Career
Early pageants
Fechtel began competing in beauty pageants as a child. Mission Florida 2015
Entering the state pageant in June 2015 as one of 47 finalists, Fechtel"s Mission Florida 2015 pageant competition talent was a lyrical dance to the song "Listen" by Beyoncé. Her platform is "The Worth Campaign: Human Trafficking Awareness and Vulnerability".
She earned more than $18,000 in scholarship money and other prizes from the state pageant.
As Mission Florida, her activities include public appearances across the state of Florida. In the televised finale on September 13, 2015, she danced to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" during the talent portion of the competition.
Fechtel placed in the Top 10 finalists and earned a $7,000 scholarship award. Sisterly parallels
Mary Katherine"s older sister, Elizabeth Fechtel, succeeded her as Mission Orlando"s Outstanding Teen 2011 and Mission Florida"s Outstanding Teen 2011.
Elizabeth was crowned Mission Florida in 2014, just as Mary Katherine would be in 2015, but Elizabeth was demoted to first runner-up after just six days when an error tabulating judges" scores was discovered.
Fechtel is a native of Leesburg, Florida, and a 2012 graduate of First Academy High School in Leesburg. Her father is Vince Fechtel and her mother is Dixie Fechtel. Fechtel is an undergraduate student at the University of Florida where she studies family, youth, and community sciences.
She withdrew from classes for the duration of her reign to fulfill her duties as Mission Florida.
