By Christopher Johnson
If there are two people in Clare who need little introduction right now, it’s Eliy Simmer and Sabrina Chinavare. Both returned recently from Port Huron, where the Miss Michigan and Miss Michigan Teen USA pageants were held. Elected earlier this year, their summer has been one of much eager anticipation. While only one brought home a crown, both returned as champions.
The two came out for a chat at Timeout Tavern, dressed in shades of green and sporting hometown pride. They posed with their sashes outside and received numerous approaches from passersby who were quick to congratulate them.
“It doesn’t feel real. My heart was pumping and everything,” Eliy laughed. “For a moment, I even had to ask the judge to repeat the second half of the question—but all the judges laughed with me. It turned into this good, lighthearted moment.”
When asked about her challenges and how she used her platform, Eliy had the perfect response. She explained that as a pancreatic cancer survivor, she has dedicated her nonprofit work and modeling career to raising awareness of the disease. A mission that has only grown stronger through pageantry.
From backstage, Sabrina cheered her on with unshakable pride. Eliy describes her as a “miracle,” overflowing with gratitude for her older Miss Michigan counterpart.
“Just hearing her name announced,” recalls Sabrina, eyes welling with tears, “I could not stop crying on stage. She deserves every inch of this crown. To represent Clare—I’m just so proud.”
What began as a friendship between the two has blossomed into something closer to sisterhood.
“I don’t have siblings,” Eliy admitted, “and through this experience, I feel like I’ve gained an older sister. It’s been so special.”
The two tease each other often for triggering tears whenever the subject of their friendship comes up. To anyone watching, the affection is unmistakable—genuine, tender and real.
“We’d cross paths backstage just to check in,” Sabrina remembered. “She’d drop by my hotel room just to talk. My grandma even gave me Michigan earrings to give her—our grandmas play cards together.”
Sabrina, meanwhile, competed for the adult title of Miss Michigan, navigating the same interviews, rehearsals, and high-pressure moments. And while she didn’t bring home the crown, she returned every bit a champion in the eyes of her community and her sister in pageantry.
“I didn’t care that I didn’t win,” said Sabrina. “It was fine. It was my first pageant, and it was such a great experience to step out of my comfort zone and represent Clare—both of us. To encourage little girls like my niece, who told me yesterday, ‘Sabrina, when I get big someday, I want to do what you did, and wear a very pretty dress and go on stage.’ That’s very inspiring.”
“It’s disappointing to not hear your name called,” she continues. “That’s natural. That’s human instinct. But to see Eliy be called at the end, it’s a shared victory. We won. Clare won, and I was just as excited for our team.”
While Eliy will continue into the next leg of the pageantry, Sabrina’s ambition to try again as a contestant leans unlikely. Not because of disappointment, but because with as busy as she is, she just simply doesn’t need to. She values it as both a bravery experiment and learning experience—one she has grown from with satisfaction.
“it’s something I wanted to try. It’s a time-consuming thing, and that’s okay, but I have bigger things to do now. I’d rather try it, than say I wish I tried it.”
For anybody who hadn’t seen the dresses both girls were showcasing, Eliy wore a black evening gown with tiered ruffles that flowed to the floor, paired with her crown and a bouquet of pink flowers. Beside her, Sabrina stood in a bright yellow, off-the-shoulder gown. With beaded embellishments along the sleeves and side panel. The fitted design finishing in a graceful train.
“I could not find a colorful one,” admits Eliy. “Black’s my color. It’s classy, elegant, and you can wear anything with it. Any kind of jewelry.”
Both girls agree that the most challenging part of the whole experience is balancing and time management. Sabrina cites a myriad of things she has had to juggle. Such as prepping, working (as an esthetician), long distance relationship, coaching volleyball league, and babysitting. All while maintaining a social life and managing her mental health.
“I’m naturally an anxious person.” Says Sabrina. “So, keeping that in check and turning anxiety into excitement was an ongoing thing. Rather than just letting that overwhelm or discourage me.”
Eliy agrees, adding that anything she can do to enable a sensibility that allows her to smile is paramount. Despite occasional fears of letting Clare down, she focused on smiling and enjoying the moment.
“I feel like Clare has done so much for me, especially when I was going through treatment. Like, when I was diagnosed with cancer, literally everybody in the community came together and supported me. Within a couple hours of being diagnosed, people were reaching out. Cops & Doughnuts were already getting fundraisers started with the cookies. I just didn’t want to let them down whatsoever. I’m just so grateful I was able to represent this community.”
What makes this victory especially remarkable is the path that led to it. Neither Eliy nor Sabrina relied on a coach, modeling agent, or pageant consultant to guide them through the process. For both, this was their very first competition—a debut into a world where many contestants arrive with years of experience and professional preparation behind them. Against that backdrop, Eliy’s triumph stands out as nothing short of sensational: a newcomer stepping onto the stage and outshining long-running, repeat competitors to claim the crown.
Even so, the energy that surrounded nearly every team was one of endearment and genuine support for one another, and both girls are not without new friends.
“All the girls—when I got crowned,” Eliy recalled, “they all came up to hug me. They were saying, ‘I knew you were going to win!’ and ‘I’m so happy for you,’ and ‘You deserve this.’ I had shared my story with them, and they were all just so sweet and beautiful.”
Eliy and Sabrina observed little to no attitude from their rivals. Whereas some events are known to yield dressing room drama and related horror stories. This was not one of them.
“In the end, you’re there for one another,” Eliy said with pride. “Whoever wins, wins—but it’s about the friends you make along the way.”
Sabrina added, “Having the support from all those women last weekend was very empowering. There wasn’t jealousy or anything like that. Of course, there’s a little competitiveness—it’s a competition, after all—but the support was stronger.”
A few fun things about this year’s Miss Michigan Teen: After the pageant ended, she went straight to the pickle aisle in Meijer for a victory photo with her favorite comfort food. She then paired a jar of pickles with some Taco Bell and dined like a queen. She also loves Marvel, superheroes, Weezer and alternative rock. Very much a 90s kid at heart.
Eliy starts CMU this semester while the pageant continues to crown the remaining winners in other places. Sabrina continues to broaden her own personal journey and remains hard at work in the community and skincare profession. A woman of stout faith, she is thankful and excited to see where God will take her next.
The next level of the Miss Michigan Teen 2025 will present itself in due time and more to come on that when it happens.
