Miss North Dakota prepares for Miss America pageant

Written by Nadine Aljets Friday, 29 January 2010 08:00

When most people think of the Miss America pageant, they tend to only think of the gorgeous evening gowns and the swimsuit competition. They do not think of the time and effort those women have spent in the previous months and years in preparation for those few moments on stage. Miss North Dakota 2010 Katie Ralston is certainly no stranger to pageant preparation.

Ralston, who began competing in pageants in 2005, has participated in 12 of them overall. She competed in the Miss North Dakota America pageant five times before finally achieving her dream of representing the state as Miss North Dakota.

“Over 12,000 women compete across the nation to win one of 53 titles that lead to the Miss America pageant, and I am so honored to be a part of that,” Ralston said.

Ralston, who is a Tri-College student at MSUM majoring in communication, has taken the year off from school to focus all of her energy on the job of Miss North Dakota. “It is a full-time gig. I’m on the road four or five days a week doing my school tour,” Ralston said.

She humbly added that “it is not a position that you’re hired for; it is one that you’re chosen for.” Ralston’s school tour is devoted to her platform issue, which is “Walk This Way: The Path of Leadership.”

“I think that the word leader might scare people sometimes, but it is something that can be simple. It just calls people to do something,” she said. Ralston has visited 50 North Dakota schools and spoken to over 15,600 students about becoming a role model and a leader for others.

While her platform issue is mainly presented to middle and high school students, she acknowledged that it is truly applicable to people of all ages.

“Many college students may not think of themselves as leaders, but we are,” Ralston said.

“We’re able to balance school, work and even a social life, while being involved in student organizations, music activities and athletics. Even with all of that, we are involved in our communities through volunteering,” Ralston added. She praised students who enthusiastically helped fight the Fargo flood last spring, and she mentioned that even those simple acts of kindness show a lot about a person.

Ralston has been touring across North Dakota and its schools since she won her title in June 2009, but she took the month of January off to prepare for Miss America.

The Miss America pageant, which will be aired on TLC, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m., from Planet Hollywood Casino and Resort, is something that Ralston is anxiously awaiting. She left for Las Vegas on Jan. 20 where she will be competing against 52 other women representing the 50 states and the Virgin Islands, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

The Miss America pageant has even thrown a twist into the competition this year. America will have the chance to select four contestants that will then be in the top 15. The contestants will choose 12 women and of those 12, America can vote at www.tlc.com for their favorite. The four women receiving the most votes will automatically be in the top 15.

Ralston, herself, would be overjoyed to make it into the final 15, but she added that she is not a very competitive person. “I really just want to take in every moment; this is something that I’ll only get to do once, so I’m excited to spend quality time with some of the most talented women in the nation,” Ralston said excitedly.

In the meantime, Ralston has been focusing on her preparations. “It’s been a balancing act, and I’ve been trying to prepare physically, mentally and emotionally,” she said. She noted that among her preparations, she has been reading the news, listening to talk radio and researching issues that affect our country. “I’ve also been trying to practice my talent [singing] as much as possible. I sing in the car. I sing at home,” Ralston said. “I think my mom and sister are getting sick of my singing,” she jokingly added.

And while Ralston enjoys the busy schedule of representing the state as Miss North Dakota, she is still like any other 23-year-old college student. “I love nothing more than curling up on the couch in my favorite sweatpants, my slipper socks and enjoying a cup of hot cocoa while watching a movie,” she said.

It is easy to see that behind the crown and the stunning gowns, Ralston is just another woman who has worked so hard to achieve her dream. She does not attempt to be anyone she is not. “All I can do is be myself and if I stand out in the other contestants’ eyes, then that’s cool; if I stand out in the judges’ eyes, then that’s great,” she said. “To be unique, you have to be yourself.”

Ralston does just that – she is herself whether she is speaking to an auditorium full of students, stunning an audience with her elegance and grace, or even just lounging with her friends while wearing her favorite sweatpants.