Kenzie Hrobar McCracken

April 2025 Issue

by Edwina Hoyle
Photography (top) by Cassidy Dunn Photography

 

Kenzie McCracken exudes confidence and a desire to live her best life. From beauty pageants to Spartan races to motherhood, she does it all.

Kenzie was born and raised on Hilton Head Island and attended Hilton Head High School, where she was a cheerleader, earning a competitive cheer scholarship to Limestone University in Gaffney, SC. The University is a longtime sponsor of the South Carolina Peach Festival, which includes the Peach Festival Beauty Pageant held on the Limestone campus. With all the excitement surrounding the festival, Kenzie decided to compete.

This was her first competition and Kenzie had an interview with the judges to present her social impact goals. She chose to speak about addiction. “My dad was 15-years-sober, so I spoke about breaking the stigma, getting needed help, and focusing on the children associated with addicts. One judge told me my interview went so well, I should continue to compete with my messaging.” Though she did not win Miss SC Peach Festival, in January 2017, Kenzie earned the title of Miss Clemson.

“We grow up with ideas that hold people back in life,” Kenzie said. “But this gave me the strength to continue to talk about addiction. I’m comfortable to tell my story, my dad’s story, and have no shame. I would love to do pageant work to help young girls find their passions and love themselves.”

Kenzie wanted to compete in the Miss South Carolina Pageant, hoping to move on to either Miss America or Miss Universe. Her hopes were dashed when she learned contestants were not allowed to be married or have children. However, in 2022, those regulations changed for the Miss Universe competitions, and Kenzie competed in the Miss South Carolina Pageant and placed in the Top 10.

“Your life may not always go the way you want, but you have to keep going to achieve your dreams,” Kenzie said.

She and her husband, Lyle McCracken, were living in Greenville, SC, but wanted to move home to Hilton Head. Her father, wanting to give back to the community, worked at Hilton Head Fire and Rescue, first as a firefighter, then as a paramedic. “Dad told me about a job in the 911 call center, and I was hired. I worked over five years as a dispatcher and trainer, then nearly two years in marketing. I told my father, “Dad, you finding your passion led me to my job and the happiness I’ve found in my career.’” She is now the marketing and communication specialist for Hilton Head Fire and Rescue and also handles the marketing and public relations for Holy Tequila restaurant.

Kenzie has always been physically active, but having two children has changed her routine a bit. She now burns her energy inside at the gym. She feels it’s a safe space for her to clear her head. She also runs with her friend, Colter, from the fire department. “We usually run down the New River Trail together.

One day, he suggested we sign up for the Spartan Race in Dallas, Texas. So, I did the Super Race in October 2024. I had to run a 10K, which is 6.2 miles with 25 obstacles. I had only ever done a 5K,” Kenzie said.

She had to climb walls that were 7 to 30-feet high. She crawled under barbed wire and faced all kinds of agility and endurance exercises. “The Mud Dug was a challenge. The mud was up to my waist, and at the end was a high wall that came down to my knees. So, I had to crawl under the mud to get through, then immediately climb another wall. This was the first Spartan race I did, and I had trained, but not nearly enough. I wanted to challenge myself and push myself beyond my comfort zone.”

In Texas, Kenzie competed with a wide range of athletes ages 18 to late 50s. “I liked the positive environment. The world of fitness can be intimidating, but the people were so supportive. They’d help you if needed. Everyone just wants to finish. A woman in her mid-40s told me to stand on her shoulders and hoisted me over a wall,” Kenzie shared.

Next November, Kenzie plans on competing in another Spartan Race, this time in Newberry, SC. “I’m aiming to cut my time down; I’m working out five or six days a week doing cardio and endurance, lifting and pulling for upper body strength. Now every time I mention the Spartan Race, some of the firefighters challenge me to come and do their firefighter physical ability assessment.”

Her friend, Colter, will join her again at the Spartan in Newberry, and Kelsey’s trying to convince Lyle, her dad, her stepmother and her brothers to participate, too. Her 7-year-old son, Cannon, is exercising with Kenzie in the garage, just in case the timing works out for him to compete in the kids race. “He wants to be a big and strong athlete one day!” Like mother, like son.

Up Close:

• Husband Lyle played sports in high school and now coaches his son’s baseball team.

• Kenzie sang in the choir at Hilton Head Christian Academy, and for her talent competition in the pageant, she sang Jeff Buckley’s rendition of Hallelujah.

• Kenzie loves singing karaoke with Disney tunes at home with her two sons, Cannon, 7 and Carter, 3.

• Kenzie’s family lives in Bluffton with their two dogs: a 9-year-old Rottweiler and an 8-year-old German Shepherd.

• She and Lyle are big sports fans, especially if Clemson is playing!