Franklin Native Kinley Shoemaker Headed to Miss America Finals
Photographer / Christina Cochran
For Kinley Shoemaker, the dream of becoming Miss America wasn’t a random spark — it had been growing since childhood.
“If someone asked me when I was little, ‘What do you want to do?’ I’d say I want to be Miss America,” she says.
This year, that dream took flight as the Franklin Community High School (FCHS) 2023 graduate was officially crowned Miss Indiana, launching her to the national stage at the Miss America Finals on Sept. 7 in Orlando, Florida.
Spending formative years in Franklin, Shoemaker was immersed in the local school community, performing in show choir and honing her talents in music and dance. Her upbringing in Franklin shaped much of who she is today, and she will proudly represent her small-town Indiana roots on the pageant stage next month.
Her Miss America aspirations began far earlier — at home, snuggled up with her mom, Amie. Thinking back on the pageants of her childhood, Shoemaker recalls, “I watched them with my mom pretty much every year for a while. We would sit in our pajamas and watch the screen and pick the girls we were rooting for, and I never once thought that I would ever be on that stage. It was my biggest dream.”
It was her mom who encouraged her to try pageants through the Miss Indiana organization’s early Princess Programs (now known as Rising Stars). Shoemaker began competing young, starting with the Fort Wayne organization, and even participated in modeling for Sears, Justice and American Girl, landing the cover of its magazine.
“I was very heavily involved,” she says, remembering her favorite American Girl doll as Kit.
Still, Shoemaker’s path wasn’t without setbacks.
“I got first runner-up twice,” she shares.
But she never lost sight of the crown or her goals. Fueled by her father Ben’s love for sports and healthy competition, she returned again and again. Her dedication eventually paid off as she won Miss Indiana Teen in 2023, followed by her victory at Miss Metropolitan, and ultimately, Miss Indiana 2025.
Now a student at Butler University, Shoemaker is pursuing a communications major with a double minor in journalism and creative media. She’s also proud to be competing for Miss America scholarships that can help further her education.
“The Franklin school system really gave me a strong foundation,” she says, crediting her hometown for preparing her for public speaking, performance and leadership.
When asked about her favorite part of the competition, Shoemaker doesn’t hesitate: “My favorite of all time is activewear. I think it’s the best point because everybody’s wearing the same thing. It’s kind of like a blank canvas that you really shine through. You get to really show your personality.” She also loves the interview portion, saying, “I’m such a yapper!”
Shoemaker is fully ready to do her own hair and makeup for the national stage if needed — something she’s had plenty of practice with from her show choir days at Franklin Community High School.
Behind her crown is a story of resilience and personal growth. At 15, Shoemaker says she went through a tough period mentally. If she could speak to her younger self now, her message would be powerful.
“I would probably tell myself it’s not that deep,” she says. “Life isn’t that deep. But, I mean, life is that deep, but the things that happen every single day, they don’t matter. Everything is a big deal, especially as a teenage girl. It took a toll on my mental health. But I have that mindset now, and I am so happy inside out.”
Shoemaker credits much of her strength to the women in her life, especially her mom.
“She’s been the best mentor,” she says. “I’m an only child, so I always had her to look up to.”
Another key influence has been Haley Jordan, a former Miss Indiana and Shoemaker’s pageant director during her Miss Metropolitan run.
“She’s so uplifting,” Shoemaker says. “She is just the greatest mentor and we’re closer in age, so it’s easier to relate and see myself in her position in the next, you know, six to seven years.”
As the countdown to Miss America begins, Shoemaker is preparing with heart, hustle and a gown from Sherri Hill. She’s documenting her journey and encouraging fans to watch the Sept. 7 finals livestream via her Instagram, @missamericain.
From pajama nights in small-town Indiana to walking a national stage in Orlando, Kinley Shoemaker is more than just Miss Indiana — she’s proof that big dreams can come true when passion, purpose and perseverance meet.
