The inaugural 2023 Miss Mount Pleasant event was held on Saturday, January 28 at the Heatilator Performing Arts Center in Mount Pleasant. Twenty-one-year-old Mariah Martinez, of Davenport, was crowned as the winner.

Martinez is a student at Upper Iowa University with dreams of being an elementary school principal. During the competition, she performed an original monologue, and delivered a social impact initiative, entitled “Leading Girls Through L.O.V.E.” Along with the title of Miss Mount Pleasant, Martinez received a $200 cash scholarship. She earned an additional $50 scholarship for receiving the Miss Top Interview Award.

Martinez will go on to represent Mount Pleasant at the Miss Iowa Scholarship Program in June 2023. Other awards included 20-year-old Alanna Lair as Miss First Runner-Up and Miss Spirit, as well as 21-year-old Victoria Young as Miss People’s Choice.