Miss Cassopolis 2014 is no stranger to the spotlight.

When Courtney Kuemin, 17, of Cassopolis took the stage Saturday night for her first large-scale pageant, she quickly realized how different the experience was from her years of dancing.

“With being a dancer and stuff, I’ve been on the stage a lot. It was a little nerve-wracking going up there with no music and by myself, but it ended up working out wonderfully,” Kuemin said.

The daughter of Brian and Melody Kuemin, Courtney Kuemin keeps herself busy with extra-curricular activities, including Miss Kathy’s School of Dance, the Cassopolis Future Farmers of America and showing draft horses year round.

Kuemin and the six other contestants opened the pageant with a dance in minion costumes to fit their theme based on the popular movie, Despicable Me. In the communication segment, contestants were asked to dress like a character from the film and give a monologue. Kuemin portrayed the character of Edith, the middle child who gets adopted in the film.

Kuemin has held two crowns in the Cass County Fair pageant, serving as princess in 2007 and queen in 2013.

“I thought (Miss Cassopolis) was a great way to start in full-on beauty pageants. I knew all of the contestants and all of my friends were in it. I thought it was a great way to get my name out there,” Kuemin said.

Kuemin said her favorite parts of the Miss Cassopolis pageant were the weeks leading up to it.

“We had a lot more practices together and we got to spend a lot of bonding time with the girls at dress rehearsals and practices. We really got to bond as a group before crowning,” Kuemin said. “I think the hardest part was the anticipation as we waited to hear the winner.”

In the end, Kuemin was elated to be crowned Miss Cassopolis 2014 by Miss Cassopolis 2013, Brooke Green. Nicole Irwin, of Dowagiac was crowned first runner-up and Jennifer Stickle, of Cassopolis, was crowned second runner-up and Miss Congeniality. Stephen Walker was named Mr. Cassopolis 2014 and Zach Newton was crowned first runner-up.

Kuemin has an exciting year ahead of her.

“I’m excited to meet all of these people that I’m going to meet. I’ve already met so many wonderful other queens and people from Blossomtime,” she said. “I know I have Miss Blossomtime coming up in March.”

After graduating high school in the spring, Kuemin hopes to attend college to pursue a career to match her lifelong love for animals.

��Right now I’m waiting on acceptance letters for Hope and Michigan State, where I hope to study pre-veterinarian medicine,” she said.

After she finishes her undergraduate studies, Kuemin hopes to attend Michigan State University for veterinarian school for large animals and zoo animals.