No Crown, But Cole Still Wins

OMAHA - Sidney's Ylani Cole didn't come away with the Mrs. Nebraska crown at the Mrs. Nebraska Pageant last weekend, but that is secondary to what she did gain.

"I won so much more than a crown and a sash," Cole said. "I've gotten to develop so many wonderful relationships and friendships. Getting out there and getting involved with my community was great."

"It was a reward, not an award, and it's something I'll always treasure," Cole said of the her time serving the community as Mrs. Cheyenne County.

Not that she walked away empty handed. Cole won four of the other contest awards, including Best Dress, Physical Fitness, People's Choice (chosen by audience members), and Scrapbook, which catalogued the activities she's been involved with since last July. She was also one of the top five finalists, given fourth runner-up.

"I'm super excited and super proud that I got the awards I did," Cole said.

Saturday's pageant capped two days of activity for Cole and nine other ladies from across the state, filled with performance rehearsals, interviews and other serious pageant primping and preparing. But it also included fun activities, including a "pajama party" Friday where the contestants got to relax, have fun and get to know each other.

"It was a great experience," Cole said, including the chance to perform before a number of area residents who drove to Omaha for the contest. ""I loved it. I'm so grateful for them and their support."

During the final competition Saturday evening, the women performed an opening dance, following personal introductions. Cole rolled out her "Each One Reach One" platform for the audience, who heard:

""Bringing you Each One Reach One all the way from the Toughest Town in the Tracks - I am your Mrs. Cheyenne County, Ylani Cole."

Following an intermission the ladies made their fitness walk, in one-piece swim suits.

They then changed into their evening gowns and the husbands were called into action, escorting their ladies onto the stage where they answered two interview questions before being escorted away again.

Once the top five was announced, husbands were again called, the second time to share something about their wives. Cole's husband Frank told the audience about the work his wife had undertaken, and how hard it had been to keep up with her through that time.

Ylani was the first to be called out in the run up to announcing Mrs. Nebraska, which went to Anna Peters, who competed as Mrs. Omaha.