ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (WOOD) — Miss Michigan wasted no time using the national stage Sunday night to advocate for clean drinking water in Michigan.
During the Miss America Competition, Emily Sioma introduced herself by saying, “From the state with 84 percent of the U.S. freshwater but none for its residents to drink, I am Miss Michigan, Emily Sioma.”
Sioma spoke with 24 Hour News 8 about what was behind her decision. The Grass Lake native says she did it to make sure people living in Michigan have access to clean drinking water.
“I just kind of had to rack my brain to think about how I’m going to make that moment, literally eight seconds on national television, meaningful,” she explained.
Sioma says the judges already decided who would make it to the top 15 the final night of the preliminary competition, even though the decision isn’t announced until the final night.