four questions

Samantha Steckloff chats with Platinum.

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Brains, beauty and big plans for the future have helped

SAMANTHA STECKLOFF of Farmington Hills win

the title of Miss Oakland County — twice. The 24-year-old

Purdue University graduate, who captured the crown dur-

ing her first-ever pageant in 2002 and is the reigning Miss

Oakland County, is preparing to compete for the title of Miss

Michigan in June with the hope of going on to the Miss

America pageant while her parents, Vicki Barnett and Mark

Steckloff, and brother, Jordan, cheer her on. "There's been

only one Jewish Miss America," she says. "There's never

been a Jewish Miss Michigan, and I'm hoping to become

the first this summer." Steckloff, who's more comfortable in

jeans and a T-shirt than a gown and tiara, majored in politi-

cal science and plans to pursue a master's degree in public policy.

She helped found the mayor's youth council in Farmington Hills to

give students a voice in local government and hopes to land a job in

What book, CD or DVD
do you long to share?
The musical Rent remains
powerful for me. It's a story of
friendship and love despite ill-
ness and poverty. It's a story of
my generation's struggle to cope,
yet the tale is timeless. I love the
music, lyrics and everything about
this Broadway show. I'd also share
the book The Jewish Holidays: A
Guide and Commentary by Michael
Strassfeld, which my mother gave
me when I left home for college. It's a beautiful holi-
day-by-holiday story weaving in Torah, Talmud and
traditions.

What's your favorite Jewish food?
Sunday brunch — bagels and lox — what a
perfect combination! This is a weekly tradition
in my family, and growing up we spent nearly every
afternoon following Sunday school eating bagels, lox,
cream cheese and smoked sable while discussing world
events. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

What biblical or historical Jewish figure would
you like to have brunch with?
Bess Myerson, Miss America 1945 — the only
Jewish woman, so far, to hold the tide. A 21-year-old
from New York City, she made history when she was
crowned. Before her, the title was a gimmick to extend
the summer season at Atlantic City resorts. Myerson

What would we be surprised to know about you?
That I can't walk in heels for the life of me. I
_ grew up a huge tomboy. If you've seen the movie
Miss Congeniality, think of me as Sandra Bullock's
character. And yes, I've actually fallen flat on my face
— I almost fell on a group of judges — trying to cross
a stage in 4-inch heels.

transformed Miss America, bringing educational schol-
arships to the pageant and creating a "platform state-
ment" as she toured the country selling Victory Bonds
during World War II, all while being subjected to anti-
Semitism. After the war, she did a school tour with the
motto, "You Can't Be Beautiful and Hate." I'd like to
know how she maintained her grace and had the cour-
age to create a philanthropic movement.

3

politics, run for office or attempt to become the U.S. ambassador to

the United Nations. But for now, Steckloff says she's happy serving

as a role model for college students at University of Michigan Hillel,

where she's the Berman Fellow and program director. "I work mostly

with freshmen, planning trips and doing programming and outreach,"

explains Steckoff. "In some cases I'm a counselor, in some I'm an

adviser — I take on many roles." Here, we ask Samantha Steckloff

our version of the Four Questions. — Robin Schwartz

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