Two young Mitchell women going after Miss SD Teen title

Yahoo

21-05-2025

May 20—MITCHELL — For two Mitchell natives,
the Miss South Dakota Teen competition
represents a thrilling challenge, an opportunity to showcase their talents and a chance to represent their communities.
But while both are focused on the same prize — the title of Miss South Dakota's Teen 2025 — each brings a unique perspective to the stage.
Alexis Diedrich, 16, a seasoned pageant participant, and Hallie Carlson, 18, a newcomer to the world of pageantry, are both competing in the event that will take place May 29-30 at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center in Brookings. With the theme "Imagine the Possibilities," the pageant will see young women judged on interview, talent, physical fitness and evening gown, and the winner will go on to represent South Dakota at the Miss America's Teen competition in September.
The Miss South Dakota Teen competition has a rich history, providing young women with the opportunity to gain confidence, showcase their talents and earn scholarships. Established as part of the Miss America organization, the competition emphasizes personal development, public speaking and community involvement. Judging is based on a combination of factors: contestants' ability to present themselves in interviews, their talent performances, their fitness level and their grace and poise in evening wear.
The Miss South Dakota Teen competition has seven competitors of young women and teenagers.
Though both Diedrich and Carlson are focused on achieving the title, their paths to the stage — and their personal missions — are vastly different, but both demonstrate a passion for making a positive impact in the world.
Diedrich's connection to the pageant world started early. At the age of 6, she won the title of Miss South Dakota Princess, and she has since become a seasoned participant.
"It doesn't even feel like a competition to me," Diedrich said. "There's so much support. We're all cheering for each other backstage."
However, Diedrich's pageant journey is about more than performing and competing. Through her platform, "Defined Deafness," she advocates for the deaf community. Growing up with a brother who now attends the Iowa School for the Deaf, Diedrich witnessed the challenges he faced in public school, leading the family to make the decision to send him to a specialized school.
She also remembers the bullying her brother faced at school, and when she would stand up for him, she too was bullied. This experience deepened her passion for advocating for the deaf community and raising awareness about their struggles.
Diedrich's passion for sign language has also led her to continue learning it from her brother's past interpreter, Tanya Kitto.
"Learning more sign language has been a way for me to connect with my brother and help others understand the importance of communication," Diedrich explained.
Though Diedrich excels in many areas of pageantry, she admits that the fitness walk is her biggest challenge.
"I tend to walk with a little hunch," she confessed. "I practice a lot to remember to keep my shoulders up, back, and down."
Diedrich has been passionate about dance since she was young, and for her talent portion, she will be choreographing her own routine.
"Dance has always been my way of expressing myself, but choreographing it myself is something new," Diedrich said. "It's been a challenge, but I'm excited to bring something personal to the stage and show how much I've grown as a dancer."
Diedrich hinted that her routine will incorporate some sign language.
Diedrich plans to continue competing in the Miss South Dakota Teen competition as she works toward a future in pageantry.
"I find these pageants empowering. It's such a great opportunity to express myself," she said.
In contrast, Hallie Carlson, Miss Jacks' Teen, is experiencing pageantry for the first time. Carlson, who recently graduated from Mitchell High School, never considered participating in a pageant until she received an invitation letter last fall.
"I'd never heard of the competition before," Carlson said. "But the scholarship opportunities caught my attention. You don't even have to win the title to get scholarships; you could win just one category and still earn money."
Though Carlson was unfamiliar with the pageant world, she embraced the challenge. She found the prep process smooth, even though she missed out on a prep weekend due to a show choir performance.
"The communication has been great — lots of reminders and updates," she said.
Carlson also reached out to fellow Mitchell native Olivia Walz, who is competing for Miss South Dakota, for advice and tips.
For her talent portion, Carlson will sing, drawing on her years of experience in choir.
"I've been involved with choir since I moved to Mitchell seven years ago," she said. "Singing on stage is something I love, and every show choir performance has helped me prepare for this."
Carlson's community service initiative, "Mentoring Makes a Difference," is a cause she's passionate about. She has been a mentor with Big Friends, Little Friends for several years, and through her platform, she advocates for the importance of mentoring in young people's lives.
"I've seen the impact mentoring can have," she said. "I want to encourage others to get involved and show them how rewarding it can be."
Currently, Carlson mentors a shy second grader, and their relationship has grown over time.
"At first, he was very shy, but now he's opened up," Carlson shared. "He loves building things, especially paper airplanes, and I enjoy spending time with him and helping him develop confidence."
Though Carlson is focused on her future as a child therapist — she'll attend Augustana University in Sioux Falls this fall to study psychology and social work — she's found the pageant experience rewarding.
"It's a great platform for sharing about mentoring," she said. "And the sisterhood aspect has been so surprising. Everyone is so supportive, and it doesn't feel like a competition at all."
Along the way, Carlson has come to realize that pageantry is about much more than just beauty.
"I've realized that pageants are about so much more than looks," Carlson said. "It's about who you are, what you're doing in your community, and how you're using your voice to make a difference."