Michelle Reimnitz, a registered nurse at the Health Center in Kalispell, was crowned Mrs. Montana on May 18 at the Mrs. Montana America Pageant in Missoula.

It was her first pageant experience. The Mrs. America competition was first held in 1938 and honors married women.

“I love to get dressed up and being in a pageant was a bucket-list thing for me,” she said. “When I started to look into it, I saw what an influence I could have, having that voice to promote something I’m passionate about.”

The event was made up of three sections. Swimwear and evening gown competitions each counted for a quarter of the judging and an interview portion made up the other half of the scoring.

“I wasn’t really nervous because I was looking forward to it,” Reimnitz said of the experience. “Getting out on the stage, you can’t help but smile.”

During the interview portion Reimnitz, 31, shared her passion for Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Kalispell, a nonprofit that provides pregnancy testing, health care, ultrasounds, parenting classes and baby supplies.

Free or low-cost STD testing for men and women is also offered, as well as post-abortion support. Hope Pregnancy Center also makes an impact globally, as last year five churches in Ecuador and Argentina were equipped to launch their own pregnancy resource centers.

Reimnitz plans to attend events and fundraisers to raise awareness for her platform. She also wants to promote other local nonprofits about which she is passionate, such as Child Bridge in Bigfork and Big Brothers and Sisters.

She said she was inspired by the other contestants in the Mrs. Montana competition.

“The other delegates are all amazing women, so involved in their communities and doing good for so many other people,” she said. “They’re all driven and hard-working.”

Reimnitz will meet the winners of all 50 state pageants, plus the District of Columbia, at the Mrs. America pageant in Las Vegas, with events running Aug. 17-24.

Reimnitz is married to Curt Reimnitz.