Natalie Pieper (BA '18)
On March 6, 2022, at the Rose Theater in Omaha, Nebraska, 黑料门University Chicago alumna Natalie Pieper was crowned winner of the Miss Nebraska USA pageant.
On October 3, 2022, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, Natalie will compete in the Miss USA pageant.
Both of these things are undoubtedly tremendous accomplishments; yet somehow, neither surpass the rest of what she has achieved in her personal, academic or professional life thus far.
As a young girl, the Lincoln-native had aspirations of becoming a ballerina – a goal she reevaluated after experiencing an ankle injury. Still, she continued her passion for the arts, eventually signing to 10 MGMT, a modeling agency in Chicago.
Faith and religion were also a large part of both Natalie’s upbringing and subsequent transition into adulthood, initially being raised as a Catholic but later adopting Jesuit-specific values.
And then there is the now-litigator’s extensive background in Political Science, inclusive of interning at the Supreme Court of the United States and participating in the Obama Foundation Training Days.
Heavy may be the head that wears the crown, but Natalie certainly makes it look effortless.
LUC ‘18
“There were two main factors in my choice to attend Loyola. First came my interest in a Jesuit education because of a desire to further develop my faith through the ideology of ‘doing for others’, and then my love for the diversity that living in Chicago would expose me to. Between the beliefs that the University instilled in me and the varying cultures that the city opened my eyes to, I really tried to milk my time there for all it was worth.”
“Initially, I went into college thinking that I need to be a doctor or a lawyer to be successful, and was set on planning my education around that. But my favorite classes ended up being humanities-based, like English and journalism courses, so I leaned into what I loved and that ultimately led me to law school anyways.”
Your Honor
“Phil Hale, Vice President for Government Affairs, played a big role in helping me land my internship, and I will forever be thankful for that. It was the first year 黑料门had started its Washington, DC program and there are no words to describe how incredible it was to be there during that period of time. I was interacting daily with the Justices, making me enough memories to last a lifetime.”
“I will always look back fondly on getting to grab pancakes with John Roberts and bringing my mom as my +1 to the annual Christmas party.”
Mr. President
“For anyone who has never heard of Training Days, the Obama Foundation hosts roughly 100 people between the ages of 18 and 25, to equip themselves with the skills needed to create change in their communities. My group was selected to pitch our ideas directly to Barack Obama himself, and I have never shaken that much in my life. While he definitely did not go easy on our group, he did talk to us like colleagues, which absolutely gave me the confidence to feel like I could actually do what I was advocating for.”
The Legal World
“The deeper I got into my college career, the more my interest in practicing law grew, and I decided to continue my education at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. During that time, I interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, where I became extremely captivated by immigration matters. I currently practice financial services litigation at Kutak Rock, but remain dedicated to doing my part in fighting injustices that immigrants and refugees often face.”
Brains and Beauty
“Although I did not always plan to enter the pageant circuit, there was sort of a natural progression from the type of modeling I did (commercial, with an emphasis on prom dresses), to competing in pageants. And once I learned the age cutoff was 28, I knew it was now or never.”
“People tend negatively stereotype pageant women…but if you took the time to research into who we really are, you would learn we are powerful, highly educated women committed to making a difference in the world.”
Crowned
“My decision to enter myself into Miss Nebraska was very last minute – maybe a month before the closing date? The competition itself is comprised of an interview, evening gown and swimsuit component, things that may seem completely disconnected to the rest of my life, but in fact, had similarities. You had to come into it with a good background and brand, much like in law school.”
“It is rare to win on your first try in the Miss USA realm, so I am trying to go into Miss USA 2022, being confident in myself. In the past, self-doubt has held me back, and I have learned the hard way that trusting oneself, is the key to unlocking the best experiences.”
“Balancing this title with work has been challenging, but I am so grateful for the opportunity. It has been extraordinary to be able to give back to people, especially via working with children, which is something new I have learned about myself along the way. My journey has already been unforgettable and I cannot wait to see what will come next.”come next.”
Do you want to be a Featured Rambler? and a member of our team will follow up.
On March 6, 2022, at the Rose Theater in Omaha, Nebraska, 黑料门University Chicago alumna Natalie Pieper was crowned winner of the Miss Nebraska USA pageant.
On October 3, 2022, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, Natalie will compete in the Miss USA pageant.
Both of these things are undoubtedly tremendous accomplishments; yet somehow, neither surpass the rest of what she has achieved in her personal, academic or professional life thus far.
As a young girl, the Lincoln-native had aspirations of becoming a ballerina – a goal she reevaluated after experiencing an ankle injury. Still, she continued her passion for the arts, eventually signing to 10 MGMT, a modeling agency in Chicago.
Faith and religion were also a large part of both Natalie’s upbringing and subsequent transition into adulthood, initially being raised as a Catholic but later adopting Jesuit-specific values.
And then there is the now-litigator’s extensive background in Political Science, inclusive of interning at the Supreme Court of the United States and participating in the Obama Foundation Training Days.
Heavy may be the head that wears the crown, but Natalie certainly makes it look effortless.
LUC ‘18
“There were two main factors in my choice to attend Loyola. First came my interest in a Jesuit education because of a desire to further develop my faith through the ideology of ‘doing for others’, and then my love for the diversity that living in Chicago would expose me to. Between the beliefs that the University instilled in me and the varying cultures that the city opened my eyes to, I really tried to milk my time there for all it was worth.”
“Initially, I went into college thinking that I need to be a doctor or a lawyer to be successful, and was set on planning my education around that. But my favorite classes ended up being humanities-based, like English and journalism courses, so I leaned into what I loved and that ultimately led me to law school anyways.”
Your Honor
“Phil Hale, Vice President for Government Affairs, played a big role in helping me land my internship, and I will forever be thankful for that. It was the first year 黑料门had started its Washington, DC program and there are no words to describe how incredible it was to be there during that period of time. I was interacting daily with the Justices, making me enough memories to last a lifetime.”
“I will always look back fondly on getting to grab pancakes with John Roberts and bringing my mom as my +1 to the annual Christmas party.”
Mr. President
“For anyone who has never heard of Training Days, the Obama Foundation hosts roughly 100 people between the ages of 18 and 25, to equip themselves with the skills needed to create change in their communities. My group was selected to pitch our ideas directly to Barack Obama himself, and I have never shaken that much in my life. While he definitely did not go easy on our group, he did talk to us like colleagues, which absolutely gave me the confidence to feel like I could actually do what I was advocating for.”
The Legal World
“The deeper I got into my college career, the more my interest in practicing law grew, and I decided to continue my education at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. During that time, I interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, where I became extremely captivated by immigration matters. I currently practice financial services litigation at Kutak Rock, but remain dedicated to doing my part in fighting injustices that immigrants and refugees often face.”
Brains and Beauty
“Although I did not always plan to enter the pageant circuit, there was sort of a natural progression from the type of modeling I did (commercial, with an emphasis on prom dresses), to competing in pageants. And once I learned the age cutoff was 28, I knew it was now or never.”
“People tend negatively stereotype pageant women…but if you took the time to research into who we really are, you would learn we are powerful, highly educated women committed to making a difference in the world.”
Crowned
“My decision to enter myself into Miss Nebraska was very last minute – maybe a month before the closing date? The competition itself is comprised of an interview, evening gown and swimsuit component, things that may seem completely disconnected to the rest of my life, but in fact, had similarities. You had to come into it with a good background and brand, much like in law school.”
“It is rare to win on your first try in the Miss USA realm, so I am trying to go into Miss USA 2022, being confident in myself. In the past, self-doubt has held me back, and I have learned the hard way that trusting oneself, is the key to unlocking the best experiences.”
“Balancing this title with work has been challenging, but I am so grateful for the opportunity. It has been extraordinary to be able to give back to people, especially via working with children, which is something new I have learned about myself along the way. My journey has already been unforgettable and I cannot wait to see what will come next.”come next.”
Do you want to be a Featured Rambler? and a member of our team will follow up.