World Class Beauty Queens Magazine would like to welcome amazing Queen Jessica Tranby-Laudahl Miss National US Miss 2022-2023.
Full name: Jessica Tranby-Laudahl
Title/Year: Miss National US Miss 2022-2023
Pageant System: Miss National US
Age: 25
Education Level: Bachelor's Degree – Human Resource Management
Zodiac sign: Pisces
Hobbies: Singing, performing in talent shows, playing musical instruments, competing in pageants, modeling, volunteering, shopping, crafting, walking, skiing, and yoga.
Platform: Giving the Present of Presence to Lonely Seniors
Years competed: 4 years in total – I've competed in pageants on and off since I was 17 years old.
Countries visited: The United States and Canada
Likes: Pageantry, performing, music, singing, modeling, spreading kindness, collecting pageant dresses, glitter, coffee/tea, cats, spending time with family and friends, traveling, learning, writing, meeting new people, and human resources.
Dislikes: Gossip, mean people, negativity, arguing, the loneliness epidemic, world hunger, and cancer.
Status: Engaged
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Please tell us about yourself.
I am a 25-year-old college graduate, performer, and model from Bloomington, MN. I have a strong love for music and performing. I recorded two albums of cover songs at Melrose Music Studios in Palm Springs, CA, one in June 2019 and the other in November 2021. In addition to my passion for performing, I am passionate about organizing community service projects and volunteering in my community. I find so much happiness in sharing a smile with others through community service, putting the needs of others before my own, and making a positive difference in the world.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Please tell us about your education.
Education is really important to me, and I took my schooling very seriously. I loved learning in school so much that I was able to become a full-time college student at the age of 16. I graduated with honors from Mainstreet School of Performing Arts in June 2016. Then, I graduated in May 2018 with honors with an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Education from Normandale Community College. Furthermore, I graduated Summa Cum Laude (4.0 GPA) from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management and a minor in Management and Leadership in May 2021. Although I am now a college graduate, I continue to learn new things every day, and I will for the rest of my life because so much joy comes from gaining knowledge. World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What does women Empowerment means to you?
When I think of women empowerment, I think of a quote by Coco Chanel. The quote is, "A woman should be two things: who and what she wants." To me, women empowerment means women having the freedom to be whoever they want to be, make their own decisions, and pursue their dreams. I also believe women empowerment signifies fairness between men and women so that everyone is treated equally, has the same freedoms, and has an equal chance to make their dreams come true!
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Tell us about your pageant history.
I competed in my first pageant-like competition when I was 17 years old. The competition was similar to a pageant, but instead of crowns and sashes being the award, medals were the award. Since then, I have competed in pageants with crown awards on and off throughout the years. I have won the following pageant titles: Miss Beautifully You Great Lakes 2020, Miss Beautifully You USA 2020, MNUS - Miss Minnesota 2021-2022, 2022 Miss Minnesota Supermodel, All American Miss Tourism 2022, Miss BeautyQueen Minnesota 22/23, Miss BeautyQueen USA 22/23, Miss National US Miss 2022-2023, World's Miss Minnesota Tourism 2023, and Miss BeautyQueen International 23/24. I also won 1st place in the talent portion of the 2020 Miss Beautifully You National Pageant for my vocal performance of the song "Memory" from the musical Cats. Additionally, I was voted one of America's Top Pageant Queens of 2022 by Talk Pageants.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What inspired you to do your first pageant?
I was inspired to compete in pageants when I was 14 years old and got a mailed invitation from a pageant system inviting me to compete in their upcoming state pageant. I knew then that I would love competing in pageants because I loved performing, wearing fancy dresses, and the idea of making a positive difference in the world. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to compete in that pageant because of financial reasons. Although my parents were very supportive of my dream to compete in pageants, my parents could not afford to pay for me to enter the pageant. I promised myself then that I would compete in pageants one day when I was older and could afford to pay the costs involved with competing in pageants. I kept that promise to myself as I compete in pageants now that I am older and can afford it.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Why did you choose to compete for your current title?
I chose to compete for my current title of Miss National US Miss 2022-2023 because the mission of the Miss National US Pageant aligns with what I look for in a pageant system. I love that the Miss National US Pageant is about being yourself, gaining life skills, growing confidence, and building friendships. I also value that this pageant system is focused on community service because volunteerism is important to me. Deciding to compete in the Miss National US Pageant was an easy decision for me to make because I love an opportunity to be a role model and positive change-maker.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: To those unfamiliar with your pageant system please tell us what is it about?
Miss National US is a pageant scholarship organization built on integrity. It is community service oriented and encourages women to get involved in volunteerism. The mission of the pageant system is to build confidence, poise, and valuable lifelong skills in ladies ages 13 and up.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What makes your director different from others?
My Miss National US pageant director stands out as a star pageant director in so many ways. She truly cares about her pageant contestants and titleholders on a personal level. She encourages all her contestants and makes every candidate feel welcome.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are you being judged on during the competition?
For the Miss National US Pageant, candidates get evaluated on how well they compete in the following competition areas: Interview (30%), Personal Introduction (25%), Formal Wear (20%), Resume (15%), and Community Involvement (10%).
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Tell us about your experience during the competition.
My experience during the Miss National US Pageant competition was truly wonderful! I enjoyed every minute of competing in the five areas of the pageant. I loved being the Miss Minnesota 2021-2022 for this pageant system and was honored to have won the national title in July 2022. My Miss National US Miss 2022-2023 title has allowed me to be an inspirational leader, make a positive difference, follow my passions, and encourage girls and women to follow their dreams!
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Who would you recommend your system to?
Any woman 13 years or older who wants to make a positive impact, step out of their comfort zone, gain valuable skills, make new friends, and have fun performing! I recommend this fun and inclusive senior division pageant system to beginner and advanced pageant women. Whether you are new to competing in pageants or have been competing for years, The Miss National US pageant system welcomes you!
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Tell us about your platform or what cause do you volunteer for.
My platform is "Giving the Present of Presence to Lonely Seniors." It is about being there for and spending time with seniors. I came up with this idea for a platform in 2019 when I was thinking about how sad it is that there is a loneliness epidemic facing our elders. For my platform, I bring cards of encouragement and treat bags to seniors at various assisted living facilities. I want to spread joy and kindness to seniors to help them combat loneliness. I want seniors facing loneliness to know they are valued, loved, and not alone. Although my platform focuses on ending the loneliness epidemic facing elders, I am also passionate about other issues and have utilized my pageant titles to volunteer for various causes. For example, I also volunteer to help end world hunger and bring joy to children battling cancer.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What appearances have you done with your title?
Throughout my reign as Miss National US Miss 2022-2023, I have focused on my pageant platform by visiting multiple nursing homes and bringing cards and treat bags to the residents. I also volunteered at the trick-or-treating event at the Ronald McDonald House on Halloween of 2022. I dressed up as Rapunzel and handed candy to the children in the princess castle at the house. I have had a blast getting involved in my community with my Miss National US Miss 2022-2023 title. I plan to continue to get involved in many community service activities with this title until my reign ends.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are some of your achievements?
One of my best achievements was graduating Summa Cum Laude (4.0 GPA) from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Resource Management and a minor in Management and Leadership. I had a goal of graduating from college with high honors and was able to make that goal a reality. Other notable achievements of mine have been the pageant titles I've won. I dreamed of having pageant titles since I was 14 years old, so I feel honored to have won multiple pageant titles that include the national and international level. Dreams do come true!
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What makes you stand out from all those other beautiful girls?
What makes me stand out is my genuineness, distinctiveness, kindness, and commitment to making an impact in the world through my community service work. I speak from my heart, do what I say I will, and work extremely hard at everything I pursue.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Tell us about the moment your name was called out as the winner.
Whenever I win a pageant title, a surreal and wonderful feeling comes over me. Even though I work very hard and put a lot of time into pageantry, I never think I will win. It is a dream come true for me whenever I win a title, so when I win, I get super excited and immediately start planning ways to utilize my new title to help others.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What does it mean to you to be a Beauty Queen?
To me, being a beauty queen means being a positive leader and difference-maker who puts the needs of others before her own. I believe that being a beauty queen is so much more than just wearing a crown and sash. Wearing a crown and sash is a fun part of pageants, but being a queen is really about serving the community and being an inspirational role model for other girls and women. A true beauty queen is selfless, giving, kind, and a friend to all. She uplifts others and sprinkles joy, positivity, love, and goodwill everywhere she goes.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: How did competing in pageants helped your life?
Competing in pageants has helped my life in so many beautiful ways! Pageants have given me the wonderful opportunity to make new friends, get involved in the community, and be a positive change-maker for important causes I care about. Pageants have also taught me important life skills such as interviewing skills, public speaking skills, performing skills, modeling skills, leadership skills, etc. Moreover, pageants have paved the way for many other amazing experiences and opportunities from traveling to different states to being in a magazine!
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: How did pageants helped your selfesteem and body image?
Pageants have helped my self-esteem and body image because pageants have taught me to be confident in who I am, flaws and imperfections and all. I have always struggled with perfectionism, and pageants have taught me that I don't have to be perfect to be beautiful. Competing in pageants has made me realize that true beauty comes from being myself and freely expressing myself.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: You are an inspiration to all the girls out there. How does it feel?
It feels incredible! I love being able to be a role model and inspiration to other girls and women. I want to encourage other girls and women that they can be positive world-changers and that they have everything within them to accomplish their greatest aspirations!
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What is your on stage strategy to win the judges over?
My on-stage strategy to win the judges over is to walk with poise and energy, speak confidently from the heart, smile widely, look into the eyes of the judges and the audience, and show them my genuine, unique self. I believe the best way to win over the judges is to be yourself and wow the judges with your uniqueness.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: How did you prepare for your competition?
How I prepare for a pageant differs depending on the particular pageant and the categories I will be competing in. For pageants where I will be competing in a personal introduction portion, I spend a lot of time writing my speech and rehearsing it while timing it to ensure I can speak it well within the time limit. For pageants with an interview portion, I spend time thinking about potential questions the judges could ask, and I practice speaking aloud what I would say to answer the questions. For pageants where I will be competing in an evening gown portion, I spend a lot of time practicing how I will walk on stage in my gown and high heels. For pageants with a talent portion, I practice performing the piece of music multiple times in front of a mirror. I also start planning my outfits months before the pageant so that I have time to find outfits that I truly love and feel confident in. Thus, no matter what is required of me to win the pageant, I spend lots of time preparing so I feel ready and confident in my ability to succeed and am not scrambling at the last minute.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are your tips for learning better pageant walk?
A tip for learning a better pageant walk is to record videos of yourself walking so that you can watch them and look for areas where you can practice improving your walk. Additionally, practicing your pageant walk in front of a mirror can help you figure out where you should make changes to improve. Another tip for your pageant walk is to stay aware of your posture at all times when you are walking on stage. You should ensure that your spine is straight, your shoulders pulled back, and your head held high the whole time. Excellent posture is crucial for a good pageant walk because it signifies confidence.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are your tips for choosing right pageant dress?
A tip for choosing the right pageant dress is to choose a dress that aligns with your unique style and that you feel comfortable in. This tip is significant because you are more likely to feel confident on stage and perform well if you wear a dress you love and feel comfortable wearing. Another tip for choosing a pageant dress is don't choose a dress you hate just because someone told you to choose it. You will perform best when you dress in a way that is genuinely you and when you are not afraid to embrace your individual, original style.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are your tips for winning interview?
A tip for winning the interview is to, whenever possible, talk about things that you are passionate about, such as causes that are near to your heart. When you talk about things you are passionate about in an interview, that passion shines through you and shows the judges that you are truly excited about the opportunity. Plus, it is always easier to talk about things you are passionate about, so the words will come out naturally. Another tip for winning the interview is to not just talk about what you are going to do to make a difference if you win the title but also talk about what you have done in the past to make a difference. Talking about what you have done in the past to make a difference shows the judges that you are truly committed to supporting good causes and not just committed to winning a crown.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What is one mistake that you've done during competing you wish you could redo and fix it?
A mistake I've done while competing that I wish I could redo is doubting myself. Self-doubt and negative self-talk do not help anyone to achieve anything. In the past, when I focused deeply on my self-doubts during a pageant, it hindered me from performing to the best of my ability. Everyone experiences self-doubt at times, but successful people know better than to dwell on it. I've learned to stop dwelling on self-doubts and negative thoughts about myself and instead focus on positive thoughts about myself and everything I want to achieve.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What other mistakes are made by girls during the contest?
A mistake some girls make during the competition is forgetting to smile throughout the whole pageant. As cliché as it may sound, a smile truly is a person's best accessory. A smile exemplifies a person's joy, kindness, confidence, passion, and positivity. A smile truly makes a person shine!
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Any modeling or acting experience?
Yes, I am an IT Girl of the Decade for Supermodels Unlimited Magazine and have been featured on multiple group Times Square billboards for Supermodels Unlimited Magazine. I have been on the cover of International Face Magazine and Hollywood Stars Kids Magazine. I have also been featured in Rising Model Magazine, Pageant Girl Magazine, TALK Pageants Magazine, Gladys Magazine, and Model Source Magazine. Additionally, I have been posing in front of a camera since I was born because my father is a photographer, and we have been doing photoshoots together my whole life. Furthermore, I love musical theater and often sing theater songs in talent shows. One of my dreams is to play Christine in The Phantom of the Opera.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are your plans for 2023 as a Queen?
My plan for 2023 as Queen is to continue to do as many appearances and community service projects as possible! I am currently working on cards for soldiers as a community service project for my national title with the Miss National US system. My reign as Miss National US Miss 2022-2023 will end in July 2023. However, I will continue to do appearances and community service projects throughout the rest of the year with my World's Miss Minnesota Tourism 2023 title. I plan to continue to do activities for my platform and other important causes. Whenever I win a pageant title, I strive to make a lasting impact throughout the entire reign.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?
I want to leave a legacy of kindness, charity, and genuineness. I want to be remembered as someone who spread kindness everywhere I went, loved people deeply, and put the needs of others before my own. I want people to remember me as someone who was dedicated to giving back to the community through volunteerism, was a friend to all, and was always true to myself.
International Director: Tausha Ziebart
National Director: Tausha Ziebart
Your Local Director: Tausha Ziebart
Pageant website: missnationalus.com
Name of the Photographer and other credits: Photos taken by DazzleShot Images and JCPenney Portraits
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine would like to say thank you for this wonderful interview.
Jessica Tranby-Laudahl Miss National US Miss 2022-2023, World Class Beauty Queens Magazine, Photos taken by DazzleShot Images and JCPenney Portraits
Interview by Derek Tokarzewski
Owner/Editor in Chief
Mr WorldClass 2023
Mr United Nations 2018
Platform: Women Empowerment
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