Meet the Manheim Township senior crowned United States of America’s Miss Pennsylvania

This has been updated to correct Kling's title.

A Manheim Township High School senior has won a statewide pageant and will advance to the national competition in 2025.

Natalie Kling, a senior at Manheim Township, was crowned United States of America's Miss Pennsylvania on Saturday, Nov. 2, in Allentown. Kling will compete for the title of United States of America's Miss on Memorial Day weekend 2025.

The United States of America pageant system is separate from the Miss USA/Miss Universe pageants. The pageant crowns state winners in three categories: Teen (age 13-17), Miss (age 18-28), Ms. (age 29 or older) and Mrs. (age 18 and older and married).

Kling chose to focus on mental health as her platform during the Nov. 2 competition, speaking on her experience as a teen with bipolar disorder.

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Kling answered a few questions via email about her win and future aspirations.

Age:

Grade: Senior.

School: Manheim Township High School.

Parents: Jill and Adam Kling.

A place I love in Lancaster County: Overlook Park.

Career aspirations: Early childhood special education teacher.

What inspired you to participate in the United States of America's Miss Pennsylvania pageant?

I have always been close with my great-grandma, and I had a really hard time when she passed away. While she was here with us, we would watch pageants together and treat them like our Super Bowl, so I am doing this in memory of her.

Take us to the moment where you were crowned winner. What were you feeling? What was going through your head?

It's hard to even say what was going through my mind because I was so shocked. My whole life I have been doubting my ability to succeed in life. My depression used to be louder than my family and the people I love. When the emcee said my name, I felt like every challenge I had fought through to be where I was had finally felt worth it. I mean, I was up against 25-year-old established women in the medical field. I was utterly shocked when they said it was me!

You chose mental health as the platform you wanted to speak on during the pageant. Why is that an important topic to you?

I am bipolar, and I was not always able to control it as well as I can today. I felt like an outcast and alone for a really long time at a really volatile age. I want to be the role model I never had for people going through similar struggles.

What was your biggest takeaway from your experience in the Miss Pennsylvania United States of America pageant?

The mission of the Miss United States of America's program is to inspire, uplift and empower. For the first time in my life I did something completely for myself and got rewarded for it. I inspired others my being completely myself, and that felt amazing!

What most excites you about participating in the national pageant in Las Vegas next year?

Most definitely to see how far I can go because if I can succeed, the sky is the limit for others like me. I never ever thought it would be possible to be Miss Pennsylvania, so now I want to see if I have what it takes to compete at a national level. If I can experience success, I will truly have become that role model I aspire to be.