‘Even better than I had dreamed’

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HURON — It’s been two weeks, but the memories of competing at the Miss America Pageant are still flooding the thoughts of Huron’s Carrie Wintle.
Wintle, 24, competed at the Atlantic City, N.J. pageant earlier this month, with an extensive list of home-state supporters, and while she didn’t get the job of Miss America 2019, realizing a dream more than 10 years in the making was worth it.
“You know, I still have a hard time describing it,” she said with a mile-high wide grin and sparkles in her eyes. “Becoming Miss South Dakota and competing at Miss America is something that I have dreamed about since I began competing. To experience it … I just can’t describe it! I guess in some way it is like being in a magical snow globe. It’s real, but still magical. It’s surreal.”
It was actually the second time Wintle had been in Atlantic City for the Pageant, and her third Miss America overall. “I went when I was Miss South Dakota’s Outstanding Teen in 2008,” she noted, “to support ‘my’ Miss South Dakota, Alexandra (Hoffman) Bisson. That pageant was in Las Vegas. I also went to the Pageant in 2014, in Atlantic City, to support Merideth Gould when she competed.”
Wintle said she roomed with Miss Vermont, Julia Crane, who was voted Miss Congeniality at this year’s Pageant. “She is the perfect choice for Miss Congeniality,” Wintle said. “She is warm and outgoing and I swear I have never laughed so much in my life. It (the award) was well deserved.”
Wintle also received a well-deserved award at this year’s Pageant, that of the Miss America Women in Business Scholarship Award and the $5,000 scholarship that went with it. Four contestants were chosen by their respective resumes, and then those four were intensely interviewed by a panel.
“I’m very proud of the Women in Business Award,” she said. “In large part because it recognizes the schooling I have had in my field.” Wintle graduated from USD with her undergraduate degrees in Accounting and Mathematics, and earned her Masters in Accounting and Finance from Vanderbilt this spring.
Her education helped earn her the award, and education was an emphasis for all of the contestants this year. During the preliminary introductions, each contestant was encouraged to share her educational background and field of study.

“The introductions change from year-to-year, and this year we were encouraged by the MAO board and the producers of the Pageant, to talk about our education,” she said. Most of the contestants are graduates, with many holding or pursuing Masters and Doctorate degrees in a wide range of interests. That is not different than in past Pageants.
“I found it interesting because every time it was mentioned I think I learned something new about one of my fellow contestants,” she said.
Other aspects of the Pageant — at least the part that was televised — changed this year, as areas of emphasis changed. One new portion had the 15 semifinalists read a question for one of her fellow contestants.
“We all had to prepare three questions,” Wintle said, because nobody knows who the semifinalists are until the televised portion of the Pageant begins. “I don’t recall all three of my questions, but I do remember one that asked whether the contestant felt her voice or her actions were more powerful.”
The whirlwind of promotional stops, rehearsals and competitions wrapped up and now Wintle moves on to perhaps the most challenging portion of her job as Miss South Dakota — which is doing the job.
“Yes, I think that the next nine months are going to go by so quickly,” she said. “I have three areas on which I want to concentrate.”
First, she intends to visit each county in the state and bring the ideas of her chosen platform — Financial Literacy — to as many schools as she can.  “I will bring my book, ‘Mr. Money Sheep,’ and share the experiences that led to me writing it with those students.”
She expects to work extensively with the Children’s Miracle Network, continuing the fundraising activities for the organization that has been chosen by the MAO.
“And finally, I will work to make the transition of the Miss S.D. Pageant’s move to Brookings smoother and work with the Miss South Dakota Scholarship Foundation board on its goals of increasing scholarships for the contestants and also increasing the number of young women who participate in the program.”
She said she believes that there is a way for anyone to be involved with Miss S.D., as a contestant, a volunteer at the local or state level, or as someone donating to the scholarship foundation.
“I came through the Outstanding Teen Pageant and in the 10 years since I was crowned, I have grown so much. That is the best thing about this organization,” she said. “Every time I think I have done all that I am capable of doing, I find that if I push a little harder to strive further, I am able to do more. It continually has made me push the envelope of what I can do.”
She added that having a strong support system in place was wonderful as well. During her time in Atlantic City, nearly four dozen family members — actual and pageant family — were there to support her, including many past Miss South Dakotas.
“To have everyone there — all of these people with whom I have become friends and who have and continue to support me as Miss South Dakota was priceless.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARRIE WINTLE

Carrie Wintle performs on the piano for her talent competition at Miss America. From all of the contestants, Wintle was chosen by a special panel as the winner of the Miss America Women in Business Award, and the $5,000 scholarship that goes with it.

Next having a large number of supporters around her at the Miss America Pageant was “priceless” to Miss South Dakota, Carrie Wintle. She is near the center in the back row.