meet annika
With a flair for the dramatic and an artistic pulse that can't be tamed, Annika Wooton is so much more than the face of Miss Kansas 2019 and 2020. Known for her powerful and historic two-year reign during the pandemic, Annika's talents extend far beyond the crown. A celebrated speed painter, she wowed audiences with a 90-second masterpiece of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, earning a Top 15 placement at the 2020 Miss America Competition and a non-finalist talent award.
But that was just the beginning of her colorful journey. Today, as a nationally recognized speed painter and a leading female talent in the field, she's signed with Prism Talent Agency. Her vibrant energy and unparalleled skill have taken her across the country, dazzling audiences from sports arenas to concerts, and corporate conferences. Annika's signature strokes and live performances have made her a sought-after name in the realm of live event entertainment.
Yet, the canvas isn't her only stage. As a motivational speaker, Annika's voice inspires and uplifts. As a lead consultant with Crown the Nation, alongside her mentor Juven Nava, she's been the guiding light for countless young women, shaping their pageant journeys with individually tailored coaching plans. And with her latest venture, Beyond the Crown, she's redefining success in the pageant world. Here, she dives deep, coaching competitors on discovering purpose beyond the title, whether they're still chasing that dream, reflecting on past glories, or finding closure on chapters left unfinished.
Today, Annika paints the town red (quite literally, with her iconic red hair!) in Wichita, continually crafting, inspiring, and leaving a trail of sparkle wherever she goes.
as seen on
"Nothing excites me more than the opportunity to inspire and make an impact in this world."
- ANNIKA WOOTON -
On June 8th, 2019, Annika Wooton, of Overland Park, Kansas, graduate of the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration, was crowned Miss Kansas 2019. As a result of COVID-19, the Miss America Organization chose to postpone the national competition in which Annika served for an unprecedented 2-year term.
Annika represented Kansas at the 2020 Miss America Competition which was broadcast live on NBC from Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Thursday, December 19, 2019.
Annika earned a Top 15 placement at the competition in addition to a non-finalist talent award for her 90-second speed painting performance of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was also recognized as the winner of the Jean Bartel Social Impact Initiative Scholarship which acknowledges her exceptional work in arts advocacy and with the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. At the culmination of the competition, Annika earned an additional $13,000 in cash scholarship at Miss America 2020.
In addition to her work in the community, Annika is both artistically and musically talented. She has traveled the country exhibiting her live painting with numerous organizations and events. Her travels have taken her across the state of Kansas, to Missouri, Florida, Virginia, and New Mexico. Her work has been featured locally in the University Daily Kansan and the Lawrence Journal World publications, as well as nationally featured in New York Magazine and Mic.com.
"Kansas has my heart. I was born here, and once I made my way back and sat still long enough to take stock of what I was surrounded by...
I saw beauty in every area of our state, a community that has supported me at every turn, and opportunity for a bright, bright future."
