Dance Team | 6/20/2019 6:28:00 PM

Haley Wolfe has been competing in pageants since she was in fourth grade. Little did she know where it would lead her.

Wolfe, a member of the Minnesota State University Moorhead dance team, was crowned Miss North Dakota on Saturday, June 15 in Williston, N.D. She now advances to compete in the Miss America competition later this year. The 2019 Miss America Pageant, which will be broadcast live on NBC later this year, with the date and location to be announced later.

"It's always been a goal of mine," Wolfe said. "It's my second year competing for the job. I'm so thankful, humbled…shocked."

As part of the win, Wolfe got a $10,000 cash scholarship, which she described as "amazing" and will help her to leave college debt-free.

Wolfe completed her first year on the MSUM Dance Team in 2018-19. She had sat out the previous two years recovering from foot surgeries. She is an accounting major at MSUM with one semester remaining, although that goes on hold while she attends to her Miss North Dakota duties.

The Carrington, N.D., native had previously competed for Miss North Dakota Outstanding Teen and in 2018, competed for Miss North Dakota for the first time. Earlier this year she was crowned Miss West Fargo to advance to the state competition.

The pageant competition included a private interview, a 90-second talent performance, evening gown competition, an on-stage question and a social impact statement.  Her social impact statement was the hashtag #Betheoneto, which is aimed at suicide prevention. That issue has affected Wolfe personally as her 18-year-old cousin committed suicide.

At the pageant, she first made the cut to 11 finalists, and then it was down to five. Each time, there was another on-stage question.

"It's kind of nerve-wracking, its going to be a tough, hot-button (question)," Wolfe said.

When it was down to five, the runners-up were announced. When she was crowned, she admitted she was shocked and said she was in a state of "disbelief."

For the talent part, she did a musical theater selection of "All That Jazz."

"I was just using those skills we use at MSUM…it's a lot of the same moves that we'll do for a halftime routine," Wolfe said.

There was a family connection for Haley at the Miss North Dakota pageant. Her sister, Sabrina, was also competing; she was crowned Miss Rugby earlier this year. Sabrina and Haley both made it to the cut of 11 on Saturday.

Now, she is doing the first-round of appearances across the state, and doing several radio and television interviews. She wants to tour as many schools in the state as she can, and wants to be part of "Out of the Darkness" walks that are also aimed at suicide prevention.

"I want to share my platform and my story," Wolfe said.