Miss SD Miranda Mack serves state while prepping for Miss America pageant

Miranda Mack hugs Carol Nesbitt, former 1980 Miss South Dakota as she converses with Miss South Dakota 2016 Julia Olson. 

By EMILY De WAARD Managing Editor

Miranda Mack, former Miss SDSU, was crowned Miss South Dakota June 17 in Hot Springs. Winning this title qualifies her for the national Miss America Pageant this September in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The senior music education major from South Dakota State University said she is already looking ahead to this competition.

“I know the [national] pageant will take a lot more work,” Mack said. “But I know I’ll have tons and tons of help available to me and access to networks of former winners and people who can really offer me support.”

Mack plans to continue with opera as her talent, singing the operatic aria “Habanera.” She will also continue serving as Miss South Dakota and advancing her platform, “Music for Life.” The platform encourages everyone, but especially children, to become involved in music in their community.

Continuing to serve as Miss South Dakota includes acting as the state ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network, advocating for her platform and serving as a role model for her state throughout the year.

Mack has kept busy with TV and radio interviews since she was crowned as well as making appearances around the state. With the help of sponsoring businesses, Mack has spent time shopping for her evening gown and other wardrobe items for the national competition.

“The shopping and touring are the more ‘glamorous’ parts of the job, but it is definitely a job,” Mack said. “Lots of long days, and I’ll be putting in lots of hours of prep and training for Miss America during the next two months. I also have to make plans to promote my platform, Music For Life, throughout the year.”

Mack said she will become a part-time student for the year she holds the title of Miss South Dakota and will resume full time status the following year when she passes on her crown and title.

“I’ve had to make some hard choices about which other responsibilities and roles I’m going to hang onto during my year of service,” Mack said. “I’m excited to be continuing as a member of the Hobo Day Committee and to be playing as active a role as possible in Chi Omega. I do plan to be in Brookings and on campus quite a bit because I love being a Jackrabbit and I couldn’t stand to be away from SDSU full time.”

In the national Miss America Pageant, Mack will compete against 51 other women. Like the state pageant, the national pageant will also hold talent, evening wear and swimsuit competitions.

Additionally, Mack will be interviewed by judges on various current topics. For this, she will have to stay conscious and informed of happenings around the globe, said executive director of the Miss South Dakota Pageant September Kirby.

“She is a very well-rounded contestant and I’m excited to see her compete at the national level; especially with her talent,” Kirby said. “A majority of the points in the competition actually come from talent.”

Mack said one person she will turn to for support while preparing for the national pageant is 2016 Miss South Dakota Julia Olson. Mack trained with Olson for the Miss South Dakota Pageant, practicing her walk and holding mock interviews with Olson.

“I think she has a great chance,” Olson said. “She’s very teachable and absolutely works hard with whatever she’s given and she’s confident and well-spoken and that really shows.”

Mack first began to consider pageantry last summer when a friend encouraged her to pursue it.

Miss SDSU was Mack’s first crown before she participated in the Miss America pageant.

“I feel so honored and humbled to have been chosen out of the 15 other women,” Mack said. “Even now, it just doesn’t seem real to me.”

The Miss America Competition will be held Sept. 10 and broadcasted live on ABC.

 

Mack invites anyone interested to follow her on social media to keep up with her platform and work on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using @missamericasd.