History
The Miss Deaf Minnesota Pageant has been a tradition in Minnesota since 1976, when Delrene (Peterson) Kayser was crowned Miss Deaf Minnesota 1976-1978 at the pageant held at Technical-Vocational Institute (now St. Paul College) in St. Paul. Each Miss Deaf Minnesota goes on to compete in the National Association of the Deaf's Miss Deaf America pageant, held every two years.
The Miss Deaf Minnesota Pageant does not depend on beauty alone. Contestants are also judged on leadership, intelligence, cultural awareness, self-esteem, self-growth, self-confidence, and much more.
Each Miss Deaf Minnesota is expected to travel the state to educate people and communities on various topics, including a platform of the title holder's choice. The pageant provides Deaf women with many opportunities to develop a sense of responsibility, self-confidence and self-esteem, leadership and managerial abilities, and most of all, the opportunity to participate in an event that brings out positive feelings of self-growth where everyone turns out a winner.