They may all come from different places and have different beliefs, but all the women are similar in that they can't be certain if they'll be crowned winner and take on all the responsibilities that come with it, or if they'll go home and start over.

"(Because) the process is so unknown ... I think there are a lot of girls who have to rely on faith," Bachison said.

As for her own membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bachison said everyone has always been very accepting, and she hasn't run into any challenges being true to herself.

"When you're solid ... people are respectful," she said.

Should Bachison win the April contest, which she calls Plan A, she'll move in with the current Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe and will essentially work for Donald Trump, traveling and representing the Miss USA organization. That would be a dream come true, she said, and she even thinks working with The Donald is something she'll enjoy.

"The more I learn about him, the more I like him," she said, adding that he clearly wants to help young women like herself succeed.

In preparation for Plan A, she has moved out of her office at the Deseret Morning News, where she works in the marketing department, and is packing up her belongings at home to take to New York in the event she wins.

If things don't go according to Plan A, though, she has a Plan B in the works.

"I haven't really developed Plan B, because I don't really like B."

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E-mail: mfarmer@desnews.com