(ORLANDO, FL) – Her journey from small town North Dakota to the national stage is about to get that much brighter.
Sophia Richards is set to take off from Fargo tomorrow to begin her journey towards being named the newest Miss America. The Hope, N.D., native says she’s been competing in pageants since the age of 16. She competed in Miss North Dakota Teen for three years, finishing runner up each year.
A friend encouraged Richards to sign up for Miss North Dakota. The first year she competed for Miss North Dakota, she was a non-finalist. The next year, she finished first runner up.
“I got too close to just give it up,” she said. Richards had contemplated giving up on pageantry two years prior, after being a non-finalist.
The third time was the charm.
“I think my story is a story of perseverance and not giving up on your dreams,” she said.
And now, Richards will board a plane and head to Orlando, where she will spend until January 1 competing for the title of Miss America.
When she arrives in Orlando, she will be one of 52 vying for the crown.
Her goal? Make the top 10.
“I’m not deterred by that (52 competitors),” she said. “I’ve always loved competition.”
She hopes to win at least one preliminary award in addition to making the top 10.
Growing up in rural North Dakota
Hope is a town of 250 people, nestled in rural Steele County. It’s 42 miles north of Valley City on Highway 32, or 72 miles northwest of Fargo via Highway 38 and I-94.
That doesn’t provide for many chances for a young person growing up.
“I didn’t have the opportunities that a lot of folks did,” Richards said. “I had to create opportunities for myself.”
Richards is a lifestyle television show host during the week.
“I literally have my dream job just an hour away from where I grew up, in small town North Dakota,” she said. “You don’t necessarily need to move to a big city, or out of your home state, to make your dreams happen. I’m literally living the dream in the state that my family has farmed in for five generations.”
Richards says that fact is impactful.
Advice for future pageantry participants
Richards tells those considering pageantry to “don’t think about it.”
“Just do it,” she said. “It’s really important to push yourself out of your comfort zone to expand your horizons, and nothing will do that like a pageant.”
Viewing options for Miss America
To watch the Miss America pageant, click here.
