Meet Our Team
Co-Executive Director, Christina King
A newbie to the MAO pageant system, Christina brings a very extensive background in pageantry. She is a three-time state titleholder as Miss South Carolina Queen USA 2016, Miss Trans Illinois USA 2020, and Miss Illinois Nationwide 2022. Having just won her first national competition in July 2022, Miss King, as the newly crowned Miss Nationwide 2022, is now promoting her personal platform on a national level while representing Nationwide Pageantry and the Miss Nationwide Charitable Foundation as their reigning titleholder!
She serves on numerous local and statewide boards, while chairing a city commission for Galesburg, Illinois, which is tasked with the mediation of discrimination and community education.
She lives in Illinois with her fur babies!
Co-Executive Director, Nicole Monson
Nicole and her six-year-old daughter, Coraleigh, live in the Bloomington-Normal area with Nicole's husband, Aaron, and her step-children, Desmond and Penelope. She is the Regional Marketing Manager for Legacy Solar, the leading solar provider in Illinois! Outside of her short glory day of competing for an MAO local, Nicole has been a pageant fan for as long as she can remember watching friends compete in county fair competitions and Miss America locals. Nicole spends her time flexing her charcuterie board displays, annihilating her husband in complex board games, and spending time with the kids!
Personal Branding, Stacy Paper
Stacy has dedicated 10 years to MAO as both a competitor & volunteer. Stacy placed 1st runner up to Miss Iowa 2014 & has produced 4 state-level pageants for MAO. She lives with her husband, Austin & children, E'Mya (16) & Benton (6) in the North Carolina Triangle. Stacy spends her daytime hours as Digital Marketing Director & as a wedding photographer.
Interview & Public Speaking, Maggie Gehlsen
Maggie has dedicated a great portion of her life to the MAO program. Maggie was the 1st runner up to Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen 2012 & placed 1st runner up to Miss Iowa 2018. Maggie is a guru in all things social media, running a successful blog, online training program, & a constantly growing Instagram and TikTok. Maggie resides in Peoria, IL with her husband and her adorable dog, Bruce!
Scholarship & Finance, Aaron Hays
Aaron is a Senior Wealth Insurance Strategist with Insurance Design Network in Normal, IL. He graduated with his Bachelor's degree in Music Composition from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2008 . During his free time, he likes to play and write music as well as spend time with his kids, Desmond and Penelope. He is an avid reader, likes to learn about new topics and has a strong focus on personal and professional growth. Aaron is also passionate about his community, volunteers his time to the IL Prairie Community Foundation and has served on its board for 10 years.
Community Service Initiative & Public Relations,
Madison Auge
Madison Auge is a 27-year-old User Experience Researcher living in Dallas, Texas. She competed for 3 years in the Miss Iowa program, garnering awards such as Top 10 finalist, the Miracle Maker Award, Dale Dose Local Applause Award, and the Jack and Gayle Broderick Community Service Award, recognizing the work that she did with her Social Impact Initiative, The Blossom Revolution. Since leaving MAO, Madison has remained involved as a mentor with The Teen Queen Collective and is excited to be joining the board!
Talent, Isha Jog-Keuper
Isha Jog-Keuper is a professional Indian Classical Kathak dancer, pageant competitor, and a Strategy Consultant at KPMG. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Marketing & Management from Loyola University Chicago and her Master's degree in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from Indiana Wesleyan University. Isha was 1st runner up to Miss Illinois Outstanding Teen 2012 & placed 2nd runner up to Miss Illinois 2019. Isha was also the Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois 2013 and placed Top 10 at the national competition. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, choreographing dances, and exploring new restaurants in the city. Isha resides in Chicago, IL with her husband, Dr. Kevin Keuper, and their golden-doodle, Alfie.
Community Service Initiative & Public Relations,
Ali Preston
Ali spent 11 years as a contestant and titleholder in the MAO, Miss USA and county fair systems. She served as Miss Illinois Valley 2013 and was a semi-finalist at Miss Illinois USA 2017 and 2018. The MMC program holds a special place to Ali, as it was the first MAO pageant she competed in as a teen. Ali's platform (SII) kick-started her career in the nonprofit sector, where she now works full-time while also serving on several local and state nonprofit executive boards. She holds a bachelor's degree in public relations and master's degree in communication. Ali resides in Normal with her husband, son and two rescue dogs.