Brooklyn Hyland refused to wear a dress or get on stage as a young child.
“You wouldn’t catch me up there,” she told the Daily Leader.
Now, she’s Miss Prairie Village, a title she earned through her public speaking and presentation skills — and, importantly, wearing a dress on stage.
The Hyland name is famous in Prairie Village. The Hyland School bears her family’s name, and her grandparents, Ray and Esther, were well-known volunteers and advocates for it. The school, in particular, drew them to Prairie Village, as Ray grew up attending it.
Brooklyn Hyland, left, and Natasha Zemlicka were named the 2026 Miss Prairie Village and Miss Prairie Princess at the annual Prairie Village Pageant May 30.
Zac Zwaschka / Madison Daily Leader
But that’s far from the only connection. Brooklyn’s older sister, Bailey, won the Miss Prairie Village crown in 2023, and in 2018, Bailey served as Miss Prairie Princess aside her cousin, Maddie Eich.
Brooklyn spent her summers embracing the history and joys of Prairie Village, learning with and helping her grandparents and her other family members.
“Prairie Village is a place I hold really close to my heart,” she said.
Brooklyn Hyland receives her 2026 Miss Prairie Village crown from 2025 Miss Prairie Village Aedan Klawonn.
Zac Zwaschka / Madison Daily Leader
The year after Bailey’s win, Brooklyn was dusting the opera house and cleaning it up for the pageant. It was there that Sydnie Waldner, pageant director, made a simple request: come and watch it.
The dancing, the talents, the speeches and the smiles convinced Brooklyn to get on stage the next year in the Miss Prairie Princess contest. The experience was unforgettable, Brooklyn said, and she had loads of fun.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she only got to compete once before she aged out of the competition.
That fun she had in the pageant before convinced her to give it another go, this time for Miss Prairie Village at 14.
Misfortune struck again. Ray and Esther died, and the Prairie Village she grew up loving suddenly became a reminder of who she had lost.
Brooklyn Hyland performs on her saxophone during the 2026 Miss Prairie Village Pageant for the talent section.
Zac Zwaschka / Madison Daily Leader
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to do it again,” Brooklyn said.
At age 15, she was more mature and sure of herself. With the encouragement of family and friends, she went for it. Though she didn’t win, she was able to have fun with it again.
Then, to continue making good friends and have some fun, she competed again at age 16.
She won.
“It was a lot of emotions,” she said of the night. “I felt really proud, and I was so proud of the journey I had.”
The competition wasn’t easy. Going in, Brooklyn said she thought everyone had a chance to win.
Brooklyn also attributes her win to the support of her family and friends. Her role models, including her grandparents and parents Lori and Rick, were key.
Meaningful mentorship served as her platform for that reason and more. As a student of the small Oldham-Ramona-Rutland School District, she grew up playing sports with the older girls. As a rising junior, she has taken served in the Educators Rising mentorship program and on multiple leadership boards, including student council.
As Miss Prairie Village, Brooklyn has taken on a one-to-one mentorship role with her Miss Prairie Village, Natasha Zemlicka.
Miss Prairie Village Brooklyn Hyland, right, grins as Miss Prairie Princess Natasha Zemlicka waves during the 2026 Northern Bull Riding Tour in Prairie Village in June.
Wren Murphy / Madison Daily Leader
“She’s so much fun,” Brooklyn said. “I love her personality.”
Mentorship roles fulfill her, Brooklyn said. They help her consider other points of view and feel proud when her mentee accomplishes something new.
She might even turn mentorship into a career. Brooklyn’s top choice is radiology, inspired by her aunt, Jenna Dawson, who is a radiology tech, and her other option is teaching.
While those jobs are for a future Brooklyn, this summer is for being Miss Prairie Village and, for the first time in pageant history, working at Prairie Village itself, said Faron Wahl, Prairie Village’s manager.
“Brooklyn is literally wearing two hats, or one hat and one crown,” Wahl said. “Brooklyn’s a great employee, and she’s been a very professional and thoughtful Miss Prairie Village.”
While her dual roles have posed some challenges from a scheduling perspective, it’s one Wahl and others are happy to work through, he said.
“It’s been a joy to have her be that person, because she’s holding the positions with great hands,” Wahl added.
While wearing both hats, Brooklyn hopes to spread the message that Prairie Village is for everyone, not just history buffs or tractor enthusiasts.
Brooklyn Hyland steps through a hula hoop during a school game day at the Oldham-Ramona-Rutland School District in May 2026. Hyland, a student of the small district, was crowned Miss Prairie Village just weeks later.
Wren Murphy / Madison Daily Leader
She’s made family memories, whether volunteering with her grandparents or bonding over earning her older sister’s title. She’s learned new things and met new people. As Miss Prairie Village and an employee, she’s made new memories and enjoyed new experiences.
“It’s just a great place to be and spend your time,” Brooklyn said.
More than anything else, however, Prairie Village has shown her how she’s grown.
From the young girl who refused to get on stage to the young woman who confidently speaks with strangers, from the preteen struggling with the loss of her grandparents to the teenager who can make new memories in their honor, Brooklyn has grown as a person.
For all the little examples in conversations, beliefs and feelings, the Miss Prairie Village pageant is a way for her to see her evolution. On stage and while receiving her crown, she was Brooklyn Hyland, and no one else.
To put it simply: “I felt more like myself than ever.”
2026 Miss Prairie Village Brooklyn Hyland smiles as she prepares to toss out a handful of candy during Ramona’s annual Fourth of July parade.
Zac Zwaschka / Madison Daily Leader