Margana Wood

Miss Texas 2017

Age: 22

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Platform Issue: You Belong

Talent: Contemporary Dance

College Major: Corporate Communication

Scholastic Ambition: To return to the graduate program at the University of Texas.

Secret Wish or Dream: I have secretly always wanted to live in another country. After my year of service, I hope to use the scholarship I have earned to continue advancing my education. With that said, I would love to earn my Master’s abroad!

My Family Fact: My family loves to create unique names. My name is a combination of my grandmothers’ names: Martha + Gayna = Margana. Gayna was also a blend of her parents’ names: Gaynes and Syvenna.

Bio: Margana is a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin where she earned a degree in Corporate Communications. Sharing her personal story of overcoming consistent bullying in middle and high school, Margana has shared with thousands of students her personal platform “You Belong”. She uses her SMART students program to help share the importance of respect and inclusion and has also partnered with The Little Words Project, a national organization whose mission is to spread kindness. As Miss Texas/Miss America she looks forward to continuing her message of respect by encouraging audiences to embrace the notion that we can live in a judgement free society where everyone belongs.