Area competitor crowned Miss ND's Teen 2024 | News, Sports, Jobs

Submitted photo Tayler Christianson was crowned Miss North Dakota's Teen 2024 on June 9. She will advance through the Miss America pageant system and compete in Orlando, Florida for the Miss America's Teen title in January 2025.

The danger of drunk driving is a personal issue for Tayler Christianson, and she plans to use her year as Miss North Dakota 2024 to serve as a role model and advocate for sober driving.

On June 9, Christianson, of Burlington, won the title of Miss North Dakota's Teen and will advance to the Miss America's Teen pageant in Orlando, Fla., in January 2025.

Christianson Community Service Initiative honors her best friend and classmate at Bishop Ryan High School, who was in a wrong-way head-on collision and suffered serious injuries from a drunk driver .

Christianson believes the maximum sentence the crash driver faces is too low, considering the extent of her friend's injuries. If her friend, Tyanna Weeks, had been killed in the accident, the defendant would face up to 10 years in prison, but because she survived, the defendant can only be charged with a class C felony with a maximum sentence of five years.

“I wanted to find a way, and that’s why Tyanna’s Law would move anyone injured by a drunk driver to a Class B, so the maximum sentence would increase to 10 years instead of five,” » Christianson said. The legislation garnered support from Sen. David Hogue, R-Minot.

Christianson has known Weeks since she was 2 years old and visited her in Colorado, where she was receiving treatment for her injuries. During the visit, Christianson became wheelchair and transfer certified so she could travel in public with her friend, who now resides in Omaha, Nebraska, for rehabilitation. Christianson said she hoped her law would pass while she was still crowned.

Christianson's life has been affected by drunk driving three times, the most recent being the accident involving Weeks. Christianson's older brother, Sam Christianson, suffered a brain injury when he decided to drive drunk, and last year, Christianson's volleyball coach, Christopher Brewer, was killed instantly when he was hit by a drunk driver.

“I believe North Dakota has a problem. I think everyone in North Dakota can say they know of at least one case, either personally or have heard about it across the state, of someone being affected by alcohol in flying, and I think we need to make a change. We are number one in excessive drinking and number four in most drunk driving. It's sad and I want to make a change. » Christianson said. “I want to be the voice of those who have been affected.”

Christianson was inspired to enter pageants by her older sister, Macy Bolinske, who was crowned Miss North Dakota in 2016.

“Watching her on that stage and her change as a person as well – what that title did for her was incredible, and it got me into competitions.” Watching her grow and form friendships with people as well as get closer to the organization – it’s incredible. I am very grateful to know every person who works in the organization,” she says.

Christianson chose the Miss North Dakota Scholarship Organization because of the brotherhood that develops among the contestants.

“It’s not necessarily about competition. It's about the friendships you make and the people you meet along the way. she says.

Christianson has been competing for five years and has come close to winning the state title in the past. She was first runner-up two years ago and fourth runner-up last year. She said she felt like her performance took a step backwards, after getting a lower position, and she wasn't sure she wanted to compete this year.

“Directors always reminded me that if I work hard and trust myself, that if the time is right, it will be me, and I trusted that and I really trusted God too.” , she says. She said competing this year took a lot of patience and dedication.

Christianson said growing up she was a shy child and pageantry helped her come out of her shell and develop her public speaking skills. Overall, she said, her involvement in organizing the Miss North Dakota Scholarships has benefited many aspects of her life.

“It boosted my confidence. There's nothing that boosts your confidence more than walking in a beautiful dress on stage with lights. You just shine, “ she says.

The Miss North Dakota's Teen title is a preliminary competition on the Miss America pageantry. One of the distinguishing factors between the Miss North Dakota's Teen and Miss North Dakota Teen USA competitions is that the former has a talent category and the latter does not.

Christianson has been dancing since she was 3 years old and she prepared her classical dance variation Esmerelda for the talent portion of the competition. This landed him top talent in the preliminary rounds, which Christianson said boosted his confidence heading into the final.

She said the most preparation went into preparing for the private interview, a one-on-one conversation with the judges that can be intimidating. During the interview, the judges asked many questions about Christianson's community service initiative.“The mindset I had was that if I was just myself and showed these judges who Tayler Christianson is – if they don't like me for who I am, then I don't fit. I just didn't fit the role and it was something I had to accept.” she says.

So far, Christianson has earned about $5,000 in scholarships.

This fall, she will attend the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, which she chose, she said, because UND has a huge drinking community. She wants to make an impact and be a role model for other students by prioritizing sober driving. She will specialize in political science.