Tag: Competing

Alabama: Abbie Stockard

Abbie Stockard, 22, is a nursing student at Auburn University and a member of the college’s dance team.

Stockard raises money for cystic fibrosis. She was inspired by her best friend, who was diagnosed with the disorder. In her Miss America bio, she said she hosted the largest fundraiser for the cause in Alabama in 2024, raising over $200,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The organization named her its 2024 Hero of Hope.

Alaska: Jordan Naylor

Jordan Naylor, 27, is the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women development director in Anchorage, Alaska.

Naylor wants to educate people about emergency heart aid, ensuring businesses in Anchorage are prepared to help people having cardiac emergencies and that people know hands-only CPR, working with organizations like the AHA and the Anchorage Fire Department.

In her Miss America bio, she also shared that she loves platypuses.

Arizona: Shailey Ringenbach

Shailey Ringenbach, 21, is a real-estate agent in Maricopa, Arizona. Her Miss America bio says she became a licensed real-estate agent at just 18 and is one of the youngest sales representatives at D.R. Horton. Ringenbach has sold over $2 million in real estate to date.

She also brought therapy dogs to pageants through her Share the Love: Improving Mental Health Through Pet Therapy initiative.

Arkansas: Camille Cathey

Camille Cathey, 22, received her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama, graduating summa cum laude. She will attend the University of Arkansas School of Law.

Cathey is an ambassador for Wish Upon a Teen, an organization that supports teens with severe medical conditions. She also created the Proudly Volunteer initiative, encouraging people to engage in service work across the US.

Cathey said in her Miss America bio that she can perform accents.

California: Kimberly Vernon

Kimberly Vernon, 28, is a marketing consultant from Santa Clara, California.

Vernon spearheads the Arts for All initiative, helping over 40,000 students access arts education. Her Miss America bio says she has raised over $130,000 for the program.

She also said she traveled the globe in just 18 days.

Colorado: Alexandra Lotko

Alexandra Lotko, 27, has her degree in elementary education from the Metropolitan State University of Denver. She lives in Denver today but said in her Miss America bio that she has lived in six states.

Lotko, a twin, is a mental-health advocate through her initiative, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. She also supports the American Heart Association and the Miss America Scholarship Foundation through the Miss America’s Ladies Who Launch initiative.

Connecticut: Monica Fenwick

Monica Fenwick, 24, is a speech and language pathologist from Watertown, California. Her work is her passion, and she helped create a Connecticut day of recognition for communication disorders and launched the initiative #CommunicationIsKey to support people with communication disorders.

Fenwick was also a member of the UCA All-American cheerleading team.

Delaware: Nova Rae Gaffney

Nova Rae Gaffney, 24, is from Milford, Delaware, and works as a professional ballerina. She recently performed the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in Savannah Ballet Theatre’s production of “The Nutcracker.”

She also launched the Behind Closed Doors: Domestic Violence Awareness initiative, raising awareness about indicators of domestic violence and the resources available to those dealing with it.

District of Columbia: Katie Ann Powell

Katie Ann Powell, 26, has an MBA and is a public relations specialist in Washington, DC. Powell also said in her Miss America bio that she played the harp for 20 years, studying at four different universities and performing in seven countries.

Powell also champions financial literacy as the president of Jump$tart Greater Washington and hosts the personal finance podcast “Full Confidence Ahead.”

Florida: Casana Fink

Casana Fink, 26, founded the clothing label The Unverified and is the chief operating officer for More Transplants More Life, a nonprofit organization focused on increasing organ donation. The Ocala, Florida, resident is also an MBA candidate.

Fink dedicates much of her time to raising awareness and support for organ donation. She was named the Donate Life Florida Ambassador of the Year and wrote a children’s book about organ donation.

Georgia: Ludwidg Louizaire

Ludwidg Louizaire, 27, works in marketing in Atlanta. Her initiative, Education for Every Student, promotes equal educational opportunities for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds. It includes legislative efforts and mentorship programs.

Louizaire was named the Boys and Girls Club of America’s role model of the year. In her Miss America bio, she also said she could recite every word of the musical “Hamilton.”

Hawai’i: Hayley Cheyney Kāne

Hayley Cheyney Kāne, 27, is a preventive medicine educator and doctor-in-training from Kaneohe, Hawai’i. Kāne said in her Miss America bio that she is passionate about educating people about women’s heart disease prevention, and she thinks the “aloha” lifestyle of Hawai’i can help combat the disease.

Kāne is the first gay Miss Hawai’i to date. She performed hula dancing and singing simultaneously as her talent during the competition.

Idaho: Madison Andreason

Madison Andreason, 22, is from Idaho Falls, Idaho, and studies paralegal studies and political science at Idaho State University.

Andreason was Idaho’s representative at the National Speech and Debate Tournament. She modernized an article about domestic violence for the Idaho State Bar and champions healthy living through her initiative Get Up and Get Out.

Illinois: Breana Bagley

Breana Bagley, 27, is an attorney from Decatur, Illinois.

Bagley champions awareness for rare diseases, inspired by her mother’s experience with idiopathic chronic pancreatitis. After helping to found the National Pancreas Foundation’s junior board of directors and Camp Hope, she was given the organization’s Vision of Hope award for her efforts.

She is also the chair of the National Organization for Rare Disorders Policy and Advocacy Taskforce.

Indiana: Kalyn Melham

Kalyn Melham, 23, is from Muncie, Indiana. She studied information and communication science at Ball State University and founded the service initiative Acts of Service, advocating for underprivileged communities across the US.

Melham also said in her Miss America bio that she loves film scores, listing Michael Giacchino, Hans Zimmer, and Justin Hurwitz among her favorite composers.

Iowa: Abigaille Batu-Tiako

Abigaille Batu-Tiako, 22, got her degree in business management from William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She is the first grandchild of 25 in her family to earn a college degree. Batu-Tiako played both soccer and track and field when she attended the school.

She founded the United Voices initiative, encouraging people to celebrate other cultures without appropriating them.

She has also played the trombone for a decade.

Kansas: Alexis Smith

Alexis Smith, 25, is a cardiothoracic ICU nurse in Witchita, Kansas.

Smith advocates against domestic abuse, working with organizations like One Love, the Domestic Violence Hotline, and the Kansas Health Foundation to promote healthy relationships and bring awareness to domestic violence. The City of Witchita awarded her an outstanding service award for her efforts.

Smith is also an accomplished ventriloquist, practicing for nearly 20 years.

Kentucky: Chapel Tinius

Chapel Tinius, 24, is a multi-talented contestant with a background in public speaking, extreme running, singing, and playing multiple instruments — namely the fiddle, violin, and harp.

She has two degrees from Belmont University and is now a spokesperson for Kentucky Proud, a local agriculture marketing program, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

According to her Miss America bio, Tinius also runs a fundraising operation called Operation Gratitude: For the Fallen, For the Fighting, For the Veterans. Her grandfather, who served and was injured in WWII, inspired her.

Louisiana: Olivia Grace George

Olivia Grace George, 20, is one of the youngest contestants in this year’s Miss America competition. She’s an aspiring elementary education teacher and studies at Lousiana Tech University.

She’s already gotten her start in the field. George previously collected and donated school supplies for local classrooms and founded an initiative called Education is Key – Knowledge Empowers Youth.

So far, as she shared in her Miss America bio, her efforts have reached over 4,500 students.

Maine: Jennie Daley

Jennie Daley, 28, is a biomedical systems engineer who graduated in the top 4% of her class at the University of Maine’s College of Engineering.

In her current position, where she’s the youngest staff engineer employed, she’s been promoted four times over the past five years.

Daley is now eager to help others achieve similar success in the field. She founded Equity in Engineering: Breaking the Glass Ceiling for Women and Rural America to help the career path become more accessible to diverse workers.

Maryland: Bridget O’Brien

Bridget O’Brien, 23, is studying to earn a master’s degree in sports management at the University of Alabama. However, she also dreams of becoming the first member of the Miss America organization to appear on “Dancing With the Stars.”

That’s partially because O’Brien knows a thing or two about dance. She was previously a member of the USA’s tap-dancing team and won two gold medals with the group.

She’s also a singer and the founder of Boomerang, an initiative that helps people reframe their failures into opportunities for success.

Massachusetts: Kiersten Khoury

Kiersten Khoury, 23, owns Savvy Solutions, a coaching business she founded when she was 16.

She’s also a real-estate agent who earned her license while in college and holds the title of top sales associate in New England, according to her Miss America bio.

For fun, Khoury is learning Arabic from her father, who spoke the language while living in Lebanon. She’s also dedicated to her initiative, Redefining Dyslexia, which educates people about the condition and advocates for those who experience it.

Michigan: Jenae Lodewyk

Jenae Lodewyk, 25, works within the NBA as the manager of player and family engagement for the Detroit Pistons. She’s held the role for five seasons and is only the third woman in the league’s history to be an assistant equipment manager.

The experience has led her to advocate for equal career opportunities in male-dominated fields.

Her Miss America bio says Lodewyk also enjoys watching Broadway shows, sewing, and completing New York Times puzzles with her sisters.

Minnesota: Emily Schumacher

Emily Schumacher, 25, has made her mark on the healthcare industry. Previously named a PHW Hero for Young Hearts Allied Health Professional Advocacy Champion award winner, she now works as a certified nurse’s assistant in her local emergency room.

She told the Miss America organization that she’s also worked with the American Heart Association and has widely advocated for CPR and AED training.

Mississippi: Becky Williams

Becky Williams, 23, is the first woman in her family to graduate from college — and she’s determined to help others succeed in education.

Now an elementary school teacher, Williams helped secure full-tuition scholarships at Mississippi State University for winners of their state’s local Miss and Miss Teen competitions.

As she said in her Miss America bio, she’s also passionate about fitness and started an initiative called Make a Move to help others develop healthy habits. For fun, Williams is learning how to fly planes and has over 10 hours as a pilot in command under her belt.

Missouri: Ashley Berry

Ashley Berry, 21, studies journalism and political science at the University of Alabama. Her biggest passion, though, is supporting young professionals.

She’s secured a full-tuition scholarship for future Miss Missouri Teen winners and founded a day in her state dedicated to engaging teens in politics. She’s also worked to add media literacy lessons to school curriculums and started the Media Smart initiative to further her advocacy.

Berry is a bungee fitness instructor and a professional dancer in her spare time, having previously performed with the Missouri Symphony.

Montana: Kaylee Wolfensberger

Kaylee Wolfensberger, 20, is a student working toward her degree in business marketing.

That said, she’s already had some experience in her field. In 2024, she met with representatives of two NFL teams, the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins, and discussed women in business leadership roles with them.

She also founded the Healing Harmonies initiative to help provide music education to communities in need.

Nebraska: Raechel Warren

Raechel Warren, 28, wears many hats. She is a merchandiser and logistics specialist within the agriculture industry and a published researcher.

And that’s not to mention her success in figure roller skating, which she’s been competing in since childhood. She’s now a two-time champion in the sport and aims to skate in all 50 states.

In her Miss America bio, Warren shared that she’s also passionate about mentorship and launched her initiative, Passion to Purpose, to help students have access to people who can guide them through life.

Nevada: Karrina Ferris

Karrina Ferris, 22, has a degree in history and political science, which led her to work the 82nd Nevada legislative session for the Senate majority leader.

She’s also a dancer and the creator of a civic education curriculum available across Nevada.

Ferris also founded the service initiative Inform To Reform: Educating America’s Future, which focuses on teaching young people about voter participation.

New Hampshire: Emily Spencer

Emily Spencer, 24, is a choreographer, pilates instructor, and professional dancer.

She previously earned her bachelor of fine arts in dance with a minor in biology, graduating fourth in her class and accepting her degree on the Miss New Hampshire stage. Spencer hopes to later earn a doctorate in physical therapy.

Additionally, Spencer founded a nonprofit and adaptive pageant organization called Miss Inspiration, which provides scholarships to women who have disabilities.

New Jersey: Elizabeth Mendel

Elizabeth Mendel, 23, is a business student and advocate for people who experience eating disorders, like she has in the past.

She’s worked with New Jersey assemblywoman Andrea Katz and provided her testimony to help pass two bills in New Jersey that raise awareness of eating disorders. Her initiative, Image is Everywhere, also focuses on the subject.

In her Miss America bio, Mendel said she’s also raised over $50,000 for her community and is a twin.

New Mexico: Emille Marie Enriquez

Emille Marie Enriquez, 24, is an emergency room nurse at a level-three trauma center. She’s been nominated twice for a Daisy Award, which recognizes excellence in nursing.

To help serve her community, Enriquez has administered vaccines, mentored graduate nurses, and advocated for safe ratios of nurses and patients.

In her Miss America bio, the contestant shared that she lives in a “glamper,” or a glamorous camper van, and enjoys shopping at Marshall’s with her grandmother.

New York: Abigail Quammen

Abigail Quammen, 25, can be described as a bookworm. Not only is reading one of her biggest hobbies, but she’s also an advocate for literacy via her initiative Read to Succeed, which provides students with tutoring and after-school reading programs.

Her work has previously taken her to places like the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy’s National Celebration of Reading, where she served as the featured impact speaker.

She previously graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in musical theater and is now an MBA candidate at New York University.

North Carolina: Carrie Everett

Carrie Everett, 20, is passionate about taking advantage of your circumstances.

She founded a service initiative called Seize the Opportunity, with which she advocates for equitable access to the Miss America competition. The program works on contestant recruitment, individual funding, and training workshops.

Previously, as she told the Miss America organization, she played tackle football and was the only woman on her team.

North Dakota: Sophia Richards

Sophia Richards is a North Dakota State University graduate and currently works as a host and producer for North Dakota Today.

The 23-year-old is also a volunteer and mentor for BIO Girls, a preventive mental wellness program in the Midwest. She once performed the national anthem in front of 45,000 people at a country music festival.

Ohio: Stephanie Finoti

Stephanie Finoti, 22, is a biomedical scientist and vocational nurse. She began doing research at the James Comprehensive Cancer Center and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital when she was just 16 and has been recognized for her work by the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Finoti also founded a nonprofit organization to help provide mentorship and tutoring to over 10,000 marginalized students.

Pennsylvania: Paige Weinstein

Paige Weinstein is a flight attendant and pilot-in-training for Delta Air Lines. She was diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 26 and now advocates for early detection.

The 27-year-old founded the nonprofit Beauty for All, offering the first beauty subscription box catered to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Weinstein is also obsessed with pickles and attends the country’s largest pickle festival every year.

Rhode Island: Ali Hornung

Ali Hornung, 24, graduated from the University of Rhode Island with degrees in global business, German, and human development.

Hornung is a pediatric cancer advocate who has raised over $700,000. She founded the Glimmer of Hope Foundation and has distributed more than 700 bald dolls to children battling cancer around the world. She currently collaborates with the Biden Cancer Moonshot.

South Carolina: Davis Wash

Davis Wash, 24, is a marketing consultant for a land and agriculture firm and an advocate for the children of incarcerated parents.

Wash is a national brand ambassador for Proverbs 22:6 and has accompanied over 270 children to visit their parents in prisons across South Carolina. She is also a partner with the American Correctional Association, striving to provide mentorship and resources to at-risk youth.

South Dakota: Joelle Simpson

Joelle Simpson, 21, is an accomplished figure skater. She is South Dakota’s first and only four-time gold medalist in figure skating and a national bronze medalist in synchronized skating.

Simpson is also a professional harpist and hosts a science documentary series called “Nurturing Nature,” where she has handled snakes and explored raptor rehabilitation.

Tennessee: Carley Vogel

Carley Vogel, 24, is studying for a degree in music business at Middle Tennessee State University. Through her social initiative, Carley 4 the Kids, she has raised over $1.9 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Vogel is also an advocate for organ donation, serving as an ambassador for Donate Life Tennessee and Tennessee Donor Services. She volunteers on the transplant floor at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and was honored as a national advocate by the American Liver Foundation in 2023.

Utah: Paris Matthews

Paris Matthews, 26, works as a certified child life specialist in the emergency department at Primary Children’s Hospital. She is also a graduate student, children’s book author, and founder of a charity that advocates for hospitalized children.

Matthews has made it to the national Miss America stage after competing 13 times to win her first local title.

Virginia: Carlehr Swanson

Carlehr Swanson, 28, graduated from George Mason University and the Frost School of Music. She is a Ph.D. candidate in critical and comparative studies in music.

Swanson performs in nursing homes and uses her social initiative, Music is Unity, to teach students about the benefits of music.

Washington: Hermona Girmay

Hermona Girmay, 24, is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Public Health. She became an advocate for type 1 diabetes after nearly losing her life to the autoimmune disease due to a prolonged misdiagnosis.

Girmay is also an advocate for gender and education equality. Through her nonprofit, she has donated books and school supplies and works to advance scholarship opportunities for women.

West Virginia: Jennifer Reuther

Jennifer Reuther, 26, is a practicing physician assistant. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 7 and has since raised more than $10,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Reuther has volunteered at rural health clinics across her state, helping to provide preventive screenings and medical services.

Wisconsin: Mandi Genord

Mandi Genord, 22, was a triple major at the University of Alabama, where she studied dance, political science, and communication. She will begin law school in the fall of 2025 and aspires to become a family lawyer specializing in adoption.

Genord is an adoption advocate and has partnered with Adoption Choice Inc. and the National Council for Adoption.