Title: The Art of Perspective

By Thea Tanton

Perspective—it can shift in an instant.

Speed painting is a fascinating art form. Whoever first imagined it must have had a brain worth studying. Seriously—who looks at a blank canvas and thinks, “I’m going to create something meaningful in under 90 seconds, upside down, and in front of an audience”? And yet… here I am, the person who attempts exactly that at every pageant I compete in.

As wild as it sounds, speed painting is more than just a test of skill—it's a demonstration of trust in the process. You’re racing the clock, unsure if the chaotic smears of paint will ever come together. And then, in one dramatic moment, you flip the canvas—and everything falls into place. What looked like a mess suddenly reveals a masterpiece. The collective gasp from the audience always tells me the same thing: the shift in perspective changes everything.

Art has a funny way of mirroring life. Just like a speed painting, life often feels confusing, unformed—like we’re trying to make sense of a chaotic mess with no clear image in sight. We search for clarity, desperate to connect the dots, and feel alone when we can't.

When I was 18, I worked as a lifeguard at a waterpark. On June 25, 2023, I performed CPR on a six-year-old boy who, despite every effort, tragically passed away. The days and nights that followed were heavy with grief and guilt. I kept searching for answers, for a reason, for some kind of picture that could explain the pain. People told me, “Everything happens for a reason.” But that phrase rang hollow. What reason could there be for tragic loss? How could anything good come from something so heartbreaking?

That experience taught me that grief is not something you overcome—it’s something you carry. And without a shift in perspective, it can weigh you down entirely. I couldn’t change the past. I couldn’t undo what happened. But I could flip the canvas.

So I did.

I began visiting classrooms, teaching children about water safety. I partnered with organizations and schools to educate communities. I used social media to amplify the message. I stopped seeing myself as a failure in that moment, and started seeing myself as someone with a purpose—someone who could help prevent another tragedy. I chose to honor that little boy’s memory by ensuring his story could save others. Slowly, the picture started to come together. What once looked like a series of disconnected brushstrokes began to form something bigger. Something meaningful.

Perspective matters. It’s not about erasing the past—like paint on a canvas, some marks are permanent. But it’s about choosing how you see it, and what you do with it. When life feels like an abstract mess of pain and confusion, maybe it’s not that the picture is broken—maybe you just haven’t turned the canvas around yet.

So the next time you're faced with something that seems senseless or impossible, consider this: all hope is not lost. Sometimes, all you need is a shift in perspective.

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Thea Tanton is the current Miss Missouri River (SD). You can follow her on her Instagram. You can see her speed painting talent on the Miss SD stage here. 

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.

Miss South Dakota Week 2025: A Rookie’s Recap

By Rylin Yerdon

Last month, I competed for the coveted title of Miss South Dakota for the first time ever. To say it was a life changing experience would be an understatement. Here’s how it went:

The Miss delegates arrived to Brookings on Sunday, May 25th. I kicked off my arrival by locking my keys in my car— oops! Despite this unforeseen mishap, I was still on time for our kickoff meeting, where our executive director, Carol, gave us a formal welcome. A phrase she emphasized before rehearsals began was “empowered women empower women”. This would become our motto throughout the week. The theme of the show was “Imagine the Possibilities”, which was inspired by the journey of Joelle Simpson, Miss South Dakota 2024.

Afterwards, we got straight to work recording introduction videos for the Miss delegates. In our down time, we were able to complete our social media activations (which you can check out on my Instagram, @missmccrorygardenssd). Because I went to school for digital and social media marketing, I greatly enjoyed making content with my sister queens and hyping up our followers for the Miss South Dakota competition. Later in the evening, we learned our opening and fitness numbers. As someone who loves to dance but cannot remember choreography to save my life, this was both a fun and humbling experience for me. Our outstanding choreographer and forever Miss South Dakota 2021, Kaitlin, was a fantastic role model and hype woman throughout the rehearsal process. As a professional dancer working in New York, she had the ability to instill a belief in all of us that no matter how much we struggled, the point was to have fun and enjoy the opportunity to perform.

The second day of Miss South Dakota week consisted of cleaning the choreography we learned the night before as well as learning new choreography to the iconic Chapel Roan song, Pink Pony Club. It was nice to dress in a fun costume and have a good time dancing with my sister queens— my inner show-choir kid finally got to step out of retirement! To break up dance rehearsal hours, we took a break to clean up the Dakota Nature Park in Brookings to honor Joelle’s community service initiative, Nurturing Nature. We also took some time to learn about the history of the park, as our executive director attended South Dakota State University in the past and witnessed the park evolve over time. Because I am a recent graduate of South Dakota State, I found this very interesting as I have fond memories throughout my college years involving the Dakota Nature Park. For dinner that evening, September, a Brookings Host Committee member, hosted a barbecue at her residence and decided to treat us titleholders. After a long day of dancing and walking practice, a barbecue was just what we needed to unwind for the evening and rest for the next day.

On Tuesday, we were finally able to begin rehearsing in the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center on the SDSU campus. Construction of the set had begun the Saturday prior and culminated late Monday night. We practiced our dances and guest performances as well as our walking and loading patterns for the competition. There was lots of anticipation in the air that day because we were getting a special treat for dinner: baked potatoes at the Brookings VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars). Since this was my first year competing, I wasn’t familiar with this tradition, but I knew it was an opportunity to connect with volunteers and supporters of the Miss South Dakota Organization, and for that I was excited. After hours of locked-in rehearsal, we were dismissed to freshen up and make our way to the VFW. My carpool group arrived slightly early, so we took the opportunity to chat with some of the VFW volunteers and take some fun pictures with the Miss South Dakota Organization photographer, Bob (or “Bobarazzi”, as we call him). The meal itself began with a prayer over the titleholders, and then we were dismissed to help ourselves to a baked potato and homemade dessert. Probably the best baked potato and cherry-topped cheesecake I’ve ever had! We rounded out the meal by singing “God Bless America” with the VFW volunteers. I was so grateful to be surrounded by faith-oriented individuals who had a passion for celebrating our nation and honoring those who risk their lives to keep America safe and free.

Bob Grandpre

Wednesday was a big day. Our Teen titleholders arrived to Brookings and the Miss Sigma group— my group— had private interview. In the spirit of transparency, private interview has always made me extremely nervous. My knees shake, my mouth goes dry, and my heart races making me sound out of breath. I paced outside the interview doors, going through my introduction and practicing answers to mock interview questions I conjured up in my head. This only made my anxiety worse. In the midst of my panic, I remembered something: it is impossible for anxiety and gratefulness to exist at the same time. There I was panicking over an interview for the job of a lifetime, and I was letting anxiety steal my gratitude. I had worked so hard for this opportunity, and I wanted to be able to genuinely enjoy it. I bowed my head and whispered a prayer to myself. Just as I concluded, the interview doors opened, and it was go time. For the first time, I truly felt peace knowing that God was beside me in my interview.

Bob Grandpre

Thursday was another big day. The Sigma group had on-stage question, fitness, and evening gown. Out of all the areas of competition, fitness is my favorite. During my adolescence, I greatly struggled with my body image and fell victim to insecurity and extremely unhealthy habits. Two years later, I came back stronger, healthier, and confident in my own skin. Fitness is how I celebrate my recovery from that low point in my life and the feeling of freedom that comes with it. I felt amazing while proudly modeling my red Rebel Athletic set and owning my moment onstage. Evening gown is my second favorite area of competition, mostly because of the history behind the dress I wore. I got it secondhand from a relative of mine who served as Miss South Dakota’s Outstanding Teen a few years ago. Before she had that dress, another relative of ours who used to compete tried on the dress when she was shopping for a Miss South Dakota evening gown. With royal blue rhinestones on top of the bright flashy blue fabric, it’s the gown that keeps on giving!

Bob Grandpre

Friday’s competition was much more laid back for me. All I had left was the talent portion of competition, which had me both excited and insanely nervous. My talent is singing, which I have been doing since I was a little girl. I chose to sing “Tightrope” from the major motion picture The Greatest Showman at Miss South Dakota. There’s a line in the song that says, “some people won’t sail the sea ‘cause they’re safer on land”, which describes my decision to take on the world of pageantry. Growth does not stem from staying in the same place. We must branch out and intentionally place ourselves in front of things that scare us in order to overcome our fear. And in those moments before I took the stage, I was feeling that fear. Then I remembered: anxiety and gratefulness cannot coexist. I had the opportunity to sing on the Miss South Dakota stage. I worked so hard to be in that moment, patiently waiting in the wings for my turn to share my gift of singing. My name was announced, the lights came up, the music started, and I sang Tightrope as if I was Charity Barnum.

Bob Grandpre

Saturday was finals and crowning for the Miss contestants. Although I did not make the top ten, I was ecstatic to watch my sister queens compete in finals and shine their light in their own unique ways. Out of everything that happened throughout the week, the sweetest moment was watching Jamee Kattner become Miss South Dakota 2025. Jamee’s dedication to excellence, her kind and nurturing demeanor, and ability to uplift others through her gift of song makes her an incredible representative of the great state of South Dakota. She is an inspiration to all of us titleholders and will undoubtedly do incredible things within the year ahead of her— make sure to follow her journey @missamericasd!

Bob Grandpre

As I sit back and reflect on Miss South Dakota Week 2025, I have so much to be thankful for. I gained 19 new friendships, achieved my goal of performing on the Miss South Dakota stage, and got to share my passion of advocating for women’s success. After thinking long and hard about what my future will look like, I’ve decided that pageantry will have a place within it. My journey is not over, but rather just beginning. As local competition season commences in South Dakota, I will hopefully have this opportunity again. Until then, I am Rylin Yerdon, your Miss McCrory Gardens 2025.

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Cameron Schroder

Rylin Yerdon is the current Miss McCrory Gardens (SD). You can find her on her title's Instagram.

Be sure to read all of her other Section 36 Forevers guest blogs as well.

Speaking Up

By Katie Milbrandt

If you had told me three years ago that I’d be here today—studying architecture, sharing my mental health journey with communities across South Dakota, and feeling stronger in both body and mind—I probably would’ve smiled politely and gone on my way, never imagining that this version of life could be mine. But life is funny like that. Sometimes, our darkest chapters are the ones that light the path forward. 

Hi! I’m Katie—a full-time college student, future architect, mental health advocate, fitness lover, and someone who tries to bring a little extra sparkle to everywhere I go. But I’m also someone who lives with depression and anxiety. And that’s where my story really begins. 

My mental health journey started when I was young. I was just a kid when I witnessed firsthand how mental illness affects not just the person struggling but everyone around them. It wasn’t until years later that I understood the weight of what I’d seen in my own home. I couldn’t quite put it into words back then; I just knew something felt heavy. 

In high school, things got worse before they got better. Transferring schools after constant bullying gave me a fresh start—and a reminder that we get to write our own next chapters. I found friends, purpose, and joy in cheer, choir, and volleyball. I started to believe that maybe life could be beautiful again. 

College was my big reset button. I moved four hours away to a new state, ready to start a new chapter with a clean slate. But even fresh starts don’t protect you from heartbreak. My world stopped the day I got a call telling me that my cousin had died by suicide. I was in shock. Lost. I couldn’t go home right away, and the distance from my family made the pain even harder. 

Not long after, on a day that’s supposed to be all about love—Valentine’s Day 2022—I hit my lowest point. I tried to end my life. 

But thanks to a brave friend, the campus police, and a counselor named Amanda, I got the help I needed. Therapy became my safe space, and little by little, I began to heal. I learned that asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s courage. I learned that it’s okay to not be okay. Most of all, I learned that my story isn’t over yet. 

Fast forward to today: I’m still here, and I’m more passionate than ever about using my story to help others. That’s why I created my community service initiative, “Speak Up: Stopping the Stigma by Starting the Conversation.” 

It’s more than a platform—it’s my personal mission. I know what it’s like to feel invisible. Like you're surrounded by people but still feel completely alone. And I don’t want anyone else to feel that way. 

So far, I’ve shared my story with over 4,000 South Dakotans through speaking engagements, panels, and school visits. I’ve partnered with incredible organizations like NAMI South Dakota and Lost&Found to bring meaningful conversations and mental health tools to communities

across the state. I was also part of a digital video series called “Stories of Resilience.” Because everyone’s story matters—and everyone deserves to be heard. 

I often get asked why I keep doing this. Why I keep sharing such a vulnerable part of myself with the world. The truth is, my vulnerability is my superpower. I’ve learned that our stories—especially the hard parts—hold the power to connect, to heal, and to change lives. 

I’m living proof that even after the worst day of your life, there can be better ones. That you can fall apart and still come back stronger. That you can speak up—and when you do, you make it a little easier for someone else to do the same. 

So here’s to speaking up. To starting conversations. To sparkling—even on the hard days. You matter, your story matters, and the world is a better place with you in it!

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Katie Milbrandt is the current Miss Rolling Plains (SD). You can follow her on her title's Instagram.

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.

Use Your Power

By Evian Johnson

Being a teenage girl often comes with its own set of challenges and joys, but for me, there’s an additional layer to this journey: dyslexia. I was diagnosed with dyslexia at nine years old and it changed my life. Finally, I had an answer for why so many aspects of my life and my education felt different from those around me. Dyslexia isn’t just about struggling with reading and writing; it’s a unique lens through which I view the world, and, in many ways, it is a superpower that I use to help me bring a new perspective to the situations around me. My service initiative, Use Your Power, advocates for those with dyslexia, so that everyone has a fair and equitable access to their education.

1 in 5 children in the United States have dyslexia, but many people still go undiagnosed and do not receive the resources they need to succeed. Dyslexia isn’t just about mixing up letters or struggling to read. It is a neurodevelopment disorder that affects the way the brain processes written and sometimes even spoken language. Navigating the educational system as a dyslexic can be extremely challenging. My early diagnoses allowed me to receive training that helped me become the leader I am today. I can proudly say that I am a graduate of the Smart Start Dyslexia Program. My time in this program helped me understand the way my brain works, mainly in 3D, but more importantly, how to advocate for myself when I need assistance. This is a message I want to share with other students across the country, so that they understand how to reach out for the help they need, no matter what their struggles may be.They can do anything.

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Evian Johnson is the current Miss Hot Springs' Teen (SD). You can follow her on her title's Instagram.

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.

Take It Easy: Recovering From Injury

 By Rylin Yerdon

“Push yourself” is a phrase I live by. Don’t succumb to the challenge. Fight your way to the top of the mountain and come down stronger. But what happens when you push too hard? What happens when you slip on the mountain and come crashing down? How do you overcome the fear of falling again? I’ve had minor physical injuries before, each one presenting the waiting game that is recovery. And each time, I bounced back. But this time is a little different.

Fitness is my favorite phase of competition. I crave that adrenaline rush as I strut to upbeat music and pose like Wonder Woman. I can feel confidence radiate from my body. As Miss South Dakota approaches in a few short months, I carve out time to practice my fitness routine twice a week. That consistency came to a screeching halt when I contracted tendonitis in my right foot from excessive strain. I didn’t know what happened at the time, so I assumed it was a cramp and went about the rest of my evening in a bit of pain. After some ice and pain reliever, I went to bed expecting to be good as new in the morning.

I was not good as new the next morning. As soon as I woke up, I put both feet on the floor and immediately lost balance due to searing pain in my foot. It became clear that this was more than just a cramp. My foot didn’t have any bruises or swelling, but I paid a visit to a doctor because the pain was so intense. Three x-rays later, I was told there was no sprain, fractures, or broken bones. Instead, I had tendonitis, which is inflammation in the tissues that connect muscles to bones. Mild tendonitis is easily treated with ice, occasional pain reliever, and “taking it easy” for a week or so. 

“Taking it easy”. A simple concept, but easier said than done if you’re someone like me. How can I possibly be productive when I’m stuck in bed with my foot up? How am I supposed to prepare to compete for the job of a lifetime if I can’t walk without being in pain? The answer to those questions is listening to what my body is telling me. I know the condition of my injury could have been immensely worse had I ignored the pain I was in.

I’m still in the recovery process at this time. “Taking it easy” has made time for self-reflection, which I’ll admit is a little rattling. Refocusing my Miss South Dakota prep was not something I planned for. Each hour that passes as I “take it easy”, I think about what I need to prioritize in order to come back stronger. And that priority is my physical wellbeing. 

What I want you to take away from my story is that working hard is important, but so is resting. Being Miss America Fit isn’t just about being strong and energetic— it’s about letting your body recover in its own time. Take it easy on your body because it’s the only one you have.

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Photos by Cameron Schroder Photoraphy

Rylin Yerdon is the current Miss McCrory Gardens (SD). You can find her on her title's Instagram.

This is her second blog for Section 36 Forevers. Be sure to read her other guest blog as well.