By Tim Huether
Miss South Dakota, Miranda O’Bryan, Martin born and raised, stepped onto the stage at the Miss America Pageant recently with high hopes and dreams like the other 51 contestants, but only one could win and that was Miss Colorado, Madison Marsh.
The pageant was Jan. 6-14 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla.
O’Bryan said when her name was not called for the final 11 contestants, she was not at all disappointed.
“I never once felt like if I wasn’t Miss America, I was disappointing anyone or my community,” remarked Miranda. “Just the opportunity to be there and compete on the Miss America stage, that was the dream. Being Miss America would have been the cherry on top.”
“It was truly a dream come true just to go there,” she said. “It was a goal of mine for seven years, to get on that stage and have the experience I have heard so many people talk about, and when I did, it was truly surreal. There were times when I was on the stage that I was brought to tears just thinking, I’m here and I did this!”
She said she loved that she had the opportunity to experience it with all the people who have loved and supported her throughout that and throughout everything.
The support was strong for her at the pageant as her parents, Chris and Mikaela O’Bryan, brothers Cole and Camden, grandparents, greatgrandparents, aunts, her boyfriend and his dad and numerous friends made the trip to Florida to cheer her on.
“We had 22 people just from my family, not including the friends who showed up,” she said.
The incredible rush and excitement has carried over as she said she finds herself in a little bit of limbo, experiencing all the excitement of the pageant and now being home and trying to get back to the normal life of being Miss South Dakota.
Miranda’s reign as Miss South Dakota will end June 1, when the new person gets crowned.
From now until June 1, she plans to fill up her calendar traveling around the state making appearances at various events and activities. She encourages anyone wanting her to make an appearance to contact her and she will see if she has that date available. Her e-mail is miranda.obryan@misssd.org. and she can also be reached on Facebook.
She said she would like to come back to the Bennett County school at some point and plans to come to see the Bennett County school Pow Wow.
“I’m excited because now I don’t have to prepare for the Miss America Pageant anymore and I can focus on just being Miss South Dakota,” she remarked. “I’ll probably be busier than ever the next four months.”
When asked what lies ahead in her remarkable journey and she replied, “I don’t have an answer right now. I’ve told myself throughout this process of Miss South Dakota that some door is going to open at the end of this year, whether it’s going back to the tv station or doing something else or going somewhere. I kind of want to continue just being Miss South Dakota because it really is that once in a lifetime opportunity, and I get to work for the rest of my life and I know I’ll find a job. Who knows what will happen in the next four months.”
“I truly believe this opportunity to be Miss South Dakota and to step foot on the Miss America stage, regardless of how I did, I am eternally honored to have done that,” professed Miranda. “It feels like one of the greatest blessings of my life this far, at 26 years old. To be able to represent the people I love, our community...I don’t know if I can put into words just how proud of myself I am that I was able to do that, how humble I am to have had that opportunity.”
“I am so proud of Miranda’s determination to do her best,” offered her mom, Mikaela. “She has the ability to adapt to many things and shine in her best light. She also finds the positive in what she does and what she can do to make it better for others. She didn’t just compete in Miss America for herself, but for Martin, S.D. Miranda has so many opportunities available for her and her future and there is no limit to what she will do next!”
“I was in awe at how Miranda was able to shine in front of thousands of people,” said Mikaela in describing her experience of the pageant. “She was so poised and beautiful and I cried a few times! I watched Miss America as a kid and would have never thought my daughter would be one of the young women up there.”
“I admire that she came out of Miss America with a smile on her face and how she was just excited for the opportunity,” continued Mikaela. “She wasn’t upset at all. She went there wanting to enjoy every minute, and that is what she did.”