New Miss Montana Wins Crown on First Attempt

Miss Montana Brittany Wiser enjoys ice cream at Nutt-N Better in Sidney Monday with pageant “little sisters” Chantel Wilcoxon, left, and Coutney Hecker. Miss Montana will take part in the Town and Country Festival Saturday.

By Bill Vander Weele Sidney Herald

Experience wasn’t a factor when the new Miss Montana was crowned in Glendive Saturday. Brittany Wiser, Bozeman, competed in her first pageant ever and came away as Miss Montana.

“I actually wasn’t going to try this year, but was going to wait until next year,” Wiser, 21, said during her time in Sidney Monday. She was told by friends, however, that it usually takes a couple of pageants for experience before a person wins the crown. “I was kind of coming for practice.”

But Wiser enthused judges with her singing talents of “Night and Day,” her graceful swimsuit presentation and her solid interview statements. The new Miss Montana got to discuss the pageant with the judges on Sunday.

“It was really hard to get any criticism from them,” Wiser said of the judges. “They felt I did a real good job. I thought the judges were super nice.”

Prior to the pageant, Wiser did her homework by viewing DVDs of the last two Miss Montana pageant and last Miss America pageant. “I was fairly familiar with what will happen when I was there. That helped me feel more comfortable.”

She explains the first time she actually thought she could earn the crown was when a couple other contestants mentioned they hoped she would win.

Still, she really wasn’t prepared to have her name called as the new Miss Montana. “I can’t really remember much except I started crying,” Wiser, who shared the Miss Congeniality honor, said. “I was just in shock the rest of the night.”

She also won the most outstanding Academic and Children’s Miracle Maker awards.

Her platform deals with mental health and suicide prevention. Wiser said she decided on the topics because suicide has hit close to home and Montana always ranks in the top five for suicide rates.

“It’s hard to find help, and people think they can work it out themselves instead of having people help them,” Wiser said.

She is also on the board of directors for the Montana Chapter of American Federation for Suicide Prevention. During her school tour, she plans to show videos aimed at students to show how they can help others and themselves.

Wiser recently graduated with a major in communication and minors in chemistry and leadership from the University of Denver.

“I’ve really always wanted to be in the Miss Montana pageant,” Wiser said. “For me, it was a great time. I knew if I won, I could devote all my time to it.”

Instead of applying for medical school now, she will put those plans off for a year. Along with making stops to visit residents across Montana, Wiser’s plans now include preparing for the Miss America pageant to be held in Las Vegas during January.

editor@sidneyherald.com

Miss Montana Crowned

Congratulations Miss Montana 2009 Brittany Wiser and her Court of Honor

First Runner Up Holly Matz

Second Runner Up Josie Adams

Third Runner Up Chantell Bury

Fourth Runner Up Annie Anseth

Semi-Finalists Ashten Purviance, Kylee Hoiland, & Olivia Dowler

State Finalists Katie Undem, Whitney Sjostrum, Megan Farmer, Caitlin Haaland, & Hannah Brown

Overall Interview Josie Adams

Prelim Talent Ashten Purviance & Hannah Brown

Prelim Evening Wear Annie Anseth & Josie Adams

Prelim Swimsuit Annie Anseth & Holly Matz

Non-Finalist Interview Hannah Brown

Non-Finalist Talent Hannah Brown

Non-Finalist Evening Wear Whitney Sjostrum

Non-Finalist Swimsuit Whitney Sjostrum

MISS MONTANA 2009 - AND THE WINNER IS!

Glendive - The tall, elegantly beautiful Brittany Wiser from Bozeman has won the title of Miss Montana 2009! First Runner up for this year’s title is Holly Matz of Missoula.

Las Vegas has nothing on the talent showcased in Glendive during this pageant. Brittany Wiser showed her classy and fun side with a romantic Frank Sinatra song that amazed the audience with its perfection. The tall, elegant Brittany wore an off-white evening gown that was softly draping with an off side waste. Her long dangling diamond earrings set off the 4 cornered winner’s crown.

During the swimsuit competition, Brittany chose an eye-catching black with pink metallic trim two piece. She rode the wave with style.

For a final question, Brittany was asked that should she win the title, how would she market the Miss Montana Scholarship Program. Her answer showed her high degree of intelligence and her intention and dedication toward being a good role model. In addition to the excellent cash, scholarships and long list of gifts she will receive, Brittany also won the award for the most outstanding Academic and Children’s Miracle Maker award.

As First Runner Up, Holly Matz receives cash and scholarships and the title of MT Sweetheart. She will compete at the National Sweetheart Pageant.

Second Runner Up, Josie Adams receives cash, scholarships and gifts and won the award of Overall Interview.

Third Runner Up, Glendive’s own Chantell Bury won the Montana’s Choice Award, the Promotion Award and the Most Community Service award. She will receive wonderful cash and scholarships and gifts.

Fourth Runner Up, Annie Anseth receives excellent cash, scholarships and gifts.

The 2009 Miss Congeniality went to…both Britney Wiser and Kylee Hoiland – a tie! Both will receive the award and accompanying gifts.

Semi Finalists were Kylee Hoiland, Ashten Purviance, and Olivia Dowler. Katie Undem won the prestigious Four Points Scholarship award, Megan Farmer won the Spirit and Leadership award and Hannah Brown and Ashten Purviance won preliminary talent awards. Olivia Dowler won the Most Photogenic award.

What an amazing week this has been that culminated in three days of the Montana’s most wonderful Miss Montana Scholarship Program ever. The contestants this year were outstanding for beauty, poise, grace and elegance. It certainly makes one proud to be Montanan!

The new Miss Montana is Brittany Wiser of Bozeman! Congratulations Brittany and to all the contestants.

Miss Montana Special Scholarships Presented at Awards Brunch

The following awards were presented at the Awards Brunch Saturday morning:

Promotion - Chantell Bury (received a check for $1,000)

International Air & Hospitality Academy - Caitlin Haaland

Photogenic - Olivia Dowler

Congeniality - Brittany Wiser and Kylee Hoiland

Spirit & Leadership - Megan Farmer

Four Points - Katie Undem

MAO State Scholar - Brittany Wiser

MAO Community Service - Chantell Bury

CMN Miracle Maker - Brittany Wiser (who raised over $2,800 for CMN)

Thank you to Glen Newhart (Shodair Hospital), Montana's Champion Child Zach Bell, and his grandmother for joining MMSP at the Awards Brunch!

Following the Awards Brunch, the State Finalists and their Princesses were the special guests at the Royal-Tea, which was hosted by the Scepter Society (former Miss Montanas) and featured the talents of the Elissa McMorris and Paula Swenson of the Judges Panel

Miss Montana State Finalists Arrive!

The Miss Montana Class of 2009 arrived in Glendive on Saturday, June 13 to begin Sweet Home Miss Montana Week!

Following registration, the State Finalists were treated to an inspirational welcome by Montana's Governor Brian Schweitzer and enjoyed visiting with Montana's First Lady, Nancy Schweitzer and their famous Border Collie, Jag.

Then, it was off to the Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen competition, where the ladies walked the red carpet with Miss America's Outstanding Teen Taylor Fitch and Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2008 Victoria Valentine. The State Finalists cheered on the ten Outstanding Teen Finalists and warmly welcomed Alysse Charlesworth as Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2009.

Along with rehearsals and preparing for the competition, the State Finalists shot a photo campaign for SRS Crisafulli, enjoyed an etiquette dinner hosted by Glendive's Rotary Club and the Elks Lodge, participated in print and radio interviews, were pampered with spa services, and delighted in wonderful meals sponsored local businesses and service groups.

Thanks to The Right Impression Photography of Glendive for capturing and sharing highlights of this week!

Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen Results

Presenting....

Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2009 Alysse Charlesworth of Glendive and her Court of Honor...

First Runner Up Sheridan Pope of Sidney

Second Runner Up Amy Fox of Belgrade

Third Runner Up Kehley Grosulak of Billings

Fourth Runner Up Amanda Wineman of Cut Bank

Congratulations to Sheridan Pope (Talent Winner) and Kehley (Congeniality) and all State Finalists, including Hallie Davis, (Helena), Brittany Fair, (Livingston), Hannah Harris (Miles City), Kendra Hubbard (Glendive), and Kayla Smith (Great Falls).

Thanks to Miss America's Outstanding Teen Taylor Fitch, Dianne Sarchet of MAOT, and Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2008 Victoria Valentine - our special guests!

Check out photos from the event taken by Camille Clausen Photography!

Caroline Hayden Article

The following is an article printed in today's Grand Forks Herald about our sponsor, Caroline Hayden Brost. We are proud of Caroline and are greatly appreciative of her sponsorship and friendship to the Miss Montana Scholarship Program!

Grand Forks HeraldSat. June 6th, 2009 - Both Miss Grand Forks and Miss Empire will leave for Williston early this morning to begin their pageant week. They saw their finished gowns designed by Caroline Hayden of Crookston, MN for the first time Friday during final fittings at the Empire Arts Center in Grand Forks, where they won their titles in March.

Kirkeide’s form-fitting black duchess satin and chiffon dress, with its sweetheart neckline and mermaid style skirt, was inspired by the gown Rosemary Clooney wore in the 1954 movie “White Christmas” in a nightclub scene where Clooney sang about her broken heart.“Rosemary Clooney sang, "Love, You Didn’t Do Right by Me," Kirkeide said, “I’ve been wanting that dress basically since I was 4 or 5 years old!”

Hayden said she knew the style would be perfect for Kirkeide’s Jennifer Lopez-like curves.Stofferahn knew Hayden's work and said she trusted her instincts in choosing an evening gown style for the Miss North Dakota pageant.

For Stofferahn, Hayden went with a design she’d wanted to do for a long time, a white gown with a hand-beaded bodice and a flowing bias draped skirt of raw silk. The bodice is embellished with Swarovski crystals and pearl beads.“I beaded all of this myself. It took hundreds of hours. I love her that much,” Hayden said, looking at Stofferahn and laughing. “And I’m a little crazy.”

Hayden grew up in Perham, Minn., where her mother, Sarah Hayden, is a successful business owner of Bay Window Quilt Shop.“When I was little, I would go to my mom’s store and I would sew these little makeshift pants and tops for friends,” Hayden said. “I was exploring how to make things.” But she never really wore what she made, Hayden said.“I think what held me back was I’m kind of a perfectionist and it was never good enough,” she said. “That’s something I still struggle with.”

After high school graduation, Caroline enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie and channeled her creative talents, including art and music, into fashion. In the last month of school, Hayden said she got her first real inkling of her future career when the “wearable art” gowns she designed won Best of Show and Designer’s Choice in a studio show. She then was one of nine young designers nominated for the Fashion Group International's annual design competition in Chicago. She also interned for Donna Karan in New York City.

During this time, Hayden competed in the Miss Minnesota, Miss Wisconsin, and Miss North Dakota Pageants. After she finished competing, she began designing pageant gowns for friends. She now works with an experienced seamstress in Grand Forks as well as a new production source overseas while developing her first line of gowns and cocktail dresses. She is careful to follow her mother’s advice — “Be patient” — in growing her business.

So far, her success has been primarily from positive word-of-mouth, she said.“I’ve only been doing this full time for two years, but in those years I’ve had a few clients come back for multiple custom garments just because they can’t imagine getting them anywhere else,” she said. “That’s probably the biggest compliment I’ve received.”

If her business grows as she hopes, she’s adamant about designing and creating high-quality gowns.“I don’t want to send a gown out that doesn’t fit right, that’s too short or isn’t beaded right,” Hayden said. “I am really working with the factory now to get them to understand — It’s not a prom gown. It’s not your typical off the rack pageant gown. It’s special.”

Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen Program Nears

BY DENIECE SCHWAB Sidney Herald Lights! Camera! Action! Yes, you’ve got it – it’s the Miss Montana Outstanding Teen Pageant Scholarship Program June 13 at the Sidney Middle School auditorium. The theme is “Dancing with the Stars,” and it will be an evening to remember.

This year marks the fifth year running the pageant in Sidney. Production director Cara Nelson is very busy tying up loose ends for the 7 p.m. production.

“We’re so excited to include 12 young women from Montana for Sidney’s festivities,” Nelson said. “Wednesday, the contestants and their parents will arrive in town, and we’ll have a parents reception at the MonDak Heritage Center, hosted by the Sunrise Ambassadors of the Sidney Chamber of Commerce.”

Once the parents are welcomed and they are given schedules and directions, contestants are whisked away for an evening of workshops to help prepare them for the competition. Parents are free to roam about the community and area.

Contestants will be in workshops on Wednesday evening including relaxation tips from Cyndee Brown, owner of The Green Leaf Nutritionals and Body Therapy. Next is a public speaking workshop, followed by dietician June Lewis from the Sidney Health Center. “She will be giving the contestants nutritional tips, and then the contestants will prepare their own supper,” Nelson said.

After supper, reigning Miss Montana Outstanding Teen, Victoria Valentine from Missoula, will talk with the contestants about walking, turning and poise while on stage.

June 11 starts production practice as the contestants learn the opening and fitness numbers. The evening holds a treat for the young women as they will attend the Miss North Dakota preliminaries in Williston, N.D.

After returning from Williston, the entire party, contestants and parents will hold a reception for Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, Taylor Fitch, at the airport.

On June 12 at 9 a.m., everyone is encouraged to bring vehicles to the IGA parking lot for the contestant car wash. “Taylor Fitch and Victoria Valentine will be available for photo signings while the contestants work on vehicles,” Nelson said. “All proceeds from the car wash will go toward the scholarship fund, and IGA’s food trailer will be serving lunch as well.”

Later that afternoon, contestants will be fitted for style show designs chosen from participating Sidney businesses. Contestants will be back at the middle school for a photo shoot provided by Picture Perfect beginning at 5:30 p.m. The contestants will meet the Little Sisters, who are escorts for Big Sisters (contestants), and photos will be taken of the entire “court.”

Camille Clausen Photography will follow the contestants during the four-day period, to produce a souvenir CD for each contestant. Clausen will also video tape the production.

The style show, emceed by Cami Skinner, Wells Fargo, will be held June 13 at the Moose Lodge beginning at 10 a.m. and will include a full, sit-down, china brunch.

“The ladies at the Moose are pulling out all of the stops for us, and we want to thank them for all they do,” Nelson said.

A silent auction will include handbag selections from Head to Toe Salon as well as Planet Hair Salon and each contestant has been asked to bring a purse that shows off a little of their own personality. You will see some of these handbags used in the production pageant entertainment “purse-n-ality.” Nelson encourages businesses or individuals to donate a handbag for this event in which your name will be included in the program.

Fitch and Valentine will be at Veterans Memorial Park June 13 beginning at 2:30 p.m. for a “pink” social, along with handing out autographed photos.

Ticket packages are available at the Lucky Buckle, Farm Bureau Financial Services and the Sidney Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. A STAR package includes the style show and pageant ($25). For individual tickets, the style show by itself is $15, and the production is $15, which includes a book. For children 5-13, ticket price is $8, and children 4 and under are free.

Miss Montana contestants will be escorted from Glendive by bus to walk the red carpet at 6:15 p.m. Saturday in front of the Middle School.

All of the hard work boils down to the June 13 pageant emceed by JD Nelson of Power 95-KEYZ and Deniece Schwab, Sidney Herald.

“The production has a lot of new things in it, so we’re looking forward to a great time together,” Nelson said.

Anyone wanting to help with the program can come to the Farm Bureau Financial building at 302 W. Main in Sidney Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. until production.

Assistance includes stage crew, dressing room help, concession help, ticket-takers, etc. Give Nelson a call at 488-8131/489-1515 or 433-4416 for more information. homespun@sidneyherald.com