JessiKate Riley

Miss Utah 2017

Age: 20

Hometown: Beaver, Utah

Platform Issue: Find ValYOU Within

Talent: Classical Violin

College Major: Violin Performance

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Communication Degree in Violin Performance.

My Proud Accomplishment: After my junior year in high school I was offered a spot in Brigham Young University’s School of Music. I had worked so hard and built the right relationships that allowed me to complete my senior year of high school while at BYU as a freshman.

One Thing I Can’t Live Without: My best friend Sam! Sam is my violin. He is from Austria and is 115 years old.

Bio: JessiKate’s journey to Miss America began in 2014 when, as Miss Utah’s Outstanding Teen, she decided she had a story she was ready to share. At 13 years old, she developed an anxiety disorder called Trichotillomania, which caused her to lose sight of who she was. With the help of family and friends, she learned that in order to overcome challenges, she needed to change her focus and realize the value she had within. JessiKate found this through music. As she matured, she realize that everyone needs to find inner value and hope. Her platform, “Find ValYou Within,” is designed to educate others and help them realize their own potential.