Mekayla competed and won the title of Mrs. Indiana America in April 2017 and went on to win Mrs. America 2018 in August at the Westgate in Las Vegas.[21]
In December 2018, Mekayla launched her new pageant coaching business titled Reign Pageantry.[22]
Personal lifeedit
In November 2015, she married Christopher Eppers of Elkhart, Indiana with Grand Design RV.[23]
Referencesedit
^Correspondent, Jef Rietsma | Journal. "Eppers falls short in bid for 'Mrs. World' crown". Sturgis Journal - Sturgis, MI. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
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Mekayla Diehl Eppers nee Diehl born November 28 1988 is an American beauty pageant titleholder She was crowned Miss Indiana USA 2014 and later competed in Miss USA 2014 where she placed in the top twenty In 2018 Diehl was crowned Mrs America 2018 and went on to place in the top twelve in South Africa at the Mrs World competition 1 Diehl is the first woman of Native American descent to represent Indiana at the Miss USA pageant Mekayla Diehl EppersMekayla before her Miss USA interviewBornMekayla Fawn Diehl 1988 11 28 November 28 1988 age 35 Elkhart Indiana U S Height5 ft 8 in 1 73 m Beauty pageant titleholderTitleMiss Indiana USA 2014Mrs Indiana America 2017Mrs America 2017Majorcompetition s Miss Indiana 2012 2nd Runner Up Miss Indiana USA 2014 Winner Miss USA 2014 Top 20 Mrs America 2017 Winner Mrs World 2018 Top 12 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life edit nbsp Mekayla with Chief Irene at the 2014 Zhiibaahaasing Pow Wow Diehl was born in Elkhart Indiana in 1988 2 She is descended from the Ojibwe tribe a member of the Ontario based Zhiibaahaasing First Nation through her mother 2 She was adopted and raised by her grandmother after being sexually abused by a family friend 3 She went on to graduate from White Pigeon High School in 2007 after having successful sports careers in basketball volleyball and track 4 Career editDiehl graduated in 2011 from Albion College with a bachelor s degree of liberal arts in mass communication 5 where she played on the volleyball team and track team 6 In June 2012 she competed in the Miss Indiana 2012 pageant where she placed second runner up and won the Joy of Life award 7 In October of that year she competed in the Miss Indiana USA 2013 pageant where she was a semi finalist 8 In 2012 Mekayla accepted a position at Froggy 102 7 WLEG in Goshen Indiana as the production director and afternoon DJ until the station s format changed in 2013 9 In October 2013 Diehl won the Miss Indiana USA 2014 title which qualified her to compete in the Miss USA 2014 pageant the following year where she placed in the top twenty 10 11 She is the first contestant of Native American descent to represent Indiana at the Miss USA pageant 2 Diehl who is 5 feet 8 inches 1 73 m tall has been praised for being a normal healthy size 4 and for not being skinny a common stereotype of beauty pageant contestants 11 12 Nia Sanchez the winner of the 2014 pageant stated that Diehl is no different than the other athletic pageant contestants she competed against I felt like this year we had a really healthy class of girls and that s what the pageant is about not being skinny and having the clothes fall off your bones but being fit healthy and active And Mekayla is she said We were at the gym working out together She was telling me how she does different sports We all do Diehl has ignited a wave of positivity encouraging women to be healthy and not go to extremes of having unhealthy habits to be skinny 13 Though Diehl is celebrated for being a healthy role model encouraging young women to be active and healthy a few critics created backlash by stating that even though she represents something new she isn t normal 14 Their main argument was that the average American woman according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is 5 foot 3 and 166 pounds with a size 12 or 14 waist size and has a BMI of 33 14 She received coverage from all the major networks 15 interviewed by Elisabeth Hasselbeck on Fox and Friends 16 The Today Show 10 Good Morning America 17 Entertainment Tonight 18 and WNDU 19 She went on to gain her real estate license with Century 21 Affiliated serving the Northern Indiana region 20 Mekayla competed and won the title of Mrs Indiana America in April 2017 and went on to win Mrs America 2018 in August at the Westgate in Las Vegas 21 In December 2018 Mekayla launched her new pageant coaching business titled Reign Pageantry 22 Personal life editIn November 2015 she married Christopher Eppers of Elkhart Indiana with Grand Design RV 23 References edit Correspondent Jef Rietsma Journal Eppers falls short in bid for Mrs World crown Sturgis Journal Sturgis MI Retrieved 2019 02 27 a b c ICTMN 2014 Miss Indiana USA Mekayla Diehl Is Normal and Native American Indian Country Today Media Network Retrieved 2014 06 12 Sloma Tricia Local Miss USA contestant talks about overcoming sexual abuse www wndu com Retrieved 2019 02 27 MHSSA Archive PDF Organization Miss Universe Mekayla Diehl Retrieved 9 September 2016 Correspondent Jef Rietsma Sturgis Journal World expands for Mrs America a Michigan native The Daily Telegram Adrian MI Retrieved 2019 02 27 Fisher Derek 3 July 2012 MerrieBeth Cox crowned Miss Indiana 2012 Current in Zionsville Fisher Derek 22 October 2012 Pageant winners crowned in Carmel Current in Carmel NEWS A STAFF REPORTTHE GOSHEN Radio station format to change Goshen News Retrieved 2019 02 27 a b Kim Eun Kyung Is size 4 Miss Indiana the new normal Miss USA weighs in Retrieved 9 September 2016 a b Is size 4 Miss Indiana the new normal Miss USA weighs in on the debate Today Show 2014 Retrieved 2014 06 12 Cunningham Erin 11 June 2014 No Miss Indiana s Body Isn t Normal The Daily Beast Retrieved 9 September 2016 Will Higgins 2014 Miss Indiana Mekayla Diehl I m OK with normal INDY Star Retrieved 2014 06 12 a b Amy Hubbard 2014 Miss Indiana Mekayla Diehl s body is not normal or average LA Times Retrieved 2014 06 13 Miss Indiana Mekayla Diehl on becoming a social media phenom CBS News Retrieved 9 September 2016 Miss Indiana Mekayla Diehl I didn t go to extremes for my body Fox News Fox News 10 June 2014 Retrieved 9 September 2016 Miss Indiana Mekayla Diehl Blown Away by Being Called Normal ABC News Retrieved 9 September 2016 Miss Indiana Mekayla Diehl on Becoming a Social Media Phenom Retrieved 9 September 2016 Miss Indiana Mekayla Diehl Responds to Curvy Figure Comments 2014 06 09 Retrieved 9 September 2016 Number 574 215 0415 Phone meppers c21affiliated com E mail Address Cell 574 215 0415 Main 574 293 2121 1001 Parkway Ave Suite 17Elkhart Mekayla Eppers REALTOR CENTURY 21 Affiliated Michiana Area c21affiliated com Retrieved 2019 02 27 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Franklin Tom 2017 08 28 Elkhart County s Mekayla Diehl Eppers crowned Mrs America 2017 95 3 MNC Retrieved 2019 02 27 Meet Mekayla Pageant Coach Reign Pageantry Retrieved 2019 02 27 The Wedding Story of Mekayla amp Chris Eppers WeddingDay Magazine weddingday online com 10 August 2016 Retrieved 2019 02 27 External links editMekayla Diehl on Twitter Mekayla Diehl Profile on missuniverse com Awards and achievements Preceded byEmily Hart Miss Indiana USA2014 Succeeded byGretchen Reece Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mekayla Diehl amp oldid 1205572110, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
