Bigfork girl is role model as pageant contestant

Kassandra Butterfield has had a busy summer.

The Bigfork High School senior has organized and run a blood drive, volunteered at the Samaritan house, Nurturing Center, Veterans Center, participated in church events, promoted events and business in the Bigfork Community and more.

While she’s devoted her time to serving her community she’s proudly worn the title of Miss Flathead Lake Teen USA.

On Sept. 6, Butterfield will compete for the title Miss Montana Teen USA.

While the pageant doesn’t require competitors to volunteer, that’s what the title is all about for Butterfield.

“It’s really about the community you are representing,” she said.

The Miss Teen Montana USA pageant is part of the Miss Universe Organization.

Butterfield had considered participating in the pageant for a couple of years, but was unsure if she wanted to. In January she decided she wanted to learn more about it so she called them up, and found herself being interviewed on the spot for a place in the pageant.

Then the work began — of selecting a title, getting sponsors and getting out into the community.

Kassandra hasn’t done a pageant since she won Hawaiian Tropic in Las Vegas when she was two-years old. The Miss USA pageant circuit won’t accept girls who have grown up doing beauty pageants, Butterfield said.

“This one is far from a beauty pageant,” Butterfield mother, Shawna Butterfield, said.

Contestants will be judged equally over three categories — interview, eveningwear and swim wear.

Butterfield said that the swimsuit portion of the competition, which often receives criticism, is a 64-year-old tradition. It started when a swimwear company wanted contestants to wear their suits for promotion, and it stuck around.

Butterfield said the swimsuit portion now, is really about confidence. “If you can walk on stage in heels and a swimsuit, you can do anything,” she said. “So it really empowers women.”

Butterfield said she’s learned a lot just preparing for the pageant, and already it has opened up new opportunities for her.

Filling her summer with community outreach has taught her communication skills and ways to positively represent herself. “Just having to communicate with people is a huge skill,” Butterfield said.

For her platform message, Butterfield chose youth. “Youth have so much piled on them today,” she said.

Butterfield is also very involved with Fresh Life Church in Kalispell. This year she participated in the O2 Experience, where she helped encourage teens to do things like save themselves for marriage.

Though Butterfield, at 17, is on the line between the Teen pageant and the Miss pageant she decided to do the teen so she could compete in the Miss later in life wherever she ends up living.

After graduating from Bigfork High School Butterfield plans to attend Hillsong College in Australia for two years to study ministry. She then plans to return to the United States and study psychiatry. She hopes to be able to mix ministry and psychiatry into the same profession.

“She’s been like this since she was six,” Shawna said of her daughter’s career goals.

Hillsong College will also help Butterfield stay involved with a nonprofit she has already worked with called the A21 campaign, which aims to help victims of human trafficking. Currently Kassandra writes letters to survivors.

“That’s really become one of my favorite things,” she said.

In addition to competing in the pageant and doing community service Butterfield is senior class president, and is helping the Bigfork Student council plan the Bigfork Relay for Life. She also plays soccer and tennis for Bigfork, and works at Burgertown. She has horses she is training to become therapy horses.

Butterfield said she has received great community support since deciding to compete in the Miss Montana Teen pageant. One of the defining moments of the journey so far was after the Bigfork 4th of July Parade, where she appeared wearing the title of Miss Flathead Lake Teen USA.

After the parade Butterfield found herself surrounded by little girls, and it stood out for her the impact she has as a role model.

The Miss Teen Montana pageant will take place the weekend of Sept. 6, at the Missoula Children’s Theatre. If Butterfield wins she will go on to compete for Miss Teen USA.

Kassandra said she is thankful for all of the sponsors that are helping her with the pageant. She does still need a sponsor for her evening dress. She also invites people to contact her if they need help with anything.

Kassandra and Shawna can be reached at 260-8985, 471-8538 or at kassandrabutterfield@gmail.com.