My journey with the Miss America Opportunity began nearly a decade ago when, at just fourteen, I was a young girl seeking confidence, purpose, and stability. I found all of that—and more—through this program. As Miss Kentucky’s Teen 2017, I earned the Miss America’s Teen Presidential Scholarship and pursued a degree in Musical Theatre at The University of Alabama. Surrounded by fellow titleholders who became lifelong friends, I stepped onto stages I had only dreamed of and grew into a confident, determined woman who knows she doesn’t need a crown to make a difference.

As Miss New York, my mission is to close the literacy gap by empowering children to read and equipping them with the tools to succeed. My community service initiative, Read → Lead → Succeed, was born from my own story—when my family lost our home at age 12, reading became my safe haven. From cookbooks to classics, books offered me consistency and hope during a time of chaos. Today, I bring that same hope to children through after-school programs in Title I schools, one-on-one tutoring with Reading Partners, and a national reading challenge, Book Buddies, which helps kids develop comprehension and conflict resolution skills through reading.

Outside of advocacy, I’m a career fundraiser and MBA candidate at NYU, specializing in leadership and change management. I help donors build legacies through scholarships and credit the Miss America Opportunity for guiding me toward this path. My ultimate goal is to serve as Executive Vice President of Programs for a major philanthropic foundation, championing educational equity through revitalized libraries and programming for underserved schools.

I am deeply honored to serve as Miss New York, not for recognition, but as a vessel to uplift the people and communities I love. This year, I’m committed to expanding literacy opportunities across New York’s 700 school districts and raising a record-breaking amount for the Miss New York Organization. Most of all, I hope every person I meet—whether in person or online—doesn’t just know Miss New York, but feels like they are friends with her.

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Lucille Esler is a 14-year-old titleholder proudly representing Gloversville, New York, as Miss Niagara’s Teen. A student at Gloversville High School, Lucille is a dedicated scholar and community leader with aspirations of becoming a radiologist.

Her Community Service Initiative, “Life With Theodorable: Supporting Autistic Individuals and Their Families,” reflects her passion for inclusion and advocacy. As the founder of this initiative, Lucille has raised over $4,000 to provide essential resources and support to autistic individuals and their loved ones. Her efforts have earned her the Glove City Coalition Youth Community Engagement Award.

Lucille stays active as a clarinetist, slalom water skier, and board member of her school’s Key Club. She is also involved with the Future Business Leaders of America and swims for her school’s varsity team. She’s no stranger to the spotlight, having played roles like “Darla” in Finding Nemo and “Fiyero” in Wicked.

Health and well-being are priorities for Lucille, who practices dance and acrobatics nearly every day. She maintains both her physical and mental health through movement, a healthy diet, and outdoor activities like hiking. Her commitment aligns closely with the values of #MissAmericaFit.

Aside from her own initiative, Lucille is passionate about addressing the impact of digital communication on her generation. She believes fostering face-to-face interactions is crucial in an age dominated by screens.

To learn more about Lucille's organization follow her on social media at @MissNiagaraTeenNY and check out all the details here: https://lifewiththeodorable.com/

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Kynlee Schultheis, Miss Oklahoma’s Teen, is a sixteen year old sophomore at Epic Charter Schools. She is a nationally awarded competitive dancer with South Tulsa Dance Co. As Miss Oklahoma’s Teen she has received over $19,000 in cash scholarships during this year competing in the Miss America’s Teen Opportunity. Kynlee represented Oklahoma at the Miss America’s Teen competition and was named as a top 11 semi-finalist.

As a proud advocate for children with disabilities and their families, Kynlee uses her heart for service through her Community Service Initiative, Reach Back, Pull Forward: Inclusion Matters, where she champions inclusion for children with disabilities. Kynlee was recognized as the youngest Best Buddies Champion of the Year nominee in Oklahoma and serves on the Little Light House Youth Advisory Board. She has the privilege of speaking to thousands of Oklahoma students about the importance of reaching back to pull others who are different from you forward.

Her journey in the Miss America program taught her the value of hard work, service, and allowed her to gain lifelong skills.

To learn more about the Miss Oklahoma Organization, check it out here: https://missoklahoma.org/

And to learn more about Kynlee, follow her on social media at @MissAmericasTeenOK and @Kynlee.Schulteis

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Chapel Tinius, 24, is a Bowling Green, KY native and daughter of Jim and Dana Tinius. Inspired by her two WWII veteran grandfathers, she created her Community Service Initiative: Operation Gratitude – For the Fallen, For the Fighting, For the Veterans. Her first project began at age six, collecting books and VHS tapes for deployed soldiers. She later received her grandfather’s Purple Heart, a symbol of the sacrifice she seeks to honor.

Through Operation Gratitude, Chapel has run over 25 half-marathons and 3 full marathons to raise funds for the Honor Flight Network. She also founded the Run to Fly 10K series across 10 Kentucky counties and helped launch the Youth Ambassador Program with Honor Flight Kentucky. She served on the national relay team for Carry The Load for three consecutive Mays, helping raise $2 million to support veterans and their families.

Chapel also created a violin/harp CD titled Gratitude as a music therapy gift for veterans, inspired by how music helped heal her grandfather. Deeply involved in the arts growing up, she performed in musicals, played harp and fiddle, and sang at First Baptist Church in Bowling Green. A proud graduate of Bowling Green High School and Belmont University, Chapel earned dual degrees in Musical Theatre and Corporate Communication.

She completed the Disney College Program and now lives in Lexington, KY. As Miss Kentucky, she aims to visit all 120 counties, promote Kentucky Proud products, and make education fun with music. She plans to include veterans in community events and advocate for the Homegrown by Heroes program, helping Kentuckians connect with local heroes.

To learn more about the Miss Kentucky Organization, check it out here: https://misskentucky.org/

And to learn more about Chapel, follow her on social media at @MissAmericaKY and @Chapel_Faye 

Follow us on Instagram @oneworldonefuturepodcast to be the first to know when new episodes drop! And don’t forget to follow our host, Ashley, at @itsashleynevison for even more updates and behind-the-scenes content!

Follow us on Instagram @oneworldonefuturepodcast to be the first to know when new episodes drop! And don’t forget to follow our host, Ashley, at @itsashleynevison for even more updates and behind-the-scenes content!

Ariana is a dedicated advocate, speaker, titleholder, and changemaker working to transform the foster care system. Originally from Bardstown, KY, she is a sophomore at the University of Kentucky, pursuing dual degrees in Social Work and Psychology to further her mission of supporting young adults aging out of foster care.

Her lived experience in the foster system fuels her passion for systemic change. She serves as a Federal Children’s Bureau Foster Care Housing Advisory Board Member, a FosterClub National Lived Experience Leader, and a University of Kentucky Involvement Advisor. She is also the host of The Lucky Ones Podcast, where she amplifies the voices of those impacted by the system and highlights the resilience of young people who have experienced foster care.

Through her organization, The Lucky Ones Foundation, Ariana leads multiple projects that provide resources, suitcases, life skills training, and advocacy opportunities for transition-aged youth. Beyond her advocacy, she is also a talented performer and reached the third round of America’s Got Talent auditions with her vocal abilities.

To learn more about her organization, check it out here: the-lucky-ones.org And to learn more about Ariana, follow her on social media at @MissBardstown, @TheLuckyOnesFoundation and @_arianamae

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Juliette is the reigning Miss Environment England and will proudly represent her country this June in the Philippines at Miss Environment International. She is passionate about raising awareness around the impact of fast fashion and uses her voice to advocate for sustainable choices. Juliette also hosts The Lesbian Lounge, a podcast available on all streaming platforms. 

To follow Juliette for more content, check her out on social media at @MissEnvironmentEngland and @JulietteFrancesT.

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Mia Vanessa, proudly known as Mia Fly Girl, is a Filipina Cambodian-American trailblazer making waves in pageantry, philanthropy, and the arts. A former International Junior Miss Jr. Teen 2022–2023 and the reigning Miss Westchase Florida Teen USA 2025, Mia brings over five years of experience as a celebrated international, national, and state titleholder.

Beyond the crown, she is a published author, dancer with the Philippines Performing Arts Company, and founder of three empowering initiatives—BeYoutiful, Be Fly, and Tiara Tea Time. As President of The Kind Mouse organization, Mia uses her platform to advocate for self-love, inclusion, and kindness, drawing strength from her personal journey of overcoming bullying.

With poise, purpose, and passion, Mia continues to lead by example—uplifting others and reminding the world that being different is what makes you truly fly.

To purchase her journal please click here: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Yourself-Mia-Vanessa-Prom/dp/B0C6BTFGTC

And to learn more about what Mia is doing, follow her on social media at @MiaPageantLife and @MiaFlyGirl_. 

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Olivia Andrews, Miss Nelson County 2025, is proud to champion her Miss America Service Initiative: Maestra — Empowering Women to Step Up to the Podium. Through Maestra, Olivia is committed to increasing representation and leadership opportunities for women in conducting and music education.

She brings her initiative to life daily as a student teacher with the Floyd Central High School Choirs, where she recently launched a student leadership program designed to inspire the next generation of conductors and ensure maestras have an equal seat at the podium.

Olivia is currently completing her Master of Arts in Teaching at the University of Louisville and holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education.

When she’s not leading from the podium, you’ll likely find Olivia spending time with her loved ones, swimming in her mermaid tail, or happily petting every dog in sight.

Olivia would like to give a special shoutout to the conduct(her) podcast and Dr. Kyra, whose mentorship and encouragement were instrumental in bringing this initiative to life.

To learn more about Olivia, follow her on instagram at @OliviaAndrewsKentuckiana, @You_Gotta_Love_Liv, and @MissNelsonCountyKY

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Ericka Adams is the reigning Royal International Ms. and a proud Air Force veteran and volunteer firefighter. With a deep commitment to empowering young women, Ericka combines her extensive career experiences and passion for learning new skills to inspire girls to explore careers in the trades. Through her hands-on instructional videos and the creation of a scholarship for young girls pursuing trade careers, Ericka is dedicated to helping open doors for the next generation of women in these fields. Her initiative, Boots and Heels, is a passion project that she cherishes, as it allows her to share the valuable skills she’s acquired and make a lasting impact. 

To learn more about Ericka, follow her on instagram at @royalinternationalms and @boots_heels_and_glitter!

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Miss Texas Annette Addo-Yobo makes history as the first American immigrant titleholder to become Miss Texas. During her year of service, Annettte will pursue advocacy for her community service initiative, The S.P.A.R.K. Project: Autism Safety, Awareness, and Education. In conjunction with her philanthropic efforts, Annette has graduated with a Masters of Business Administration at Lamar University as a stepping stone in her aspirations to obtain her Juris Doctorate. Through the Miss America Organization, Annette has earned more than $55,000 for her education in academic scholarships. Annette recently competed at the Miss America competition, where she earned an additional $13,000 in scholarships. Annette was awarded as the preliminary evening gown winner, as well as achieving first runner up to Miss America 2025.

To learn more about what Annette is doing, follow her on instagram at: @MissAmericaTX and @AnnetteAddoYobo.

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