Monroe's Stormy Keffeler takes Miss Washington USA 2016 title

Whether she's battling it out on a football field or gliding down a runway, Stormy Keffeler is a fierce contender.

The 23-year-old former professional football player decided to trade in her football uniform for a gown this year, in order to fulfill a dream she's had since childhood ' to win Miss Washington USA. She achieved that goal on Sunday, Oct. 18. Now, she'll travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to compete in the national Miss Universe pageant in July.

Keffeler is the first ever professional football player to become Miss Washington USA.

"I grew up dreaming about this,GÇ¥ Keffeler said. "This is a dream 22 years in the making, and I'm going to make the absolute most of it.GÇ¥

Keffeler grew up competing in pageants, and has won countless titles over the years. She and her mom co-direct the Miss Sky Valley pageant, held every year in Monroe. This was her third attempt at Miss Washington USA, a hard-fought title she badly wanted to win. The completion included formal wear, swimsuit and interview, after which the judges announced 16 semifinalists.

The 16 semifinalists competed again in formal wear and swimsuit. After that, the judges narrowed it down to the top five, and all the girls were given one last on-stage question. Keffeler's question was broad; the judge asked, "It's all about making a difference. What is your difference going to be?GÇ¥-á

"It was so general; it could have gone terribly wrong,GÇ¥ Keffeler said. "I was honestly just praying that I wouldn't be a viral video.GÇ¥

But Keffeler answered the question glibly, inspired by her own athletic background and the way it helped shape her life. She is passionate about helping kids achieve success through participation in sports, and hopes to work with a nonprofit called Good Sports to ensure sports are accessible to youth regardless of family-income levels.

"I grew up playing sports,GÇ¥ Keffeler said. "I feel like that's really shaped who I am from a very young age. It taught me leadership, communication, discipline, determination ' everything I needed to win this pageant.GÇ¥

Sports have indeed shaped the young brunette's life.

After graduating from Monroe High School in 2010, Keffeler earned a softball scholarship to Olympic College in Bremerton, where she walked onto the field as the team's starting catcher. Her decision to transition to professional football with the Legends Football League stemmed from her long-term goal to become a sideline NFL commentator for ESPN. She knew experience as a player could only enhance her ability to call the shots from the side of the field.

Her mom, Denise, actually pitched the idea after watching an LFL game.

Two weeks later, she tried out for the Seattle Mist. The tryouts were intense, said Keffeler, because the team was going through a transitional period and there was essentially an entire year without games. All prospective Mist players spent the year in relentless competition on the practice squad, in hopes of securing a spot on the final roster.-á -á

"It was an incredible process,GÇ¥ Keffeler said. "It definitely pushed me to my limits, taught me a lot about work ethic and perseverance.GÇ¥

Keffeler earned a spot on the offensive line as the center.

"I signed my contract and made the roster on April 5 of 2012, and that was a huge moment,GÇ¥ Keffeler said. "That was huge. I cried.GÇ¥

Earlier this year, Keffeler made the decision to move on and pursue her long-term career aspirations. But not before pausing long enough to grab the long-coveted title of Miss Washington USA and eventually, she hopes, Miss Universe. Keffeler said that she approached the pageant differently this time. Rather than seeking sponsorships and donations, she buckled down and worked two jobs in order to earn all the money herself.-á

She paid for everything with her own money, chose her own wardrobe and planned her own fitness regimen. Other than some fine-tuning at the very end, she relied on her own expertise as a pageant coach.

"I figured everything out by myself,GÇ¥ Keffeler said. "I figured, I'm going to sink or swim completely as myself. When I was the last person called as a top five, I didn't know what to do with myself. I almost walked off the stage backwards, and then I proceeded to almost fall down the stairs coming forward.GÇ¥

Moving ahead, Keffeler plans to obtain a bachelor's in communications, and is 10 credits shy of her associate's degree. She will spend the next nine months working, saving money and preparing for the Miss Universe pageant. In the meantime, she is trying to pick up an internship at a local television news station, in order to see if being a sports commentator is really for her.

Additionally, she is ramping up for next year's Miss Sky Valley pageant, which will take place in March. She hopes to promote what pageantry is all about, clearing up misconceptions along the way. Pageants are about more than just money, Keffeler said. They're about building inner strength, developing self-confidence and embracing service, including advocacy, volunteerism and giving back to the community.-á

"It doesn't take a lot of money,GÇ¥ Keffeler said. "It just takes a strong desire.GÇ¥

To learn more about Miss Washington USA, visit www.facebook.com/MissWashingtonUSA?fref=ts or www.misswashingtonusa.com.