When a storied brand like Miss America reimagined the status quo, eyebrows furrowed and hands raised asking–why? Because it’s time. One hundred years of pageantry encompasses a proud history, but there’s so much more to explore and unpack than who designed the candidates’ evening dresses. These are women who have spent years making it to the grand stage. Their confidence is beautiful and their leadership and ambitious pursuits break barriers beyond the normal. They are the embodiment of role models we want for our younger generation.
Miss America is no longer a pageant, it’s a scholarship competition. A great emphasis has been placed on sharing a more accurate portrayal of women (the swimsuit competition was eliminated in 2018 - as well as all judging on physical appearance), and the leadership and social impact initiatives the state candidates champion, including STEM, body positivity, gender equity, entrepreneurship and female empowerment.
Miss America 2022 is Emma Broyles, Miss Alaska, the first Korean-American woman to hold the title, also a first for her home state. She was awarded a record $100,000 in scholarships to assist in her pursuit of a biomedical sciences degree at the Honors College at Arizona State University. “I’ll be heading to medical school after I graduate, and I was going to have to choose based on cost. I’ve always had to work two jobs to pay for college; This is a life-changing amount of money,” she shared via Zoom.
Broyles will spend the year traveling and sharing her social platform – Community through the Special Olympics. Her drive to raise awareness for this cause comes from her heart, her older brother has Down syndrome. “It was also really amazing to be able to speak about my struggles with ADHD. I felt quite vulnerable. I asked myself, ‘Is this something I should say on stage with hundreds of thousands of people watching?’” And she did, making Miss America that much more relatable and real.
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As a special surprise, three female founders from FoundedByHer joined the Zoom call. When they asked for Broyles’ advice, she acknowledged that female entrepreneurs do not get nearly enough recognition, and told them, “Maintain a sense of open-mindedness, be empathetic and compassionate, and be open to the stories of others.” She added, “It’s incredibly important to have diverse backgrounds and opinions and especially in the workplace, because that’s how we’re going to move forward as a society.”
Scholarships Fuel Equitable Paths
Collectively, the 51 candidates received a historic $435,500 in scholarship assistance during the 100th anniversary competition week. The Miss America Organization (MAO) awards over $5 million in scholarships a year at the local, state and national program levels in total. From broadcast journalism, medicine to law or public policy, there is no field they don’t intend to crush. Here’s how they plan to close the gender gap:
“Education is the bridge to equity, and as a first-generation Indian American woman, it is my education and professional background that allows me to break glass ceilings everyday. These scholarships have supported me to turn my passion for business and diversity and inclusion into advocacy for real change in my community.” said Sapna Raghavan, Miss Connecticut, who is pursuing a graduate degree in public policy.
“Without the degree, interview skills, and the scholarships that the MAO provided me, I never would have landed a job in the number four TV market right out of college. I can now work towards obtaining a master's in broadcast journalism to one day educate the next generation of newscasters,” said Alyssa Sullivan, Miss New Jersey.
Karson Pennington, Miss Georgia shared, “One day I'll be Dr. Pennington because of the $20,000 plus I've earned from competing in the MAO. I hope to become a collegiate professor, publish my research on the judiciary level, and inspire other young women to use their voice in politics.”
The Sisterhood of Healthy Competition
While some may imagine the behind-the-scenes environment to be tense and nerve-inducing, the candidates shared how they’ve built relationships that will last long after they’ve walked off stage.
"I've had friends ask what the atmosphere is really like during the competition and I've found the following quote to be quite accurate: ‘One woman's success is not your failure.’ In a room full of future doctors, lawyers, secretaries of state, educators, and business owners, it's easy to see how each Miss America candidate is highly motivated and extremely accomplished. But what's so incredible is that behind each extensive resume, there is a compassionate, thoughtful, and sincere servant leader,” said Alyssa Slohn, Miss Maryland.
Courtney Choy, Miss Hawaii, shared how their roots will grow: “On the island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi, a legacy tree was planted for each one of my competition sisters. To me, these trees not only reflect my state's commitment to reforestation and environmental stewardship - they also reflect the bond that I want to have with our class forever.”
What You Can Expect To See From Miss America in 2022
In December, the great reimagination of Miss America took shape and returned in a new and enhanced format on NBCU’s streaming service, Peaco*ck, giving viewers the opportunity to see the event live across all time zones. To learn more, I spoke with Shenan Reed, MAO board member and head of media at L'Oréal USA, who shared why she’s excited for what’s to come. “This is an organization that helps women from all over the country build networks and skills not easily learned in other places. It’s also providing a platform for them to create impact for their social initiatives and be role models for the next generation.”
Said Shantel Krebs, interim president and CEO of MAO, “Miss America has taken the lead and rewritten the rules of competition, and we’ve received such amazing support from Verizon, LinkedIn and Stacy’s Pita Chips. We welcome other like-minded organizations to get involved and support the evolution of this iconic brand.”
This is how we move closer to gender equity – by rewriting the rules and reimagining the way things have always been done. When we foster healthy competition we build lifelong bonds and provide role models for the next generation. If you can see her, you can be her.
