Jill Sharp, a Sidney High School senior, has loved to dance every since she can remember.

But part of the reason she decided to apply for the Miss Montana program didn’t have to do with her talent. Instead, the daughter of John and Sammie Sharp wanted to create more interest for her platform message, “cyberbullying and harassment.”

“It’s a growing problem,” Sharp, who is one of 17 contestants, said. “It happens a lot more than people realize. I think some people don’t realize the full effects it really has.” Many times bullying have led to a depression attitude and to suicide for high school and middle school students.

“It goes right along with suicide prevention,” Sharp said of her platform.

The Miss Montana and Miss Montana’s Outstanding Teen programs will have their competitions June 17-19 at Dawson County High School in Glendive.

“I’ve always been approached by people that said you should think about it. I decided it was a good year to pursue it and then to continue with it,” Sharp said. “It’s something really new for me. I’ve never thought of myself as the pageant type.”

Her talent will consist of tap dancing, an activity she has been doing since the fourth grade. “I’ve tap danced all my life, that’s what I started with,” the captain of the Sidney High School Eaglettes said.

Sharp’s love of dance led her to joining the Dance Fever dance studio in Williston, N.D. This summer, June 22-24, she will play the role of Charlie Bucket in the dance studio’s production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

As far as preparation for the interview portion of Miss Montana, she is relying on the help of her dance coaches because they have pageant experience. “Because I’m so lost. I don’t know what to expect, but I’m excited.”

She notes her friends are also excited about Sharp’s participation. “My friends have been so supportive for it. They are all going to go to the pageant. Especially the drill team as a whole is so excited for me.”

Drill team teammate Jalyssa Gorder has been accepted for the Miss Montana Outstanding Teen Pageant as have Fairview’s Alyson Cayko and Lindsey Kjos. There are 10 girls in the teen program.

The competitions are scheduled for June 17-19 at Dawson County High School in Glendive. During each round of the pageant, routines will rotate between the Miss Montana and Miss Montana Outstanding Teen portions of the night.

“I’m hoping for a lot of Sidney support,” Sharp said. “It’s nice because it’s so close.”

editor@sidneyherald.com