MINOT — Melayna Strand, a 17-year-old senior at Minot High School, was crowned Miss ND Teen Volunteer of the Year last week.
The pageant, this being its first year, has a similar set up as Teen USA, says Strand. The volunteer pageant is based on Scholarship, Education, Responsibility, Volunteerism, and Empowerment (SERVE).
“I started working at Fiancé, and the owner of Fiancé knew this lady really well,” said Strand. “I do TikToks for Fiancé, we started this page. So she saw me on TikTok, walking through dresses, and she called my boss, the owner, and said, ‘I really want this girl to be our Miss North Dakota.”
Before this, the pageant had someone for every state except North Dakota.
“It was kind of short notice, but I just decided to do it,” Strand expressed. “I’d never been in a pageant at all in my entire life, but I was like, ‘This just seems like a great opportunity for many things.’”
Strand said that she was asked about what she was going to do in her future, as well as the different places she’s volunteered at, which include Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports, Second Story Social Club, the YMCA, and the Humane Society.
“I’ve done [the Humane Society] since I was like five,” Strand laughed.
After the interview with the pageant, Strand said, “I went home and talked to my parents about it. I’m not the type of girly-girl, like I’m a very outdoors, hunting type of person, so my mom was like ‘This is crazy, everything happened so fast, and I think it’s a reason that you’re supposed to be it. Just do it, go for it.’”
The platform Strand will now be working on is called “Happy, Healthy, Humane,” which will help people who cannot afford vaccinations or surgeries for their pets. She will also be doing drives for the animal shelter for food, beds, and other necessities.
“Ever since I was little, animals have always been a huge passion of mine,” Strand described. “They used to call me the ‘Dog Whisperer’ when I was little because I loved animals so much.”
Strand says she has always wanted to be a veterinarian and is now interning with Pinkerton Animal Hospital.
“I don’t know if I want to go with a large breed animal or a small breed animal, but I know I want to be a vet,” Strand explained.
Strand was crowned the titles last Saturday at Fiancé by Mayor Shaun Sipma.
“He is one of the friendliest and sweetest people I have ever met,” said Strand. “We were trying to get Doug Burgum, but he is super, super busy, so they needed someone to crown me who was higher up in North Dakota, or in Minot even, so who better than Shaun Sipma.”
Strand will go to nationals on April 30 in Jackson Tennessee, where she will be tested with an interview, fitness and wellness, talent (which will be a lyrical dance), and evening gown. If she makes finals, she will answer an on-stage question.
More information on Miss Volunteer America can be found on its website.
