Miss Czech-Slovak US 2011-12
Christy Dowling
Christy Dowling is the 2011 Miss Czech-Slovak US. Christy represented Kansas and competed against 12 other contestants for the national title. Christy is 21 and the daughter of Bill and Lynn Dowling of Hays, KS. She is a Senior at Kansas State University majoring in Biology/Pre-Dentsistry, and minoring in Business. Her future plans include attending dentistry school and being a western Kansas dentist. Along with the national title, Christy won both Grand Talent and Oratory Award. In total, Christy won $3000 cash prize, $2500 towards a trip to either the Czech or Slovak Republic, jewelry, crown, crystal, trophy and flowers. Overall the pageant awards over $10,000 in cash prizes and gifts. For complete results and pictures please visit the Pageant Results page.
     What a whirlwind these first few months have been! With the conclusion of Wilber Czech Days came the beginning of my reign as Miss Czech Slovak US, as well as the beginning of classes. My first official appearance was at the Partner City Flag Plaza Dedication in Manhattan, Ks in September. Manhattan has a partner city in the Czech Republic called Dobřichovice. I have been a member of the committee to promote this partnership for over a year now, and we have been fundraising money for this flag plaza ever since. Located in the Manhattan City Park, the plaza provides information about the relationship between the two cities, and showcases the flags of Dobřichovice, the Czech Republic, Manhattan, Kansas, and the United States. For the occasion, we had a polka band from the Czech Republic, as well as several dignitaries from Dobřichovice. It is always a wonderful experience for me to get to speak with anyone from the Czech Republic and tell them about the Miss Czech Slovak US pageant. Everyone is always so impressed at how we are continuing the traditions here in America. I was able to speak about my role as the national queen, as well as sing Pisnicka Ceska with the band. At the reception following the dedication, I gave a polka dancing demonstration, along with one of the Czech exchange students. My mom and I spent the first weekend of October in Oklahoma, celebrating with them in Yukon. The Kesslers served as our hosts and showed us to all of the festivities. I was so impressed with their local Czech dancers and the sheer volume of people that come to celebrate. They were so welcoming to me, having me ride in their parade, speak at the bandstand, and sing at the polka dance that night. Such a fun weekend! The end of October brought the Munden, Kansas Czech festival. I took a group of K-State Czech exchange students to view the festivities, and discuss the current culture in the Czech Republic with everyone there. Again, I had the opportunity to speak about the national pageant and sing a Czech song. My work with the Czech culture at KSU extends past the exchange students, as I helped prepare other K-Staters who will be studying in Prague next semester. We discussed everything that they can expect when living in the Czech Republic, and I told them a little about the celebrations of the culture they can participate in when they return. To continue this, I recently took part in filming a video encouraging others to study abroad, telling some about my time living in Brno, Czech Republic this past spring. On October 28th, I went to the Capitol in Topeka, Kansas to meet with Governor Brownback. I told him all about the celebrations of the Czech and Slovak cultures around Kansas, and we talked about the national pageant. He has been so great to work with and very receptive to helping me with anything I need to continue my work! (Especially when given a few kolače!) As always, I continue to work to make contacts across the US. I look forward to next semester and continuing to spread our heritage!

                                                                                              - Christy Dowling
                                                                                        Miss Czech-Slovak US 2011​​
FALL 2011 UPDATE