Common Ground Podcast, Episode 66
Guest: Katie Loxterman
Written By D.J. Reiter
What do you picture when you hear “beauty pageant”? Crowns, gowns, and a little drama? Episode 66 of the Common Ground Podcast takes a closer look at what’s behind that image, as host Philly sits down with Katie Loxterman, Mrs. Texas and a Top 6 finalist at Mrs. America, to talk about 11 years of competing, the work that happens off stage, and why our assumptions about pageants may say more about us than about the women in them.
Katie has been involved in pageantry for about 11 years, and reaching Mrs. America was the pinnacle of that journey. She advanced from the initial Top 15 to the Top 6; because only the top three are ranked, she doesn’t know exactly where she placed, though Philly has decided on fourth. She says she is ready to end her competitive career on a high note. Philly admits he came into the conversation with his own stereotypes and was surprised by how much he saw himself in Katie’s story. This is the first of a few episodes featuring women from the pageant world.
A Dream From a Small Town
Katie grew up a self-described tomboy, raised by a single dad who worked in oil and gas and loved to hunt and fish. Money was tight, and she remembers using the free lunch card at school and watching pageants on TV, certain that kind of life was out of reach. Her dad supported her anyway; when she wanted to enter a hometown pageant, he took her to the park with a disposable camera to shoot her headshot. He has attended every pageant since, and when he knew his limits, he enlisted women who could help, including a mentor named Mary who signed her up for her first pageant.
Katie says reaching the Mrs. America stage meant more than the title: a girl raised in hard circumstances who became a single mom at 20 and relied on welfare could end up on one of the country’s most recognized pageant stages. To her, it’s proof that “our country still is full of hope and opportunity.”
Learning What She Didn’t Know
Katie’s first Mrs. pageant was in 2013. She arrived with a new bathing suit, a friend’s prom dress from 2006, and her business headshot, and discovered that other contestants had custom outfits, professional hair and makeup, and polished photos. She cried in her hotel room, but she stayed. She didn’t make the first cut, but she learned about the pageant coaches, photographers, and stylists, and came back better prepared. Looking back, she says she’s glad she didn’t know more at the start; seeing everything up front might have scared her off. “Sometimes you have to bite off more than you can chew and then learn how to chew it,” she says. Philly points out that many people never get in the pool at all because they fear failing publicly.
Doing the Inner Work
Katie chose Mrs. America early, drawn to pageants for married women, and worked her way up through Mrs. Texas, placing in the top 12 more than once before taking a few years off to work on herself. She describes therapy, life coaching, and working through insecurities she had been carrying, including self-consciousness about her face. Following her orthodontist’s advice, she had double jaw surgery, which she says freed something in her spirit. After placing as a runner-up the year before, she returned and won Mrs. Texas America as “the best version of myself.” She says she walked into Mrs. America without imposter syndrome, having become comfortable with where she came from and where she’s going. She also shares that someone close to her once told her she’d never amount to anything, and says her happiness is her answer.
Purpose, Faith, and Scholarships
Katie considered walking away from pageantry, given the cost, the time away from her family, and the mom guilt, but couldn’t. She came to see the dream as having a purpose: to reach girls like she once was, single-parent households, little money, big dreams. She has created a pageant scholarship so girls can build skills like public speaking, confidence, and poise. She also addresses criticism from someone close to her who said caring about appearance isn’t Christian. Katie believes joy is a gift from God and that she was given “the gift of influence.” Philly, who studied to be a youth pastor, adds that faith is about bringing God with you wherever you go.
Behind the Scenes at Mrs. America
Katie explains that the private interview is worth 50% of the score: four minutes one-on-one with each judge. Fitness and evening gown follow, showing self-care, discipline, style, and poise, with cuts from 50 to 16, 16 to 6, and 6 to 3. Over 12 days away from her children, she describes the marathon of staying energized as an introvert, managing sleep and comparison, and bonding with the other contestants, including her roommate from Oklahoma. Her first moment was humbling: she tumbled out of the limo in front of the media. The highlight was visiting Elvis’ suite at the Westgate Resort in Las Vegas, home of the pageant, where the King once lived and performed. When Katie was called into the Top 15, she was thrilled and heartbroken at once, watching friends she admired not hear their names.
Key Takeaways
● Pageants are about more than appearance. Katie says contestants need a purpose,
and that preparing the mind, body, and spirit matters as much as the gown.
● Don’t wait until you feel ready. Katie’s first pageant went poorly, but staying and
learning shaped everything that followed.
● Healing is part of the preparation. Therapy, coaching, and facing insecurities helped
her stop hiding and show up as herself.
● Dreams often carry a purpose bigger than us. Katie’s drive turned into a scholarship
for girls with less access.
● Your story can be your strength. Being open about where she came from helped her
find acceptance instead of imposter syndrome.
Reflection Questions
Philly admits he held stereotypes about pageants before this conversation. What assumptions have you held about a group of people that someone’s story changed?
Katie stayed after a rough first experience instead of going home. When have you pushed through a moment of feeling out of place?
She describes working through insecurities before she could show up fully. What might you be hiding or holding back that you’d like to release?
Katie believes the dream in her heart had a purpose beyond herself. Is there something you’re drawn to that could help someone who’s where you once were?
She says that joy, even in something like feeling put together, can be a gift. What small things bring you joy, and do you give yourself permission to enjoy them?
Listen to the full conversation on Episode 66 of the Common Ground Podcast.
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