On the evening of December 16, 2007, in the city of Lawrence, the audience at the Lied Center welcomed Miss Kansas City, Michelle Gillespie, as the new Miss Kansas USA 2008.

Michelle, a resident of Mission Hills, Kansas, is a 21-year-old student at Southern Methodist University. She is working toward a degree in broadcast journalism and she is currently employed as a news intern at the CBS news affiliate in Kansas City. In recent years, she has worked at Conde Nast Publications in New York, working for both Golf Digest, as a sports marketing intern, and Teen Vogue magazine, as a fashion assistant. Last summer, she completed a highly selective internship at FOX news in Dallas, TX, where she reported on stories in the local Dallas communities.

Due to Michelle's hardwork and independent study achievements, she was awarded the University Scholarship for distinguished SMU students. As a member of her sorority, Michelle also works as the Scholarship Committee chairperson to promote the importance of academic performance on campus as a part of the characteristics of a well-rounded student. Michelle is very active on her university's campus as a published reporter and contributor to the university's newspaper "The Daily Campus". She has also anchored and reported for her university's daily morning news show "The SMU Daily Update".

Michelle supports many charities with her time and resources. Some of these charities include, but are not limited to: The Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation, AWARE to promote AIDS awareness, Champion's are Readers, The Susan Komen Race for the Cure, Harvester's Food Bank, and reading to underprivileged children at the New Stanley School in Kansas City.

In her free time, Michelle enjoys being with and cooking meals for her friends and family. Her favorites are Mexican food and anything chocolate! She loves to dance and is well studied in classical ballet, jazz and hip hop. She speaks fluent french, hosted a french student from Paris and spent time studying abroad in France. She enjoys reading novels, newspapers and magazines (especially about fashion, interior design, entertainment and cooking) traveling to new places and meeting new people. She cheers her hometown teams (Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas Jayhawks) with her 3 younger brothers and loves to watch movies with her little sister Kelly.

First time was the charm for Michelle, never having competed in a pageant before, when she was crowned Miss Kansas USA 2008! Pageants were part of her history though as Michelle is the great, great niece of Margaret Gorman, crowned the first Miss America in 1921. Michelle's first pageant experience was rewarding and truly unforgettable and only furthers her belief that pageants are a helpful device in promoting self-confidence among young women. When asked what it is about pageants that prompted her to enter, Michelle says, "I look up to independent and self-motivated women and I believe pageants are a platform to promote and celebrate the well-rounded, accomplished, confident young woman. I couldn't help but want to be a part of it! I think positive female role models are a much needed resource in society today." Michelle was also awarded the "Best Interview Award" and she hopes to become an anchor for a major national news network.

Michelle is the daughter of Scott and Diane Gillespie, who have shared 25 years of marriage. She has three younger brothers and one younger sister: Daniel, 20, Robby, 18, Jay, 16, and Kelly, 14.

Michelle plans to use the title of Miss Kansas USA 2008 to emphasize the importance to young people of having a healthy lifestyle and attitude towards oneself and body. She hopes to speak with children at schools, recreation centers and community, social and athletic events about the importance of good diet, adequate exercise, self-confidence and positive attitude. She is available for interviews, speaking engagements, emceeing events, autograph signing, or any other hosted event.

She will represent Kansas at the 2008 MISS USA Pageant this April in Las Vegas. The MISS USA pageant will be televised live on the NBC television network.!