Miss Virginia contestants have spent weeks, months, and for some, years preparing for this week.
Their journey began in late 2023 and early 2024 as they each won a local title. This week 25 women ages 18 to 28 will compete for the Miss Virginia title, and 25 teens ages 13 to 18 will compete for the Miss Virginia’s Teen title.
Events began Tuesday night, and the week will finish off with the finals at Roanoke’s Berglund Performing Arts Theatre on Saturday night.
The crowned winners of Miss Virginia 2024 and Miss Virginia’s Teen 2024 will go on to compete in Miss America 2025 early next year.
Over the last 100 years of pageantry, there has been a feeling among some that the events can be unhealthy for young girls and women by expecting them to uphold an image and allowing others to judge and compare them.
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The pageant world is often perceived as a “beauty competition” that values a woman’s physical appearance rather than her character.
Miss Roanoke Valley Grace Pfleger, right, and Miss Roanoke Valley Teen Lexie Hovey began their pageant week at the “Show Your Shoes” event at Hotel Roanoke on Tuesday.
Julianna Stephenson
This year’s Miss Virginia contestants say that entering the pageant world has empowered them to stand up for what they believe in. Some referenced the four points of the crown: style, success, service and scholarship.
Miss Skyline Drive Aariyana Britton joined pageantry as an adult and said she was drawn to Miss Virginia because of their appreciation for people like her. Britton is working on her doctorate and is a public speaker.
“It’s a new day in Miss Virginia,” Britton said. “It’s no longer about how you look, but what’s inside.”
Pageants have allowed her to not only hone in on her strengths, but step out of her comfort zone, teaching her to love herself and be confident, Britton said.
“All of us are different shades, heights, races and body types,” she said. “No two people here look the same and that’s amazing.”
Rather than pageants forcing young women to compare themselves, Miss Virginia contestants said it’s allowed them to appreciate their uniqueness.
“It’s helped me grow my confidence incredibly,” said Kelsey Wilson, Miss Greater Richmond. “The very first time I ever felt beautiful was during an evening gown competition.”
Miss Martinsville Henry County’s Teen Meagan Durham said she was originally skeptical of pageants, but that knowledge about them is so important.
“Pageants are so complex to me,” Durham said. “Pageants are an opportunity, not only to grow as a person, but to grow in your relationships with people, build a sisterhood, talk about what you really believe in, and stand up to share your voice with other people.”
Durham’s community service initiative is finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes.
Miss Northern Virginia Madison Whitbeck, right, and Miss Northern Virginia Teen Alyssa Julian began their pageant week at the “Show Your Shoes” event at Hotel Roanoke on Tuesday.
Julianna Stephenson
Miss Northern Virginia’s Teen Alyssa Julian said she admires how passionate each contestant is about their community service initiative and that it’s refreshing to be around so many like-minded women.
Julian is the youngest contestant at only 13 years old, and said pageants helped her find genuine friends when she was struggling with bullying.
“I’ve definitely had a lot of instances where people come up to me and say, ‘we think pageants are weird, it’s all glitz and glamour,’ but it’s really not at all,” Julian said. “I find empowerment in the uplifting environment and the opportunity to do what I’m passionate about.”
Julian’s passion and community service initiative is helping children who are in the hospital. She said she was once one of the children who was scared and struggling in a hospital and is grateful for the opportunity to support children and care for the community.
Miss Virginia 2023 Katie Rose, said she loves pageants because of how they have shaped her into a well-rounded person.
Rose said she competed seven times before winning the state title.
“What I’ve learned is how to lose gracefully, how to be there for another young woman when it was her turn to be in the spotlight, and most importantly, I learned how to come back when people told me, ‘No,’ ‘not yet,’ ‘maybe not for you,’” Rose said.
It is an incredible feat that there are 50 young women who have the courage and strength to put themselves out there and ask to be judged, she said.
“Chase your dreams,” Rose said. “Don’t be scared to throw your name in the hat because you never know what will happen.”
