It was a big night for Miss North Dakota, Cara Mund, as she was crowned "Miss America 2018" in Atlantic City, besting 50 other candidates for the title. The win is also a milestone for the pageant and North Dakota as Mund became the first candidate from her state to get the "Miss America" crown.
During the preliminary round of questions, Mund was asked about what’s on top of her bucket list, to which she responded, “…to get to "Miss America" and make it past the top ten.” She added that only three girls from her state made it to that stage of the pageant.
“So, it just proves that it doesn't matter where you come from geographically, if you have the ability to do it and you dream it, you can do it," Mund answered.
For winning the title, Mund gets a $50,000 scholarship and a six-figure salary during her reign.
On Donald Trump and Climate Change
In the question and answer portion of the show, the newly crowned "Miss America" was asked about her opinion on the decision of President Donald Trump’s administration to pull out the US from the Paris accord. Mund replied that she believes it was a bad decision on behalf of the US because it took the country out of the negotiation table. She added that there is evidence that climate change exists that is why America needs to stick with the agreement regardless of one's personal belief on the issue.
Women issues
Prior to the start of the preliminary competition, Cara Mund spoke to the AP and said that she aimed to be North Dakota's first woman elected governor. She further expressed her wish to see more women voted into government office. The beauty queen stressed the importance of having a woman's perspective on issues such as health care and reproductive rights because, according to her, it is predominantly men who are making the decisions on those.
The 23-year-old title holder certainly knows her politics as she once had an internship in the U.S. Senate and she is an Ivy League graduate from Brown University who will soon enter law school.
Other Winners
Miss Missouri, Jennifer Davis was chosen first runner-up while the second runner up award went to Miss New Jersey, Kaitlyn Schoeffel.
Miss District of Columbia, Briana Kinsey and Miss Texas, Margana Wood completes the winning circle as third and fourth runners up respectively.
Miss Missouri was also asked about her opinion on Donald Trump and the alleged Russian collusion, to which she safely answered that not enough information had been revealed so far to support the alleged connivance between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. Davis said that it should be investigated fully and that the justice system should be carried out accordingly if evidence is found.
