Autumn Olson wins Miss Wyoming USA

Autumn Olson, of Saratoga, was named Miss Wyoming USA to compete for the title of Miss USA in 2016. She believes that entering into the Miss USA pageant, she will have different point of view than others.

"I think I bring a sense of community. Wyoming is very unique in the sense that bigger states, where you have large cities that are more separate, Wyoming is viewed as a whole state. So it's nice that I get to represent the whole state," Olson said.

In order to prepare for the competition, she is focusing on interviews and becoming comfortable in front of people. According to Olson, should she win Miss USA she will have a number of spokesperson opportunities.

Olson competed in her first pageant in 2009, a Miss Wyoming Teen USA competition. On her fourth try, she would go on to win the title. She took two years off, but "decided she wasn't quite done with the pageant world yet."

"It's probably one of the best experiences of my life," Olson said.

A graduate of Encampment K-12, Olson is currently a sociology major at University of Wyoming with emphasis in pre-dental to continue the tradition maintained by her uncle and grandfather. "I just absolutely love teeth. Just one of those strange things that not many people like," laughed Olson.

When not in school or pageants, Olson plays volleyball for a city league in Laramie and enjoys mountain biking and skiing. She hopes to use her position as Miss Wyoming USA to act as a role model for young women and Wyoming.

"I kind of want to make the Miss Wyoming USA title bigger in the state so that more people know what it is and what it represents," Olson said. She will be making appearances as Miss Wyoming USA until she crowns a successor next year.