Bridgeport's Dakota Swiger Captures Miss Mon County Title; Vying for Miss West Virginia
By Julie Perine on February 22, 2025
Bridgeport High School alumna Dakota Swiger will be vying for the title of Miss West Virginia to be held this June in Martinsburg.
“To win would be so very crazy. I have watched so many Miss West Virginias be crowned over the years, and it is hard for me to believe that I even have a chance at the title,” she said.
Swiger earned the chance at the recent Miss Morgantown Pageant where she was crowned Miss Mon Valley. Also crowned were Miss Morgantown’s Teen, Miss Morgantown, and Miss University City. Phases of competition included fitness, on-stage questions, private interview, talent and evening gown.
“I think that my strongest is probably private interview because I really enjoy sharing the things I am passionate about, while also having a fun conversation with a panel of judges,” she said. “I was able to talk about such a variety of topics at Miss Morgantown, and I felt that they really saw who I was in that room!”
Swiger’s passion – which she will focus on at the Miss West Virginia pageant as her Community Service Initiative – is “Empowering Youth to Lead by Embracing their Story.”
“My goal for this is to work with youth in our state and teach them how the adversity they face can make them better leaders,” she said. “I think that adversity fosters a lot of characteristics that are synonymous with great leaders, and I want to use my personal experiences to empower students!”
Swiger’s talent was a monologue she wrote about time she spent in the hospital during her early life. With her medical condition, it was unlikely during those years that she would ever become a pageant girl at all.
“I have congenital scoliosis, meaning I was born with a curve in my spine,” she said.
At four years of age, Swiger had surgery to insert metal growing rods, which had to be lengthened every six months.
“In total, I believe I have had 12 spine surgeries. My last one was I want to say 12 years ago,” she said. “While the rods I currently have were supposed to be temporary, my doctors decided not to replace them with permanent ones unless I was experiencing a lot of pain, or they broke. So far, so good!”
Swiger first started competing in the Miss America Organization in 2015 as a teen.
“I competed in probably over 10 locals that year, but never ended up with a title,” she said. “So, finally having my crowning moment this weekend was so surreal! I really love all that the organization stands for!”
Swiger is a senior at West Virginia University. She was recently named Mountaineer of Distinction. She is a journalism major, with minors in English, entertainment media, and Appalachian studies.
“I also work for athletics doing live video production. So, I work for the videoboard (inhouse/Jumbotron, essentially) productions, and ESPN+ productions of most WVU sporting events. I primarily am a relay operator at most games, but I do different positions from time to time.”
She is most proud, however, of her volunteer work with the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership “HOBY” summertime seminars for upcoming high school juniors.
“I volunteer at multiple local seminars, as well as the national one. I am currently the Co-Director of Programs at West Virginia, where I am responsible for gathering speakers, creating workshops and activities, and implementing a theme and our national curriculum.”
Miss West Virginia, slated for June 18-22, is a preliminary to Miss America. Swiger is so excited for the opportunity but is already thrilled.
“Just to have a local (title) and be able to share my Community Service Initiative (CSI) is more than enough! This is my first time at states, so I am just excited to have the experience,” she said.
After graduating from WVU, Swiger plans to attend graduate school and ultimately work in communications/media for an entertainment-based non-profit organization.
A 2021 graduate of BHS, Swiger is the daughter of Heather and Greg Swiger and sister to Tanner,
Miya, and Zeke.
Miya, and Zeke.
