Cara Mund

Mund was born in Bismarck, North Dakota to DeLora Kautzmann-Mund and Doug Mund.{{cite web|url=http://missamerica.org/miss-america-2018-contestants/miss-north-dakota-2017-cara-mund/|accessdate=September 10, 2017|publisher=Miss America Organization|title=Miss North Dakota|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910121207/http://missamerica.org/miss-america-2018-contestants/miss-north-dakota-2017-cara-mund/|archive-date=September 10, 2017|url-status=dead}}

Mund is a choreographer and dancer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2017/09/miss_america_top_15_who_is_sti.html|title=Miss America 2018: Miss North Dakota wins the crown|last=Gore|first=Leada|date=2017-09-11|website=al.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-13}} In high school, she trained four summers with the Radio City Rockettes{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockettes.com/blog/miss-america-2018-is-an-alumni-of-the-rockettes-summer-intensive/|title=Miss America 2018 is an Alumni[sic] of the Rockettes Summer Intensive|website=The Rockettes|date=14 September 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-13|archive-date=2020-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925234222/https://www.rockettes.com/blog/miss-america-2018-is-an-alumni-of-the-rockettes-summer-intensive/|url-status=dead}} and was named one of their "Successful Rockette Women" in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockettes.com/blog/womens-history-month-celebrating-successful-rockette-women/|title=Women's History Month: Celebrating Successful Rockette Women|website=The Rockettes|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-13}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Since the age of 14, Mund has organized an annual fundraising fashion show benefiting the Make-a-Wish Foundation.{{cite web|title=Bismarck's Cara Mund crowned Miss North Dakota|work=Grand Forks Herald|url=http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/4282157-bismarcks-cara-mund-crowned-miss-north-dakota|date=June 12, 2017|accessdate=September 10, 2017|archive-date=September 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911071556/http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/4282157-bismarcks-cara-mund-crowned-miss-north-dakota|url-status=live}} In high school, Mund served as her school's National Honor Society president, graduated as one of her class' valedictorians, and was voted "most likely to become Miss America."{{cite news|url=https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/missamerica/miss-america-cara-mund-talks-dreams-coming-true-and-granting/article_04e6d070-3047-5527-a66f-66f89b0acbae.html|title=Miss America Cara Mund talks "dreams coming true" and granting wishes|first=Lauren|last=Carroll|work=Press of Atlantic City|access-date=2018-11-06|language=en}} In 2024, Mund was inducted into her high school’s Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |title=Inductees - Century High School |url=https://chs.bismarckschools.org/graduates/hall-of-fame/inductees |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=chs.bismarckschools.org |language=en-US}}

File:Cara Mund.jpg

She graduated with honors from Brown University in 2016 with a degree in business, entrepreneurship, and organizations. Her thesis was on the Miss America Organization.{{Cite web|last=Sloan|first= Louise|work=Brown Alumni Monthly| date= March–April 2018| url=https://www.brownalumnimagazine.com/articles/2018-04-01/miss-america-feminist|title=Miss America, Feminist|publisher=www.brownalumnimagazine.com}} Mund served as the president of the sorority Kappa Delta.{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-mund

|title=Cara Mund |publisher=Linkedin.com |accessdate=September 14, 2017}} She has said that the school helped her "think on [her] feet."

From August to December 2016, she interned for Republican Senator John Hoeven.{{cite web|first= Amy |last= Dalrymple| url=http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/mund-proud-to-put-north-dakota-on-the-map-as/article_b09214f1-3a0c-54ec-b43d-98fc162cbdac.html|newspaper=Bismarck Tribune|title=Mund proud to put North Dakota 'on the map' as state's first Miss America|date=September 12, 2017}}

In 2019, the North Dakota House of Representatives passed Resolution No. 3035 to honor Mund.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=House Concurrent Resolution No. 3035|url=https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/66-2019/documents/19-3121-01000.pdf|access-date=|website=}} She was also inducted into the North Dakota Bluebook's "Notable North Dakotans" and recognized as one of "Five Women Who Changed North Dakota's History." On March 11, 2021, the North Dakota State Museum debuted an exhibit featuring Mund.{{Cite web|title=ND style fashion exhibition opens in ND Heritage Center & State Museum|url=https://www.minotdailynews.com/life/arts-entertainment/2021/03/nd-style-fashion-exhibition-opens-in-nd-heritage-center-state-museum/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=minotdailynews.com|language=en-US}}

Prior to being crowned Miss America, she expressed her plan to attend law school. In May 2022, Mund graduated from Harvard Law School cum laude where she was a teaching fellow, the Executive Editor of Operations for the Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law, a member of the Harvard Law School Mock Trial Association, and a member of the Women's Law Association.{{Cite web|title=JSEL Leadership|url=https://harvardjsel.com/leadership/|access-date=2022-01-11|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-01-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111023740/https://harvardjsel.com/leadership/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Previous Members – Harvard Law School Mock Trial Association|url=https://orgs.law.harvard.edu/mocktrial/members/previous-members/|access-date=2022-01-11|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-01-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111023735/https://orgs.law.harvard.edu/mocktrial/members/previous-members/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |first=Clea |last=Simon |title='I was able to feel like I was making an impact' |url=https://today.law.harvard.edu/i-was-able-to-feel-like-i-was-making-an-impact/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=Harvard Law Today |language=en-US}} On September 23, 2022, Mund was sworn in and admitted to practice law in North Dakota.{{Cite web |title=North Dakota Court System - 37 new lawyers admitted to N.D. bar |url=https://www.ndcourts.gov/news/north-dakota/north-dakota-supreme-court/general-news/37-new-lawyers-admitted-to-n-d-bar |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=www.ndcourts.gov}}{{Cite web |title=North Dakota Court System |url=https://www.ndcourts.gov/lawyers/09723 |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=www.ndcourts.gov |archive-date=2022-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928060113/https://www.ndcourts.gov/lawyers/09723 |url-status=live }}

She began pageantry as a child, capturing the titles of Little Miss North Dakota, Miss Pre-Teen North Dakota, and Miss Junior Teen North Dakota.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/north-dakota-cara-mund-wins-america-2018-article-1.3485751|title=Miss North Dakota, Cara Mund, wins Miss America 2018|date=September 10, 2017|newspaper=NY Daily News|last=Feldman|first=Kate|access-date=September 11, 2017|archive-date=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917072405/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/north-dakota-cara-mund-wins-america-2018-article-1.3485751|url-status=live}} Mund later competed in Miss North Dakota's Outstanding Teen 2010 as Miss Red River Valley's Outstanding Teen 2010. She went on to win the competition, and competed in Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2011. She later was the fourth runner-up at the Miss North Dakota Teen USA 2012 pageant.

File:PHFL+mi-so-11-0201-MissAmerica (40007396021).jpg

Mund competed in Miss North Dakota 2016 as Miss Oil Country 2016, and was the first runner-up. She returned to the competition the following year as Miss Northern Lights 2017, and was crowned Miss North Dakota 2017, with her platform being "A Make-A-Wish Passion with Fashion."

Mund represented North Dakota in the Miss America 2018 competition held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 2017. Her platform was "A Make-A-Wish Passion with Fashion." In the preliminary competitions, Mund was named the first runner-up for the Quality of Life Award.{{cite web|first=Ike|last=Morgan|url=http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/09/miss_alabama_jessica_procter_w.html|work=AL.com|title=Miss Alabama Jessica Procter wins Miss America Quality of Life Award|date=September 8, 2017|accessdate=September 10, 2017|archive-date=December 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229123341/https://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/09/miss_alabama_jessica_procter_w.html|url-status=live}}

On September 10, 2017, Mund was crowned Miss America 2018 by Miss America 2017 Savvy Shields.{{cite web|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a12214508/miss-north-dakota-cara-mund-wins-miss-america-2018/|title=Miss North Dakota, Cara Mund, Wins Miss America 2018|date=September 10, 2017|work=Cosmopolitan|last=Rees|first=Alex}}{{cite web|url=http://heavy.com/entertainment/2017/09/miss-america-2018-winner-who-won-tonight-results-last-north-dakota-cara-mund/|title=Who Won the Miss America 2018 Pageant Tonight?|date=September 10, 2017|work=heavy.com|last=Weigle|first=Lauren}}{{cite web|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2017/09/10/miss-north-dakota-wins-miss-america-2018-cara-mund/|title=Miss North Dakota, Cara Mund, Slays The Competition & Becomes Miss America 2018|work=Hollywood Life|last=Wilson|first=Samantha|date=September 10, 2017|access-date=September 11, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913222824/https://hollywoodlife.com/2017/09/10/miss-north-dakota-wins-miss-america-2018-cara-mund/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/the-latest-judges-select-final-15-in-miss-america-contest/2017/09/10/322840c2-9691-11e7-af6a-6555caaeb8dc_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911050828/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/the-latest-judges-select-final-15-in-miss-america-contest/2017/09/10/322840c2-9691-11e7-af6a-6555caaeb8dc_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 11, 2017|title=The Latest: Miss North Dakota is crowned Miss America 2018|date=September 10, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|agency=Associated Press}} Along with the title of Miss America, she received a $50,000 scholarship. Mund is the first contestant from North Dakota to win the Miss America title. She is also the last{{when|date=December 2022}} Miss America to compete in the swimsuit portion of competition.{{cite web|first=Sara M.|last=Moniuszko|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/09/10/miss-america-2018-miss-north-dakota-cara-mund-takes-crown/641482001/|newspaper=USA Today|title=Miss America 2018: Miss North Dakota Cara Mund takes the crown|date=September 10, 2017|access-date=September 11, 2017|archive-date=May 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530074554/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/09/10/miss-america-2018-miss-north-dakota-cara-mund-takes-crown/641482001/|url-status=live}}

During her reign, Mund served as the 2018 National Goodwill Ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and worked closely with the USO.{{Cite news|url=http://www.jamestownsun.com/community/nonprofits/4391641-miss-america-promotes-make-wish-gala|title=Miss America promotes Make-A-Wish at Gala|access-date=2018-11-06|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.browndailyherald.com/2018/02/08/brown-crown-cara-mund-16/|title=From Brown to the crown: Cara Mund '16|last=Demeyer|first=Tess|date=2018-02-08|work=Brown Daily Herald|access-date=2018-11-06|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-11-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106132345/http://www.browndailyherald.com/2018/02/08/brown-crown-cara-mund-16/|url-status=live}} In solidarity with the #MeToo movement, she wore black to the 2018 State of the Union, and in the March/April 2018 issue of the alumni magazine of her Ivy League school, she represented the Miss America organization, saying that it was the largest scholarship provider to women and that "it's more relevant than ever". She expressed an interest in its change from the inside positive towards its current trajectory, "the organization really did exactly what it was meant to do, and that was to empower women and give them the skills to be able to stand up for themselves."

In August 2018, Mund criticized the Miss America Organization in stating "My voice is not heard nor wanted by our current leadership, nor do they have any interest in knowing who I am and how my experiences relate to positioning the organization for the future."{{cite web|last=Argetsinger|first=Amy|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/08/17/no-miss-america-should-be-humiliated-before-giving-up-crown-cara-mund-blasts-pageant-leadership/|title='No Miss America should be humiliated': Before giving up crown, Cara Mund blasts pageant leadership|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 17, 2018|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-date=September 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909075051/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/08/17/no-miss-america-should-be-humiliated-before-giving-up-crown-cara-mund-blasts-pageant-leadership/|url-status=live}} She further stated, "The rhetoric about empowering women, and openness and transparency, is great; however, the reality is quite different. I am living that difference. To stay silent is to give away my power and the power of the women who will follow me. I am not comfortable with any of us being controlled, manipulated, silenced, or bullied."{{Cite web|url=https://pressofatlanticcity.com/cara-mund-letter-to-past-pageant-winners/pdf_eb839172-3379-5c37-bbf4-91c2133b8ef0.html|title=Cara Mund letter to past pageant winners|website=Press of Atlantic City|date=17 August 2018 }}

On December 8, 2019, Mund became the first and so far only{{when|date=December 2022}} Miss America to judge the Miss Universe competition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.missuniverse.com/judge/1000784|title=Miss Universe Home|website=Miss Universe|access-date=2020-02-25|archive-date=2019-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205044208/https://www.missuniverse.com/judge/1000784|url-status=dead}}

On August 6, 2022, Mund announced her candidacy as an independent to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-09 |title=Cara Mund: Why she's running for Congress |url=https://www.kxnet.com/news/top-stories/cara-mund-why-shes-running-for-congress/ |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=KX NEWS |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607211134/https://www.kxnet.com/news/top-stories/cara-mund-why-shes-running-for-congress/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-08-10 |title=Ex-Miss America Mund: Abortion ruling prompted US House run |url=https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-entertainment-health-religion-67dbf68c7a698dfa90bc9d83a5e44301 |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}} She cited the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision as her motivation to enter the race.{{cite news |title=Ex-Miss America Mund: Abortion ruling prompted US House run |url=https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-entertainment-health-religion-67dbf68c7a698dfa90bc9d83a5e44301 |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=AP News |date=10 August 2022 |language=en |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213214250/https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-entertainment-health-religion-67dbf68c7a698dfa90bc9d83a5e44301 |url-status=live }} Mark Haugen, the Democratic–NPL candidate, withdrew from the race following her candidacy.{{cite news |title=Ex-Miss America Mund's entry pushes Dem out of ND House race |url=https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2022-midterm-elections-entertainment-north-dakota-cara-mund-77c7cedc8f787572ee20ae3e1f12db99 |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=AP News |date=6 September 2022 |language=en}} She lost the election to incumbent Republican Kelly Armstrong by a vote of 148,399 (62.2%) to 89,644 (37.6%).{{Cite web |title=Cara Mund |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Cara_Mund |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116133313/https://ballotpedia.org/Cara_Mund |url-status=live }}

On April 8, 2024, Mund filed paperwork and announced she would run in the NDGOP primary to replace Armstrong as he ran for governor.{{cite web | url=https://www.kfyrtv.com/2024/04/08/cara-mund-announces-run-congress/ | title=Former Miss America Cara Mund announces bid for US House as a Republican | date=8 April 2024 | access-date=25 July 2024 | archive-date=27 July 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727040812/https://www.kfyrtv.com/2024/04/08/cara-mund-announces-run-congress/ | url-status=live }} Mund campaigned as being a pro-choice, anti-Trump Republican candidate.{{cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/06/10/cara-mund-north-dakota-kelly-armstrong-congress-race/73983880007/ | title=Ex-Miss America-turned-GOP House candidate is pushing abortion as a conservative issue | website=USA Today }}{{cite web | url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/cara-mund-says-north-dakotas-u-s-house-representative-needs-to-not-be-dependent-on-donald-trump | title=Cara Mund says North Dakota's U.S. House representative needs to not be dependent on Donald Trump | date=22 April 2024 | access-date=23 April 2024 | archive-date=23 April 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423214755/https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/cara-mund-says-north-dakotas-u-s-house-representative-needs-to-not-be-dependent-on-donald-trump | url-status=live }}

On June 11, 2024, Mund lost the primary. Coming in third of five candidates, she received 19%.{{cite news|url= https://www.kfyrtv.com/2024/06/12/fedorchak-wins-republican-us-house-primary-advances-november-election/?outputType=amp |title= Fedorchak wins Republican primary for North Dakota's US House seat, advances to November election |first=Justin|last=Gick|work=KFYR TV|access-date=July 12, 2024|language=en}}

On September 21, 2024, Mund was voted “Best ND Politician.”{{Cite web |date=2024-09-21 |title=Best ND Politician |url=https://bismarcktribune.com/article_5ce13490-69f2-11ef-af31-db3729ad3c7b.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=The Bismarck Tribune |language=en}}

{{As of|2024}}, Mund is an associate with Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP where she practices in the areas of complex commercial litigation, including white-collar criminal defense, bankruptcy, and employment matters.{{Cite web |title=Cara Mund {{!}} Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP |url=https://www.quinnemanuel.com/attorneys/mund-cara/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=www.quinnemanuel.com |archive-date=2024-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116133312/https://www.quinnemanuel.com/attorneys/mund-cara/ |url-status=live }}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.caramund.com/#section1 Official website]

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{{s-bef|before=Macy Christianson}}

{{s-ttl|title=Miss North Dakota|years=2017}}

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{{s-bef|before=Savvy Shields}}

{{s-ttl|title=Miss America|years=2018}}

{{s-aft|after=Nia Franklin}}

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{{MissAmericas 2000–2019}}

{{Miss America}}

{{North Dakota pageant winners}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mund, Cara}}

Category:1993 births

Category:Beauty queen-politicians

Category:Brown University alumni

Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections

Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni

Category:Harvard Law School alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Miss America winners

Category:North Dakota independents

Category:People from Bismarck, North Dakota

Category:Women in North Dakota politics

Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States House of Representatives elections