MUSCATINE, Iowa — Miss Iowa, Kelly Koch, visited Muscatine on Friday to begin preparations for the Miss America Pageant and her family ties to Muscatine.
The 20-year-old attends Iowa State University where she is studying to become a child life specialist, a pediatric health care professional who helps children and families during their hospital stay.
Her mom, whom Koch said is also her best friend, Rhonda Koch, and her dad, Dan, are both graduates of Muscatine High School, and her uncle Jon Koch works for the City of Muscatine, and lives here with his wife, Lisa.
Her grandparents are also Muscatine residents, Dee Koch and her late husband Jeff and Ron Lange and his late wife Judy.
"I'm definitely no stranger to Muscatine," she said.
In her second year competing in pageants, Koch said preparing for the Miss Polk County and Miss Iowa competitions included a lot of studying, preparing for intense interviews with judges and learning more about presentation.
"I've gained so many speaking abilities... it varies person to person, and it's a lot of knowing what's going on in the world and understanding what you believe in, because a part of Miss America is they will question you on your beliefs and your goal is to stand your ground and be confident," Koch said.
She said she keeps a word document with a wide variety of issues and her beliefs to help prepare her to defend those beliefs and opinions if questioned.
"It's like studying for a final," she said.
Preparing for the talent part of the competition, however, came naturally to Koch, as she has been dancing ballet since she was four years old.
"I've always loved to dance," she said.
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Koch was also the winner of the talent portion of the Miss Iowa competition. 
She said that while she exercises regularly and continues to dance, as well as finding a daily routine for hair and makeup that lasts around 45 minutes, the focus of the competition really is service, scholarship, and success as well as style.
"The goal isn't to be pretty or perfect," Koch said.
One of the most important elements of her preparation, however, was looking forward to her goal, so that even as she prepared for competition to become Miss Polk County, she has always been preparing for Miss America.
"The way my parents taught me is I look toward the ultimate goal and the ultimate goal is to be Miss America," Koch said.
That goal-oriented attitude, she explained, was one of the reasons she is so proud to represent Iowa, a state she said has always encouraged her to have a healthy work ethic.
Le Chic Prom and Pageant Boutique in Muscatine is a Miss Iowa sponsor, and another important aspect of preparing for the Miss America pageant.
"They do a great job helping me feel fabulous and glamorous," she said.
The next three months will be a whirlwind of preparation for Koch, but she said she is excited to be able to promote her platform, Pinky Swear, an organization that helps families of children touched by cancer.
"It is so near and dear to my heart," she said.
http://muscatinejournal.com/news/local/muscatine/kelly-koch-on-preparing-for-miss-america/article_05990998-f0b7-521f-8e5f-5a6aa667de8f.html