My journey with the Miss America Opportunity began nearly a decade ago when, at just fourteen, I was a young girl seeking confidence, purpose, and stability. I found all of that—and more—through this program. As Miss Kentucky’s Teen 2017, I earned the Miss America’s Teen Presidential Scholarship and pursued a degree in Musical Theatre at The University of Alabama. Surrounded by fellow titleholders who became lifelong friends, I stepped onto stages I had only dreamed of and grew into a confident, determined woman who knows she doesn’t need a crown to make a difference.

As Miss New York, my mission is to close the literacy gap by empowering children to read and equipping them with the tools to succeed. My community service initiative, Read → Lead → Succeed, was born from my own story—when my family lost our home at age 12, reading became my safe haven. From cookbooks to classics, books offered me consistency and hope during a time of chaos. Today, I bring that same hope to children through after-school programs in Title I schools, one-on-one tutoring with Reading Partners, and a national reading challenge, Book Buddies, which helps kids develop comprehension and conflict resolution skills through reading.

Outside of advocacy, I’m a career fundraiser and MBA candidate at NYU, specializing in leadership and change management. I help donors build legacies through scholarships and credit the Miss America Opportunity for guiding me toward this path. My ultimate goal is to serve as Executive Vice President of Programs for a major philanthropic foundation, championing educational equity through revitalized libraries and programming for underserved schools.

I am deeply honored to serve as Miss New York, not for recognition, but as a vessel to uplift the people and communities I love. This year, I’m committed to expanding literacy opportunities across New York’s 700 school districts and raising a record-breaking amount for the Miss New York Organization. Most of all, I hope every person I meet—whether in person or online—doesn’t just know Miss New York, but feels like they are friends with her.

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Lucille Esler is a 14-year-old titleholder proudly representing Gloversville, New York, as Miss Niagara’s Teen. A student at Gloversville High School, Lucille is a dedicated scholar and community leader with aspirations of becoming a radiologist.

Her Community Service Initiative, “Life With Theodorable: Supporting Autistic Individuals and Their Families,” reflects her passion for inclusion and advocacy. As the founder of this initiative, Lucille has raised over $4,000 to provide essential resources and support to autistic individuals and their loved ones. Her efforts have earned her the Glove City Coalition Youth Community Engagement Award.

Lucille stays active as a clarinetist, slalom water skier, and board member of her school’s Key Club. She is also involved with the Future Business Leaders of America and swims for her school’s varsity team. She’s no stranger to the spotlight, having played roles like “Darla” in Finding Nemo and “Fiyero” in Wicked.

Health and well-being are priorities for Lucille, who practices dance and acrobatics nearly every day. She maintains both her physical and mental health through movement, a healthy diet, and outdoor activities like hiking. Her commitment aligns closely with the values of #MissAmericaFit.

Aside from her own initiative, Lucille is passionate about addressing the impact of digital communication on her generation. She believes fostering face-to-face interactions is crucial in an age dominated by screens.

To learn more about Lucille's organization follow her on social media at @MissNiagaraTeenNY and check out all the details here: https://lifewiththeodorable.com/

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Kynlee Schultheis, Miss Oklahoma’s Teen, is a sixteen year old sophomore at Epic Charter Schools. She is a nationally awarded competitive dancer with South Tulsa Dance Co. As Miss Oklahoma’s Teen she has received over $19,000 in cash scholarships during this year competing in the Miss America’s Teen Opportunity. Kynlee represented Oklahoma at the Miss America’s Teen competition and was named as a top 11 semi-finalist.

As a proud advocate for children with disabilities and their families, Kynlee uses her heart for service through her Community Service Initiative, Reach Back, Pull Forward: Inclusion Matters, where she champions inclusion for children with disabilities. Kynlee was recognized as the youngest Best Buddies Champion of the Year nominee in Oklahoma and serves on the Little Light House Youth Advisory Board. She has the privilege of speaking to thousands of Oklahoma students about the importance of reaching back to pull others who are different from you forward.

Her journey in the Miss America program taught her the value of hard work, service, and allowed her to gain lifelong skills.

To learn more about the Miss Oklahoma Organization, check it out here: https://missoklahoma.org/

And to learn more about Kynlee, follow her on social media at @MissAmericasTeenOK and @Kynlee.Schulteis

Follow us on Instagram @oneworldonefuturepodcast to be the first to know when new episodes drop! And don’t forget to follow our host, Ashley, at @itsashleynevison for even more updates and behind-the-scenes content!