Student.

Advocate.

Role Model.

Miss America.

Emma Broyles is the first Korean-American and the first Alaskan to earn the job of Miss America. She is spending her year traveling the country advocating for Special Olympics while still pursing her degree in biomedical sciences. Her goal is to help people from all walks of life be heard and respected through practicing inclusion.

Emma Broyles

Quick Facts About Emma

First Korean-American & Alaskan to hold the job
Pursuing a degree in biomedical sciences
Earned $110,000 in scholarships through MAO
Lives with ADHD and dermatillomania
Her family was named “Family of the Year” by Special Olympics Alaska

Following three action-packed nights of showcasing talent, interview skills and social impact achievements, one outstanding woman was left speechless on stage to a standing ovation at the 100th Anniversary Miss America competition Thursday night inside the 10,000-seat award-winning Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Emma Broyles, representing her home state as Miss Alaska, was crowned 2022 Miss America and awarded a record $100,000 in scholarship assistance for winning. This was the first time Alaska was crowned Miss America in the illustrious history of the iconic institution. The Centennial Miss America event returned in a new and enhanced format on NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, allowing audiences to stream the event live across all time zones.

As 2022 Miss America, Broyles, 20, will earn a six-figure salary, benefits and will travel approximately 20,000 miles a month during her reign as a representative of the Miss America Organization. The primary function of Miss America is to serve as an advocate and role model for young women while sharing her passion and life story, as well as the legacy of the Miss America Organization.

“Being crowned 2022 Miss America is an incredible dream come true,” said Broyles. “As a Korean-American, I am so grateful for the opportunity to compete alongside so many brilliant, talented women. I hope to live up to the legacy, serve as a positive role model for women of all ages and make the Miss America Organization proud. It’s been an honor to represent the great state of Alaska and I look forward to making a significant impact through my social impact initiative on the national stage.”

Broyles, who earned a cumulative total $105,000 in scholarship assistance through her state and Miss America competitions, will use her national platform to continue advocating for Building Community through Special Olympics. Broyles is in her junior year at Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, where she is majoring in biomedical sciences. Broyles believes that being a part of a community is central to the human experience.Through her social impact initiative, her goal is to help people from all walks of life be heard and respected through practicing inclusion. She chose Special Olympics as her social impact initiative because her older brother has Down syndrome. For the talent portion of the competition, Broyles sang, “Let Me Be Your Star” from the NBC television show, “Smash.”

Miss America 2020, Camille Schrier, who crowned Broyles, noted “it was an honor to reign as Miss America these last two years,” said Schrier. “I am so proud of all 51 of these incredible, young women and the Miss America Organization for being a leader in women’s empowerment. I wish all the best to Emma, as she has clearly proven to be a strong, intelligent role model who represents the best of what young women hope to be. She’s going to be an amazing example for all.”