Latuff's first pageant experience was an unsuccessful bid to become Miss Bayfront in Duluth, Minnesota.[1] On July 21, 2012, Latuff won the Miss Midwest 2012 title.[2] She competed in the 2013 Miss Minnesota pageant with the platform "Teach For America: Creating a Better Tomorrow for Youth Education" and a ribbon dance performance in the talent portion of the competition.[3][4] She was not a finalist for the state title.[4]
On January 4, 2014, Latuff won the Miss Saint Paul 2014 title.[5] She competed in the 2014 Miss Minnesota pageant with the platform "Engage, Educate, Empower: Building Cultural Competency Through the Arts" and a ribbon dance performance in the talent portion of the competition.[6][7] She was named fourth runner-up to winner Savannah Cole and won the pageant's Lifestyle and Fitness Award.[7]
As a runner-up for Miss Minnesota, Latuff was chosen to represent Minnesota at the 2014 National Sweetheart pageant in Hoopeston, Illinois.[8] She tied for the John Bitner Judge's Award but was not a finalist for this national crown.[9]
Miss Minnesota 2015
On January 17, 2015, Latuff was crowned Miss Olmsted County 2015 and qualified for a third try at the state title.[10][11] She entered the Miss Minnesota pageant at Eden Prairie High School in June 2015 as one of 27 local pageant qualifiers.[12][13] Latuff's competition talent was a contemporary ribbon dance.[12] Her platform is "Teaching the Heart: Building the Social and Emotional Wellness of Youth and their Teachers".[12]
Latuff won the competition on Saturday, June 13, 2015, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss Minnesota titleholder Savannah Cole.[14] She earned more than $9,000 in scholarship money and other prizes from the state pageant. As Miss Minnesota, her activities include public appearances across the state of Minnesota.[12]
In honor of her win, Wyatt's Twisted Americana restaurant in Hastings, Minnesota, added a special cheeseburger to their menu. Called "Miss Minnesota's Own – Rachel's Four Point Burger", it was served with lettuce, pickles, onions, and tomatoes and a side of french fries plus an onion ring topped by "sweet sparkles" as an imitation of her crown.[15] Proceeds from the sale of the cheeseburger were donated to Latuff's platform cause and it was only available during the city's Rivertown Days festival in mid-July 2015.[15]
Vying for Miss America 2016
Latuff was Minnesota's representative at the Miss America 2016 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 2015.[14][16] In the televised finale on September 13, 2015, she placed outside the Top 15 semi-finalists and was eliminated from competition. She was awarded a $3,000 scholarship prize as her state's representative.[17][18]