Miss Jaycee Parker, a 17-year-old Minot AFB dependent, will compete in this year’s Miss Teen USA competition in Hollywood, CA, this August after winning Miss North Dakota Teen USA 2024 last month.
Jaycee and her dad, Chaplain (Capt) Jared Parker, her mom Amanda Parker, and two younger siblings, Rhylee and Chandler, moved to Minot last year when Ch Parker joined the Air Force Chaplain Corps. Following the needs of the military, their assignment to Minot came as a shock to Jaycee. She admitted that she was nervous to leave friends and her way of life but, she noted, “change is always scary.” She was up for the adventure. Now, nearly a year after being here, she said that she loves it because she has “the most amazing friends and support system here.”
While Jaycee does her schooling at home through an online program, she loves being a part of the Minot High cheerleading squad. Although new to the military lifestyle, Jaycee said the best thing of being a mil kid is living on base, meeting all sorts of people and having the opportunity to create unique connections that most teens don’t get to do. She was thrilled to represent North Dakota and the Air Force as Miss Minot AFB Teen.
Jaycee’s cheerful and bubbly personality was evident as she explained her passion for the pageant industry. She started her first pageant at the age of six when friends of her mother’s recommended Jaycee be taken to an “Open Call” experience. Since that first introduction, she has been hooked and has been competing in at least one pageant every year for the last 11 years.
The esteemed Miss North Dakota Teen USA 2024 pageant is more than a looks contest, but a competition that exemplifies personality, grace, poise, confidence and intelligence from all the competitors. After competing in Miss Alababma Teen USA and placing as the first and second runner-up for the last two years, Jaycee was determined to give it her all for this year’s competition. And she did!
This year, following a round of interviews by a panel of judges off the stage, a formal wear walk and an athletic wear walk, Jaycee was thrilled to be chosen as one of the top 5 finalists. To seal the deal, each finalist was asked an on-stage question in front of the audience. Jaycee’s question: What is the best compliment you have ever received? Without missing a beat, Jaycee proudly shared the memory of her father complimenting her work ethic and her ability to achieve goals. The answer sealed the deal and Jaycee was awarded the title of Miss North Dakota Teen USA 2024!
Over the next year Jaycee will spend time showing her peers and kids how to be confident and proud to be themselves. Her responsibilities will include making school visits to meet with students, participating in local parades and being available for other appearances. Jaycee takes her title-holder duties seriously while lightheartedly saying, “It is a literal job.” Her platform and passion is to bring awareness to female teen safety and how they can be cautious and safe in their surroundings. Her “Charms for Freedom” objective led her to create a safety keychain for young women to carry. It emits a loud noise to alert others if they feel unsafe in their environment.
Jaycee gushed about her experience in the Miss North Dakota Teen USA pageant and said everyone was so kind and welcoming despite her being new to the area. She said all the girls and leaders were amazing. She even met her new best friend at the event, Miss Minot Teen USA, Devyn Bechel, who ended up winning the First Runner-Up title.
Jaycee has big plans for the future and dreams about following several different career paths, including possibly a nurse, a lawyer, an Air Force officer or even a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. Whatever she decides to be when she grows up, Jaycee is looking forward to the journey.
As Miss Jaycee Parker competes on August 1, 2024, for the title of Miss Teen USA, all of Minot AFB and North Dakota will be cheering her on. As a final statement, Jaycee wanted to let everyone know about her hopes for the upcoming pageant. A hopeful smile eased across her face as she said, “I just want to make North Dakota proud!”
