Miss Central Minnesota’s Outstanding Teen Claire Renner will represent the area at the state pageant Saturday, April 11, at New Prague High School. If she wins, she’ll advance to the national competition July 24 through Aug. 2 at Orlando, Fla.

The Hutchinson High School junior thought she was managing her nervousness until she received a text from her friend, Miss Central Minnesota Jade Possail.

“Nervous, oh yes,” Renner said. “When I got her text it hit me. The competition is in two weeks. I started crying.”

Once she worked through her emotions, Renner decided to be herself with no regrets and have fun.

It’s an approach that has worked for her before. Entering a scholarship pageant was something new. Renner’s sister, Ashley, 2013 Water Carnival Princess, talked her into it.

“I want to enter Miss Hutchinson some day,” Renner said. “I wanted to see how I would do. I’ve never done anything like this before. I did not think I would win. It’s the first pageant I’ve ever done. I did it to see what it would be like.”

The 17-year-old was named Miss Central Minnesota’s Outstanding Teen at the November pageant in Hutchinson. Since then, she’s represented the area at other state Miss Minnesota and Outstanding Teen pageants.

“It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “I like meeting the people and getting to know them.”

Preparing for the state pageant has been time-consuming. Judging is the same as the local pageant. The big difference is it’s larger with 18 teens age 13 to 17 competing for the crown.

Since it worked at the November pageant, Renner will repeat her talent for the state competition – a vocal performance of the song “Defying Gravity.”

In addition to talent, which makes up 35 percent of the total score, contestants will be judged in the following areas: private interview counts as 25 percent, evening wear and on-stage question is 20 percent, lifestyle and fitness is 10 percent and scholastic achievement is 10 percent.

To prepare for the private interview and on-stage question, Renner has been doing mock interviews with Beth (Dennison) Jerabek, Miss North Dakota 2010.

To ready herself for the stage and the evening gown competition, Renner has been walking around the house in 3- and 4-inch high heels.

The easiest part of the upcoming pageant criteria for Renner is scholastic achievement. She maintains a 4.2 grade point average and she is a member of the Key Club, Business Professionals of America and speech. She also works as a hostess and busing tables 20 hours a week at Zellas restaurant in downtown Hutchinson.

“I started working at Zellas in August,” she said. “I love busing. It’s go, go, go and it’s actually a fun environment. The people I work with are amazing. I love seeing people I know and talking to people. Look good, feel good at Zellas is my motto.”

Busy? You bet, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

A mission of mentoring

A requirement of her position is to have a platform or service cause. Originally, she focused on mentoring. She changed it to Mentoring for Mitchell: The Power of One, in honor of her cousin, Mitchell Breitbarth, who died at age 14.

“I mentored him through our church,” Renner said.

After he died, she was told what a difference she had made in his life and how much she meant to him.

“I found out how one person can make a difference,” she said.

As part of her mentoring mission, Renner hosted an event in February, Princess for a Day, for girls age 3 to 9. The event was sponsored by Zellas and Genesis Salon and Eno Spa.

“The main thing was (to show) caring for others,” she said. “We made paper crowns for girls at children’s hospital so they could feel like a princess for a day. We played games. I read a story and at the end, we had a mini pageant, so the girls could practice being a princess. They had to say their name and their favorite princess and why.”

Favorites named were Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” because she cares for others. Cinderella because she works hard and Sofia from the television show, “Sofia the First,” because she’s nice to everyone.

“I created it from scratch,” she said. “I love kids. I wanted little girls to feel like a princess and see how a real princess acts. It was a way of mentoring by example.”

With summer coming up, Renner is looking forward to her third mission trip through Faith Lutheran Church. This year’s destination is Queens, N.Y. Past trips have taken her to Cortez, Colo., and New Orleans, La.

“It’s a great way to get to know your peers,” Renner said. “The main reason I do it is to serve others and grow in my faith. You think you have a good faith and it’s so cool how your faith grows every single time. It’s cool to see how God works through people.”

During the months ahead, Renner is looking forward to college visits, not sure yet where she will attend, but plans to major in international business.

“I really want to be part of a sorority,” she said.

A constant in Renner’s life is her family. She can count on them to cheer her on at the state pageant.

“They’re very important,” Renner said. “Sometimes I’d rather stay home with my family than go out with my friends.”