MISS ALASKA MAKES HISTORY DURING CENTENNIAL MOMENT
Emma Broyles Wins the Title of 2022 Miss America at its 100th Anniversary Competition as Alaska Claims First Ever Golden Crown
UNCASVILLE, CT (December 16, 2021) – 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.”
2020 Miss America, 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.”
First runner-up in the competition was Miss Alabama, Lauren Bradford, who earned a $25,000 scholarship. A historic $435,500 in scholarship assistance was awarded to the 51 candidates this week.
“On behalf of the Miss America Organization, we would like to congratulate our newly crowned 2022 Miss America, Emma Broyles” said Shantel Krebs, Miss America Organization Board Chair and Interim President and CEO. “There are so many misconceptions of what a woman in a crown means. As Miss America, the role is not of vanity, but rather a role of impact and adding depth to the crown. There is no doubt in our mind that Emma is destined for great things.”
Additionally, the Miss America Organization announced the Non-Finalist Talent Winners and Miss Congeniality Scholarships. The Miss America Organization and The Miss America Foundation also unveiled the 2021 Scholarship Award winners for Women in Business, STEM, Social Impact Initiative, Equity and Justice and the Dakota State University Beacom College Stem Scholarship as part of the 100th Anniversary Miss America competition. The finalists were interviewed on Tuesday, Dec. 14.
The 2021 Scholarship Award Winners are:
NON-FINALIST TALENT WINNERS:
HOLLY BRAND (MISS MISSISSIPPI), received a $1,000 scholarship
WHITNEY WILLIAMS (MISS ARKANSAS), received a $1,000 scholarship
MORGAN HOLEN (MISS NEBRASKA), received a $1,000 scholarship
AMBER BARTO (MISS ARIZONA), received a $1,000 scholarship
VIVIAN ZHONG (MISS MICHIGAN), received a $1,000 scholarship
MISS CONGENIALITY SCHOLARSHIP:
MARIAH LAROCGUE (MISS MAINE), received $2,000
WOMEN IN BUSINESS SCHOLARSHIPS:
MEGHAN SINISI (MISS PENNSYLVANIA), received first place, with a $10,000 scholarship
MORGAN HOLEN (MISS NEBRASKA), received second place, with a $4,000 scholarship
TALLY BEVIS (MISS TENNESSEE), received third place, with a $2,000 scholarship
WOMEN IN STEM SCHOLARSHIPS:
VIVIAN ZHONG (MISS MICHIGAN), received first place, with a $10,000 scholarship
JULIA WILLIAMS (MISS LOUSIANA), received second place, with a $4,000 scholarship
JENNIFER SCHMIDT (MISS WISCONSIN), received third place, with a $2,000 scholarship
JEAN BARTEL SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVE SCHOLARSHIPS:
LAUREN BRADFORD (MISS ALABAMA), received first place, with a $10,000 scholarship
SASHA SLOAN (MISS UTAH), received second place, with a $4,000 scholarship
ALYSSA SULLIVAN (MISS NEW JERSEY), received third place, with a $2,000 scholarship
EQUITY AND JUSTICE SCHOLARSHIPS:
SASHA SLOAN (MISS UTAH), received first place, with a $3,000 scholarship
KARSON PENNINGTON (MISS GEORGIA), received second place, with a $2,000 scholarship
DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY BEACOM COLLEGE STEM SCHOLARSHIP:
LAUREN BRADFORD (MISS ALABAMA), received first place, with a $5,000 scholarship
The following scholarships were also awarded:
ALEXANDRA METZ (from Maryland), winner of the Allman Medical Scholarship, $10,000
TALLY BEVIS (MISS TENNESSEE), winner of the Forever Miss America Scholarship, $5,000
ANDOYLN MEDINA (MISS DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA), winner of the Jean Bartel Military Awareness Scholarship, $3,000
TOP MISS AMERICA CANDIDATE FUNDRAISERS
JULIA HERRIN (MISS SOUTH CAROLINA), Top Fundraiser and $5,000 scholarship for raising $31,900
LAUREN BRADFORD (MISS ALABAMA), First Runner-up and $2,500 scholarship for raising $24,327
CARLI BATSON (MISS NORTH CAROLINA), Second Runner-up and $1,000 scholarship for raising $17,250
TALLY BEVIS (MISS TENNESSEE), Third Runner-up and $1,000 scholarship for raising $14,139
ANDOLYN MEDINA (MISS DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) Fourth Runner-up & $1,000 scholarship for raising $12,109
TOP FIVE FUNDRAISING STATE ORGANIZATIONS
UTAH (State Executive Director, Carly Condie), Top Fundraiser and $5,000 scholarship for raising $134,972
SOUTH CAROLINA (State Co-Eds, Ashley Byrd / Chaz Ellis), First Runner-up and $2,500 scholarship for raising $105,437
ALABAMA (State ED Nan Teninbaum), Second Runner-up and $1,000 for raising $81,538
ARKANSAS (State ED Jessie Bennet), Third Runner-up and $1,000 scholarship for raising $64,398
NORTH CAROLINA (State ED Beth Knox), Fourth Runner-up and $1,000 scholarship for raising $60,646