MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE

Miss North Dakota Jacky Arness takes home Miss Congeniality and takes on the world

By Alicia Underlee Nelson

Jacky Arness certainly looks like a beauty queen. She’s tall and striking, with bright blue eyes, cascading blonde hair and an engaging smile. But what really sets her apart is her incredible ability to make everyone she speaks to feel like they’re the only person in the room.

The 2011 Fargo South graduate is a relative newcomer to the pageant scene (she’s been competing for almost two years) but she’s made quite an impact. She was crowned Miss North Dakota last June. In September she represented her home state at the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, where she finished in the Top 16.

Arness has been performing for years –she’s an alumna of Trollwood Performing Arts School, Gooseberry Park Players and Missoula Children’s Theatre in Missoula, Montana – but the title of Miss North Dakota is her biggest role to date.

“The surprising part is how much people’s eyes are turned toward you when you have a crown on,” she said with a smile. “People are aware of what you say and do to a much higher degree. You’re really aware that you’re representing not only yourself, but every woman who has ever competed and the entire organization. So that’s a big responsibility.”

Arness is a senior at Bethel University in St. Paul, pre-law and double majoring in political