The competition may be in Oshkosh, but this year's Miss Wisconsin pageant has so far been "all Racine, all the time."

Briana Lipor of Racine is last year's champion and this year's emcee. Prairie School student Jeanette Morelan won Miss Wisconsin's Outstanding Teen 2009 on Wednesday. And Miss Racine 2009, Sha-Nita Rhea, won Thursday's preliminary talent round for her performance of the opera song "O mio babbino caro."

"It's been all Racine, all the time so far," said Debra Morrall, executive director of Miss Racine.

Rhea beat 12 other competitors to win the preliminary. She gets to divide up a $1,000 cash prize with the other preliminary winners, but how she fares in the overall pageant field of 26 depends on her performance during the interview, swimsuit and evening gown portions of the event.

Emily Curtiss, Miss Burlington Area Chocolatefest 2009, is also competing. Saturday night is the final night of competition, when Miss Wisconsin 2009 will be crowned.

Rhea said Friday that she's feeling confident heading into the weekend. But, she added, "You never know, there's so much talent."

She faces tough competition, said Jeanie Hatfield, field director for the southeast part of the state. But, she added, "Obviously the judges like her."

Rhea is originally from Beloit but she was allowed to participate in the Miss Racine pageant because she was a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, and Parkside students can compete in the Racine pageant, Morrall said.

Rhea said she works in Racine and plans to move there when she graduates from Parkside next year.

She ages out of the program after this year's competition, but plans to continue being involved. "Whether I win or lose, I'm going to stay with the Racine program," she said.

Morelan beat six other competitors to take the Outstanding Teen crown on Wednesday. "Her interview just was outstanding," Hatfield said.

Morelan is volunteering with Children's Miracle Network, the DARE program and Miss America's Outstanding Teen as she prepares for the national event in Orlando, Fla.

"It hasn't really set in yet, but it was such an honor to be crowned," Morelan said.

"I'm so excited that we're putting Racine on the map," she added.

How to watch

The pageant is being held at the Alberta Kimball Auditorium in Oshkosh and starts at 7:30 p.m. The Oshkosh Northwestern will have live streaming video on its Web site.