Both are very experienced, with similar placement histories. Alyse was a semi-finalist in 2013 & 2016, second runner-up in 2017 and first runner-up in 2018. Alexis was a semi-finalist in 2016 and second runner-up in 2017 & 2018.
Alyse is the fifth consecutive MIchigan winner who had competed at least twice prior to winning the title. Past Michigan state pageant results can be seen here. All five of the most recent winners had been a runner-up in a previous year. Alexis is only the fourth winner in the past 15 years who had been a runner-up previously.
The top 16 included two-time runner-up Laura Esqueda (first runner-up in 2017), last year's fourth runner-up Marinela Margegaj and Miss Michigan Teen USA 2011 Taylor Sherman. Five-time non-finalist Hailey Urbach broke into the semi-finals for the first time, as did two-time NF Alexis Weston. Other semi-finalists were 2018 non-finalist Kai Movrich, 2016 non-finalist Marilyn Manchell, and newcomers Tara Althaus, Katelyn Curthoys, Allie Graziano and Mickaela Marietta-Wiley.
Devon Kardel won the Congeniality award for the second year in a row, and Marilyn Mancell was Miss Photogenic.
2017 first runner-up Alma Cooper was a semi-finalist for the second year in a row, and two-time semi-finalist Julia Duffrin made the top 16 for the third consecutive year. The rest of the top 16 were all competing for the first time: Sydney Arch, Clair Brown, Téa Comai, Kali Crotty, Ciale Dorman, Amadya Feras, Maria Liberty Fields, Shahrazad Louis and Gia Scott.
Full results
1RU: Victoria Davis (SF 16, NF 14, SF MI TUSA 13)
2RU: Emily Stevenson (NF 18, NF 16)
3RU: Elyse Sholtis (SF TN USA 17)
4RU: Unjaneé Wells (MI TUSA 16, 2RU 15, 4RU 14)
Semi-finalists:
Tara Althaus
Katelyn Curthoys
Laura Esqueda (SF 18, 1RU 17, NF 16, 4RU 15, SF MI TUSA 14)
Allie Graziano
Marilyn Manchell (NF 16)
Marinela Margegaj (4RU 18, NF 17)
Mickaela Marietta-Wiley
Kai Movrich (NF MI TUSA 17)
Taylor Sherman (SF 15, MI TUSA 11)
Hailey Urbach (NF 17, NF 16, NF 15, NF NJ USA 13, NF NJ USA 12)
Alexis Weston (NF MI TUSA 17, NF 16)
Congeniality: Devon Kardel
Photogenic: Marilyn Manchell
1RU: Rebecca Larsen (SF 18)
2RU: Keri Martin (3RU 18, SF 17, SF 16)
3RU: Erica Rodgers
4RU: Alexis Fagan-Williams (1RU 18, SF 17, 3RU 16)
Semi-finalists:
Sydney Arch
Clair Brown
Téa Comai
Alma Cooper (SF 18, 1RU 17)
Kali Crotty
Ciale Dorman
Julia Duffrin (SF 18, SF 17)
Amadya Feras
Maria Liberty Fields
Shahrazad Louis
Gia Scott
Congeniality: Linda Sinishtaj
Photogenic: Alexis Fagan-Williams