FHS senior chases another crowning achievement

Findlay High School senior Lilian Shae has won the title of USA National Miss Ohio Teen. She is also a cheerleader, an advocate for diabetes research, and holds two college degrees. She will head to Orlando, Florida, in July to represent Ohio at the national pageant. Shae, 18, said she's excited about the upcoming competition: "I think it will be a really great week." As a member of one of the largest national pageant systems in the country, the Findlay teen will be competing for college scholarships and representing both her own and the pageant's platforms on her road to nationals this summer. Shae grew up in Malinta and moved to Findlay six years ago. She is the daughter and stepdaughter of Nikki and Dennis Siefer of Findlay, and Steve Meienburg of Malinta. She got started in pageants three years ago. "I do more model-based (pageants) so there's evening gowns, fun fashion or runway, is what it's called," she explained. Part of the competition also includes interviews and answering questions onstage, she said. "It's a good skill (being able to answer questions quickly)," she said. "And it definitely helps with public speaking." Shae said participating in pageants has also helped her develop her self-confidence. Volunteering is also important to her, she said. Shae has been an advocate and spokesperson for JDRF, formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and Beyond 1 for the past several years. Beyond 1 is a nonprofit organization changing what it means to live with diabetes. Shae's personal platform is Type Kind, a foundation she started two years ago to help end misconceptions about Type 1 diabetes and other invisible disabilities, and to teach inclusivity and bullying prevention to children. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 4. "And growing up, there really wasn't anyone in my small town that I could ask questions to or get information from," she explained. Shae said she was bullied because of the disease. She hopes to help others by bringing awareness to these diseases and talking about inclusivity. She likes talking with younger people, "because personally, I think that's where change starts." Her foundation also goes hand in hand with the pageant's platform, Crown CARES, which is focused on creating a respectful environment in schools. Shae will volunteer with and help raise funds for the organization this year. When she's not competing in pageants or working with her foundation, Shae is also active as a varsity cheerleader at Findlay High School. She completed 82 college credits through the College Credit Plus program and earned two associates degrees — in psychology and art — before starting her senior year. She also works at Style Encore. Shae was recently awarded a Morrill Scholarship from Ohio State University for her work with inclusivity and diversity. While she hasn't fully committed to any college yet, Shae said OSU is definitely No. 1 on her list right now. She's thinking about studying biomedical engineering in college. "I want to focus my research on delivery systems and artificial organs, specifically an implantable artificial pancreas to finally cure Type 1 diabetes," she said. Even though she's lived with diabetes since she was young, Shae said she's still able to do everything she wants to do. "I definitely don't let it hold me back," she said. Wolf: 419-427-8419