November 29, 2009, will forever be a date that Courtney Basara remembers, as it was the day she was crowned Miss Minnesota USA 2010 in front of a capacity crowd at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center.

To Courtney, being named Miss Minnesota USA 2010 isn’t just about the crown, banner and title. Courtney believes it’s an honor, a responsibility, and an incredible opportunity to reach out, especially to girls and young women throughout the state. She hopes to send a message of the power of setting goals and working through any obstacles to achieve one’s dreams. Courtney sees her crown as a microphone – a tool which can help her send positive and inspiring messages to a much wider audience.

As president of Aim for the End, a non-profit organization she created to raise awareness and provide education about the issue of relational aggression, otherwise known as female bullying, Courtney plans to use her position as Miss Minnesota USA to speak to a larger audience about the prevalence and impact of this issue.

Besides her work with Aim for the End, Courtney is an active volunteer. Two special organizations for her are North Country R.I.D.E., a therapeutic horseback riding program for people with special needs and at-risk youth, and Animal Allies, the local chapter of the Humane Society. Courtney is training her rescued dog, Indy, to become a certified therapy dog.

When she’s not volunteering, this industrial engineering major at the University of Minnesota - Duluth, is working as a professional model. Her notable modeling career has taken her to runways in Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas and Minneapolis. In 2009 she was selected to model in “Fashion Rocks the Universe” at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas during the Miss USA Pageant festivities.

Born and raised in northern Minnesota, Courtney values the outdoors. In her free time she rides her all-terrain-vehicle (always with a helmet!), cheers for her college hockey team, and enjoys bonfires on the beach with family and friends.

“My goals didn’t change when they put the crown on my head,” added Courtney. “They just got closer. It will be an honor to represent Minnesota at the Miss USA pageant, and I plan to use the privilege of this platform to encourage and inspire others.”

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