Audrey Bolte
Audrey Bolte’s life has changed dramatically since she was named Miss Ohio USA in October of 2011.

Instead of taking care of and riding horses, which is the norm for the Batavia High School graduate, she has been appearing on national television shows like E! News, organizing events, working with charities and traveling across the United States.

The activities have all been a part of the responsibilities of Miss Ohio USA as well as preparation for the 2012 Miss USA competition, which will be televised nationally on NBC June 3 at 9 p.m ET.

Pageants are still relatively new for Bolte, 23, who focused on graduating high school and college before competing in her first pageant, which was Miss Ohio USA.

Bolte attended St. Andrews Presbyterian College in North Carolina and was active in the equestrian program. She competed on several teams and helped her teammates reach nationals her junior and senior year.

Bolte also volunteered with several organizations while she was in college and earned a degree in business administration with a focus in marketing and management and a minor in equine studies.

“I have been so busy with that I had no time to do a pageant,” Bolte said last year.

Once she graduated college in 2011, Bolte said her mom suggested a pageant again, and this time she decided to participate.

“I wanted an opportunity to make a difference,” Bolte said about her decision.

Bolte competed in the Miss Ohio USA pageant October 14-15, 2011. The three areas of competition included interview, swimsuit and evening gown and judging criteria included poise, confidence, character and personality.

Bolte was named Miss Ohio USA and said she could not believe it.

“I was so shocked,” she said after the pageant. “I didn’t know what my name was, I didn’t know what my age was, I just looked at the crowd.”

Melissa Pitchford, executive director of Miss Ohio USA, said after the pageant that Bolte would spend the year representing the state of Ohio.

“Her year will be all about personal growth and development,” Pitchford said.

Bolte said since being crowned Miss Ohio, she has been able to work with the Pink Ribbon Girls, an organization for young breast cancer survivors, has been teaching horseback riding lessons and has been mentoring teenagers to help them gain confidence.

In addition, Bolte has been participating in a variety of activities with other Miss USA contestants and has been spending time preparing for the Miss USA pageant.

She said she has been working with a choreographer, running and working with a fitness coordinator, brushing up on her knowledge of government and politics and more.

“I’ve been trying to get sleep when I can,” Bolte joked about her new schedule.

Bolte said the New York media tour was one of the most fun things she has been able to do as Miss Ohio USA. She said she was able to tour the city and appear on several shows, including E! News, with other contestants.

“The other fun thing is hosting events with the organization I’ve worked with,” Bolte said. “I worked at the Cedar Point opening, was in the Cincinnati Reds parade and walked out the opening pitch. That was a blast.”

Now, Bolte is busy at the Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. making final preparations for the Miss USA pageant.

The pageant begins this week with preliminary competition, and the pageant will be broadcast live on NBC at 9 p.m. ET June 3.

“I am looking forward to the live performance, being on stage and getting to represent the state of Ohio,” Bolte said about the competition.

For more information about the pageant, or to vote for Bolte to be automatically placed in the semifinals, visit www.missusa.com.