Woman in teal dress holding a blonde ventriloquist puppet in a denim dress.

Mackenzie’s fascination with ventriloquism began with one of her favorite childhood TV shows, Shari Lewis and Lambchop. She quickly graduated from homemade sock puppets to a Charlie McCarthy puppet. Thanks to her mentor, Kimberly Yeager Miller, Mackenzie went on to capture the title of Miss Ohio 2014 with her spunky "felt friend," Roxy.

The duo competed in the prestigious Miss America Scholarship Competition, where they won the Miss America Preliminary Talent Award and made it to the top 10. Their performance caught the attention of Good Morning America and The Today Show, where they were invited to appear.

Mackenzie and Roxy have traveled across the country, visiting children’s hospitals, veterans’ homes, schools, and media outlets to promote weather safety and STEM education. Roxy made waves once again when she was named the winner of the reality show America’s Next Weatherman, earning Mackenzie the opportunity to present the forecast on CNN’s New Day.

Mackenzie continues to showcase her “felt friends” at schools and events, sharing her passion for ventriloquism and the arts. Thanks to her mentor, Geoff Rams, her collection of puppets continues to grow.

Meet a few of Mackenzie’s “felt friends”…

A puppet with long black hair, sunglasses, and bright red lips is sitting in a chair holding a guitar. It is dressed in a colorful outfit with a floral pattern and a black leather jacket.

Roxy

Roxy is a spunky puppet with a flair for the dramatic! If you ask her, she has a voice that could outshine a Broadway star. Roxy is always ready with a witty comeback and never misses a chance to charm her audience with her playful banter and infectious energy.

Blonde puppet with blue eyes sitting on a brown chair

Raven

Raven is known to have a heart full of peace and a guitar always by her side! With a voice as smooth as her favorite riffs, Raven is all about spreading positivity and reminding us to embrace the rhythm of life. Get ready to rock out and in the words of Raven, “chill out”.

Puppet with gray shirt and cap sitting on an orange chair

Joe

Meet Joe, the charmingly forgetful puppet who embodies the beauty of simplicity. Though his mind may wander and memories sometimes slip, his heart is always in the right place. Joe shares delightful stories from his past, often pausing to recall where he left his glasses or what he had for breakfast.