Cara Mund, an American beauty pageant winner, made history as the first contestant from North Dakota to win the prestigious Miss America 2018 title. With a degree from Brown University, she also became the first Ivy League alumnus to win the pageant in over six decades. Cara’s passion for dance began at a young age, leading her to train with the Rockettes and earn numerous dance awards. On the Miss America stage, she showcased her talent by choreographing her own jazz dance performance to Michael Jackson’s iconic song, ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’. Beyond her accomplishments in the pageant world, Cara is a dedicated philanthropist, actively involved with the Make-a-Wish Foundation through her initiative, ‘A Make-A-Wish Passion with Fashion’. Her charitable efforts were even recognized by former President Barack Obama in 2011.
Quick Facts
- Age: 29 Years
- Models
- American Women
- Height: 5’3″ (160 cm)
- U.S. State: North Dakota
- Education: Century High School, Brown University
The Meteoric Rise to Stardom
Cara Mund’s journey in pageantry began at a young age. She started by winning titles such as ‘Little Miss North Dakota’, ‘Miss Pre-Teen North Dakota’, and ‘Miss Junior Teen North Dakota’. In 2010, she represented North Dakota at ‘Miss America’s Outstanding Teen’ after earning the local state title of ‘Miss Red River Valley’s Outstanding Teen’.
In 2016, she competed as ‘Miss Oil Country’ in Miss North Dakota and secured the 1st runner-up spot. The following year, she competed again as ‘Miss Northern Lights’ and won the crown. In September 2017, she represented North Dakota in the Miss America 2018 competition. She also received recognition for her community service through the ‘A Make-A-Wish Passion with Fashion’ platform.
On September 10, 2017, Cara Mund beat out 50 other competitors in five different categories to win the Miss America 2018 crown, along with a $50,000 scholarship.
Philanthropy
Cara Mund’s involvement with the Make-A-Wish Foundation began after witnessing the death of a sick friend on her 14th birthday. Since then, she has organized and directed North Dakota’s only Annual Make-A-Wish Fashion Show, raising nearly $80,000 to grant wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. She credits her mother as her greatest inspiration, who taught her to face every situation with positivity despite being diagnosed with cancer three times.
Politics
Cara Mund has a connection to Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for President of the United States in 1972. She herself is interested in politics and interned at the Office of U.S. Senator John Hoeven for five months in 2016. She aspires to become the governor of North Dakota in the future and is not afraid to voice her thoughts on the current political scenario.
During her onstage interview at Miss America, she publicly criticized US President Donald Trump for pulling out of the Paris climate deal and dismissing man-made climate change. She stood by her answer in a press conference, stating that Miss America should have an opinion and she is not afraid of expressing her thoughts, even if they contradict with the President’s.
Personal Life
Cara Mund was born in Bismarck, North Dakota in 1994. She attended Century High School, where she was actively involved in various activities such as Girls State, Girls Nation, National Honor Society, Student Council, Cheerleading Team, and Speech Team. She was also classmates with NFL quarterback Carson Wentz.
After high school, she attended Brown University and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business, Entrepreneurship, and Organizations (BEO) in 2016. She was involved in numerous activities and held leadership positions, including being the President of her Kappa Delta Sorority. She also worked as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant at the university.
Cara Mund was accepted into Notre Dame Law School in 2016 but deferred her further education to participate in the Miss Dakota pageant. She plans to use her Miss America Scholarship to fund her Juris Doctorate degree.