Tayrn Chuter wins Miss Montana 2011 title

The title of Miss Montana has been bagged by Taryn Chuter, 23, of Corvallis. She has won a chance to represent Montana at the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas next January.

Till the Miss America Pageant takes place, she will be Montana's ambassador, speaking at schools and conferences and special events. Her platform is to educate and motivate: preventing childhood obesity.

Chuter, belonging to the native of Corvallis, Montana, won a $5,000 cash scholarship, plus $11,500 in applied scholarships and many prizes, including a silver service tea set that Mitchell Oil Field Service has been giving to Miss Eastern Montana or Miss Montana for 29 years.

A graduate from Gonzaga University with a BA in Journalism, she tore her ACL in college track and also has a history rehab, but she still has won the competition with her lyrical dance talent. Tayrn had also won the preliminary swimsuit and evening gown contests in the two previous nights' competitions.

Veronika Ohlinger, of Cooke City was the first runner-up, singing Black Velvet. She also won the Spirit and Leadership Award given by the production staff and $2,500.

Second runner-up was Chantell Bury, 20, Glendive, winning $2,000 in a cash scholarship. Bury was voted Miss Congeniality by fellow contestants, and voted most photogenic by Right Impressions, the official photographer for the week. Bury also won the Miss America State Community Service Award of $1,000.

Third runner-up Gillette Vaira, 24, of Lambert, was Thursday night's evening gown winner and received the Miss America $1,000 Scholar Academic Award and the interview award, a report in Billingsgazette said.

Cortney Bury, 19, of Glendive, was fourth runner-up and winner of the Friday night fitness in swimwear competition and Miracle Maker fundraising award from the Children's Miracle Network.

D'Jeane Peters, of Grass Range, and Arlene Dwyer, of Florence, were in the top seven.

The Miss America Scholarship Program is the largest contributor of scholarships for young women, giving out $45 million last year.

Jalyssa Gorder, 15, of Sidney was crowned Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen Friday night at the Dawson County High School auditorium in Glendive. She won a $1,000 scholarship and will represent Montana in Orlando, Fla., in August. Gorder performed a lyrical dance to Jar of Hearts. Her platform is stay active, stay fit, be healthy.