St. Cloud is hosting the 2015 Mrs. Minnesota International pageant this year. Long time resident and community supporter, Larissa Oliphant is representing Maple Grove, as Mrs. Hennepin County 2015. Larissa is a Maple Grove Arts Council member, as well as a recent guest Emcee at the Fall and Winter Fashion Shows for Arbor Lakes retail shops. She is a Series 7 General Securities License holder and champions for Financial Literacy in local High Schools promoting Wells Fargo’s “Get Smart about Credit” program, as a retail bank Private Banker, for the institution, and has been an activist for the program for the past six years. As a prior Mortgage Consultant, for a local builder, Larissa thrives to make a difference in the lives of others laying foundations for prosperous financial futures. She works closely with the non-profit “Dress for Success” and has highlighted their organization for the past three years, collecting professional clothing and monetary donations, as well as volunteering her time and talents. Dress for Success has helped over 2500 disadvantaged women secure and thrive in new employment opportunities. They provide an interview suit once an interview has been secured and upon job placement, provide five more without charge to the client. They offer resume’ reviews, financial literacy counseling, mock interviews and introduce women to a network of professionals, to continue to support their clients on their journey to success.
The International pageant system showcases the accomplishments of married women and encourages community outreach. The system’s one-day pageant consists of a panel interview, on-stage question, aerobic ware and an evening gown competition, escorted by their husband. Each contestant is able to speak briefly about the non-profit they support and are allowed further exposure advertising their activities throughout the year, as a County or City Titleholder, within the pageant’s program. Larissa was Mrs. Maple Grove in 2013.
After securing a Second Runner-Up title at the 2014 Mrs. Minnesota International pageant, Larissa has represented the system volunteering as a Pageant Judge at events such as Kolacky Days in Montgomery and Miss Central Minnesota. She has attended the Go Red for Women Luncheon, as well as Bowling for Soup with the Timberwolves and has recently been the Volunteer Manager for the Go Red for Women event at the Mall of America and an amateur photographer at the Polar Plunge in Prior Lake. She is excited to continue her journey, supporting her community and promoting volunteerism. She is supported by many local business owners and encourages others to look for opportunities to get involved and is happy to help with worthy causes.
