New Miss North Dakota aims to be 'authentic self' in crown and sash

Reyna Bergstrom, 26, a 2018 graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, was crowned on June 12 in Williston.

Written By: Robin Huebner | 10:30 am, Jun. 26, 2021

Miss North Dakota Reyna Bergstrom at Broadway Square in downtown Fargo on June 23, 2021. Chris Flynn / The Forum

FARGO — Reyna Bergstrom was second runner-up twice and first runner-up once in the statewide scholarship competition, so it seemed she was due for a win.

Bergstrom claimed the big prize, indeed, being crowned Miss North Dakota 2021 in Williston on Saturday, June 12.

The final decision came down to her and Grace Ward, also of Fargo, and when announced, it hardly registered.

“All I heard was screaming and Grace looking at me and saying, ‘Reyna, you won.’ It’s a blur,” Bergstrom said.

Of the $40,000 in cash scholarships awarded at the state competition, she received more than $12,000. 

At 26, Bergstrom is the oldest to win the North Dakota title; she aged out, technically, but was “grandfathered in” due to the COVID-19 pandemic and postponement of the event.

Now she prepares for the Miss America competition in Uncasville, Conn., in December. It will be the event’s 100th year.

While she said it would be great to finish in the top ten, it’s not her main goal.

“First and foremost, I want to enjoy the experience,” she said.

Bergstrom is most excited about meeting fellow contestants and fostering those relationships, because that’s what she’ll take with her when the event is over.

“I'm excited to have a friend in every single state,” she said.

Reyna Bergstrom

Focused on the arts, communications

The daughter of Lance and Ruth Bergstrom, Reyna grew up in Fargo with a sister and three brothers, one of whom is from Haiti and joined the family seven years ago.

She’s a 2014 graduate of Oak Grove Lutheran School, where she was involved in swimming and the arts, including theater and painting.

She then studied communications and religion and sang in the choir at Concordia College in Moorhead.

There, Bergstrom was introduced to the pageant world by her friend, Miss North Dakota 2014 Jacky Arness, who sold it as a way to win scholarship money and be able to perform.

It was an easy yes for Bergstrom.

She finished second runner-up in both 2015 and 2016, then took a few years off to focus entirely on her studies.

After graduating college in 2018, she was hired onto the communications and marketing team at Concordia.

In 2019, she got the itch to compete in Miss North Dakota again and was named first runner-up. In 2020, she won another local contest and geared up for the state competition, but it was canceled due to COVID-19.

This time around, she hoped to win the crown but acknowledged anything can happen in a subjective competition.

“You never know what the judges are going to see, what they’re going to want. I knew ... I probably had a good shot but also didn't expect it,” Bergstrom said.

Reyna Bergstrom of Fargo is crowned Miss North Dakota on June 12, 2021 in Williston, N.D. by former Miss North Dakota Haley Wolfe of Carrington. Courtesy: Tessie Jones Photography

Family reactions

There’s more to preparing for a scholarship competition than one might think.

Scoring is based on the following: 35% for private interview, 35% for talent performance, 15% for onstage questions and social impact pitch, formerly known as “platform,” and 15% on evening wear.

The swimsuit competition, also known as “lifestyle and fitness,” went away in 2018.

“I think it’s intimidating for a lot of girls to compete in swimsuit, so I’m very much OK with the fact that they eliminated that,” Bergstrom said.

That night in Williston earlier this month, after the final 10 contestants were announced, the talent portion was held.

Bergstrom wore a striking yellow dress as she sang "Habanera" from the opera "Carmen," a difficult and provocative vocal sung in French.

Reyna Bergstrom of Fargo competes in the talent portion of the Miss North Dakota competition. Courtesy: Tessie Jones Photography

Her whole family was in the audience, and brother Leif, a die-hard "Star Wars" fan, began chanting under his breath, “I am one with the force, the force is with me,” as the top five were announced.

In a social media post, Bergstrom said that bit of "stardust" in the air might have put her over the top.

Her sister recorded a video of the family’s reactions rather than pointing the camera to the stage — which she has watched over and over again.

“My dad actually cried. He never cries,” she said.

Ready for curveballs

Bergstrom will often wear the crown and sash in public, but said she’s Reyna first and Miss North Dakota second.

“I'm still gonna bring my authentic self to this role … because that's just who I am,” she said.

This fall, she’ll visit schools to talk with students of all ages about her social impact initiative, "The Influencer Era: Impact Beyond the Screen."

In her role at Concordia, she understands the power of social media, but also how it needs to be kept in check so that face-to-face connections aren’t lost.

“Especially following this pandemic, we missed that, and we need that more than ever before,” she said.

Reyna Bergstrom

Preparation for Miss America in December will include selecting her evening gown, perfecting her singing performance and taking part in mock interviews.

At the event, she may be asked about her upbringing, social impact project or views on politics and current events.

“I really just need to know my stance, but even more importantly, how to articulate that quickly and effectively to those judges,” she said.

Following the competition, she has her eyes on pursuing a master’s degree in journalism at the University of Missouri, likely in the fall of 2022.

“I think this year is gonna throw me a lot of curveballs. ... I don't even know what to expect,” she said.

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