By Danielle Strenke
Jessica Dereschuk is an articulate, confident and friendly young woman. She is not afraid to speak in front of large groups and is completely at ease in a small conversational setting as well.

Dereschuk believes these are the qualities that helped her win the Miss Minnesota pageant last November and hopes it will propel her to success as she represents the state in the Miss USA pageant April 12 in Hollywood, Calif.

Dereschuk grew up in Stacy and attended North Branch schools. She graduated from North Branch High School in 2001 and went on to take courses at Century College in White Bear Lake.

When the 20-year-old decided to sign up as a contestant in the Miss Minnesota pageant last fall, she was not expecting to win. ìThis was my first pageant,î Dereschuk said. ìI didnít think I had a chance against other contestants who had been in several pageants before.î
But during the course of the two-day pageant, Dereschuk became more confident in herself. ìI realized I was just calm and confident through everything,î she said.

Once Dereschuk was named one the top 12 finalists, she realized she may have a good chance to win the crown.

The field of contestants was narrowed down to three. Dereschuk knew she was competing against two women with extensive pageant experience under their belts, but she wasnít intimidated.

The contestants were judged in three categories, each contributing 33 percent to their total score ñ swimsuit, interview and evening gown.
The interview sessions before the final round were fun, Dereschuk said. Each contestant would sit down with a panel of three judges for five minutes at a time before moving on to another room and another panel of judges.

ìSo many contestants went in there nervous, thinking it was supposed to be a serious conversation,î Dereschuk said. ìIt was fun, though. They asked about you and where youíre going in your life.î

Although she was comfortable during the early interviewing sessions, Dereschuk admits she was a little nervous when it came down to the final round.

Each of the three finalists were taken into a sound-proof booth and asked to answer the same question.

ìI thought it would be a deep philosophical question, thatís what I was prepared to answer,î Dereschuk said.

Instead, she said the question was ëWhat three things would you put in a time capsule to epitomize life in Minnesota?í

Dereschuk said she answered right from the cuff. ìI said a jar of water to represent our 10,000 lakes, artwork from children to represent our youth and a loon,î she said.

After telling the judges her third item, Dereschuk realized she had to follow it up with an explanation. ìI had to just laugh at myself and say, of course you canít put a real loon in a time capsule, so I would use a photo of a loon,î she said.

Dereschuk believes it was that candor and ability to laugh at herself that helped her win the pageant.

After being crowned Miss Minnesota, Dereschuk started immediately preparing for the Miss USA pageant.

Since the Miss Minnesota pageant, Dereschuk has become an old pro at donning her sash and crown to speak at meetings, conventions and other events.

She most recently visited the North Branch Rotary Club Monday at the AmericInn in North Branch.

Rotary President Dough Fischer gave Dereschuk with a check to assist her with expenses associated with the Miss USA pageant.

ìWe are proud of sponsoring many kids in leadership roles, so weíre happy to be sponsoring Jessica,î Fischer said.

The Stacy Lions Club is also sponsoring Dereschukís trip, which begins when she flies to California March 29.

The pre-pageant schedule will be extensive, although Dereschuk and the other contestants will not receive an itinerary until arriving.
ìEverything is kept very secretive,î Dereschuk said. She said that although the Miss USA pageant is televised nationally every year, pageant organizers have already experienced more media coverage this year than in the past.

ìI think because of where itís being held ñ thereís already more media attention because itís Hollywood,î Dereschuk said.

Dereschuk was told to prepare for many media interviews in the 12 days leading up to the pageant. She already knows her days will include up to 10 hours of rehearsal for the actual pageant itself.

ìOur schedule will change daily, but I know it will include things like formal dinners and fun trips like probably going to Disneyland,î Dereschuk said. She also expects that the contestants will meet Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Dereschuk knows that the Miss USA pageant brings her to the next level in competition. ìYou know going in that everyone there is beautiful,î she said. ìSo itís more than about looks. Itís about how you compose yourself and handle the pressure,î she said.

To lend her support through the hectic pageant schedule, Dereschuk will be looking forward to 45 friends and family members arriving in California a week before the pageant. ìIíll have a lot of support,î she said. ìAlmost my entire family will be there, along with my boyfriend and his family.î

Dereschuk said she is excited about the prospect of becoming Miss USA. She said whoever is named Miss USA has to be prepared to practically live on an airplane as they travel about 10,000 miles a month. Miss USA then advances to compete in the Miss Universe competition.

Because of her hectic schedule, Dereschuk has taken a leave of absence from her studies at Century College. A double major in fashion merchandising and womenís studies, Dereschuk said the timing was right because she had finished two years of general education requirements at the college. When she resumes her education, Dereschuk said she will most likely attend the University of Minnesota or a university in New York.

The Miss USA pageant will air live on NBC April 12 from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. For more information on the pageant and the 51 contestants, go to the Miss USA Web site, www.missusa.com.

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