Miss Montana

Amanda Kimmel

What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
I walked the Great Wall of China in five inch heels!

Please list any schools and universities (public/private/graduate/trade or technical) you have or are attending, as well as the area of study, graduation date and any degree or certification you received.
High School: Billings West High School; Year Completed: 2003
Trade School 1: Fashion Institute of Technology; Area of Study: Fashion Design/Fine Arts;

What charity/charities have you supported with your time and/or resources over past two years?
I am very proud about how much influence I have made with a speech I have been sharing with schools around Montana since this fall. It is called "What to Pack When You Are Chasing a Dream" and provides the essentials needed to not only pursue but reach your dreams.
I have been speaking to schools with the D.A.R.E. program, in Kalispell, about the importance of staying drug-free for quite a few months now. I have participated in engagements where it has been my privilege to have the opportunity to influence young people and help them make good choices.
I have helped raise money for the Salvation Army by obtaining business donations and bell ringing.
I was involved with an event called the Penguin Plunge, where I raised money and then jumped into a hole cut into the ice of Whitefish Lake in the middle of February! All the proceeds went to The Special Olympics.
My family threw me a going away party for the Miss USA Pageant, but I decided to turn it into a fundraiser for "Feed the Children" Organization for the Tsunami Relief Fund. My fundraiser was called "Crown of Care" and I was able to raise a considerable amount for the victims.
I work with the DREAM program, where volunteers teach disabled children how to ski. For the last the last two months I have helped coordinate events and raise donations.
I am involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization. It is an organization that provides role models and mentors for children. I have enjoyed being a part of this program since 2004, helping them to organize events for the children and their mentors.

What would be your "dream job" in life?
I believe that life is a journey and along the way I will have many dreams and dream jobs! I am living one of my dream jobs already as a professional model. My other dream job is to own a boutique in New York as a fashion designer.

Name one personal accomplishment (in addition to being a State Titleholder) that makes you especially proud.
Opportunity knocked when I was 16 years old and I answered the door. I have taken what some might call an "unconventional path" when it comes to my education. When I was only a sophomore in high school I was given the opportunity to move to Chicago to pursue modeling under the direction of a professional talent agency. I completed my sophomore year by taking classes online through self-study. At 16 I was living in a city I didn't know, scraping by to pay my expenses, and living on my own. The experience taught me how the real world works, how to budget, and most importantly that taking risks and overcoming fears really pays off. I learned more about myself and life in that one year than all years previously. I am tremendously proud of the way I handled this experience.

What are your hobbies and favorite activities?
Rock climbing, Painting with oils, Designing clothes, Drawing with charcoal and different mediums, Yoga/Pilates, Sewing Reading romance/tragedy novels, volleyball.