New Miss N.D. ready for busy year

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) — The new Miss North Dakota is ready to start her reign, in a year that will include talking to students about leadership.

Katie Ralston of Carrington was crowned Saturday night in Williston as the pageant marked its 60th anniversary.

Ralston, 22, covered her face, shaking, for a few mo-ments when she heard the an-nouncement, then grinned.

In the talent part of the competition, she sang a musical comedy selection that had the audience in stitches.

In her interview with the judges as one of five finalists, Ralston was asked to imagine she were at a party and God showed up at the door. She was asked whether she would have to change what she was saying or doing.

“Absolutely not,” she replied and went on to talk about her faith-based family. “It is through God you get through that first year as Miss North Dakota,” she said. “I’m so thankful God has been with me every step of the way.”

Ralston was among 21 contestants in the pageant. She plans to focus over the next year on speaking with students to developing leadership, with the theme: “Walk this way.”

“I’ll go to schools and talk to students about being leaders in their schools and being role-models and just helping them realize the impact that they can have on their communities,” Ralston said.

Ralston is taking a break from her communications studies at Minnesota State University, Moorhead. She has a year left before graduation.

She will compete in the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas in January.

Ralston succeeds Tessie Jones of West Fargo, who crowned the new Miss North Dakota on Saturday night.

Jaci Stofferahn of Fargo, the first runner-up, and Ralston hugged as the two waited to hear which of them would be the new Miss North Dakota.

Stofferahn said the pageant “has given me the opportunity to learn about myself.”

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