Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/72324
liveIn the Moment The bid for the Crown From June 13-16, Haber- man will compete against more than 20 hopefuls in the Miss Wisconsin pageant. Visit misswisconsin.com for more information. with Mariah Haberman Speaking out about alcohol abuse as Miss Wisconsin Central Mariah Haberman is just 24, yet she strides to the podium at a local Boys and Girls Club with a poise beyond her years. She's at ease with the intimate crowd—a comfort befi t- ting her role as Miss Wisconsin Central. Th e story she's here to tell isn't one of beauty pageants—it's about a decidedly less glamorous reality she's fi ghting to change: Alcoholism. Her drive comes from personal experience. Growing up in Evansville, always made excuses for [my family]." Eventually, the excuses ran out. Haber- Haberman's mother and stepfather suffered from alcoholism, often leaving Haberman to fend for herself and her four younger siblings. "Alco- hol seeped into our life," she says. "But I man's stepfather was killed in a drunk driving accident. Meanwhile, her mother acquired multiple DUIs, lost custody of Haberman and her siblings, and drifted in and out of rehab, never able to beat the addiction. Away at the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh, Haberman refl ected on alcohol's role in her family's life. "Th ese things could have been prevented," she says. Her solution? Speaking out. In a culture known for binge drinking, her message is meant to encourage fellow Wisconsinites to recognize the signs of alcohol addiction and seek help. "What makes Wisconsin unique is that we're proud of [this culture]," she says. "Companies profi t on the fact that Wis- consin is out drinking." Today, she's turned her honest story into a presentation called "A Shot of Reality: Alcohol Addiction," which she delivers while representing her pageant title. While pageantry wasn't a world she had planned to enter (Haberman signed up on a whim after being lured by its profes- sional and educational opportunities), it now provides a fi tting way for her to spread her message. She'll be taking it to a broader audience at the annual Miss Wis- consin competition this month. Whether she wins the title or not, Haberman's mission remains the same. "Th is is a passion that I have for life," she says. —Mollie Busby June 2012 bravamagazine.com 11 Photo by Amber Arnold