Alyssa Howell

Alyssa Christine Howell is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Omaha, Nebraska, who was crowned Miss Nebraska 2015. She competed for the Miss America 2016 title in September 2015 and placed in the Top 12.
Pageant career
Early titles
Howell grew up in Virginia and while a high school student contended several times for the Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen title. On January 29, 2011, she won the Miss Alexandria's Outstanding Teen 2011 title.<ref name="msalex11"/><ref name="mcvaot11"/> In September 2011, Howell was named Miss Greater Springfield's Outstanding Teen 2012.<ref name="conn120412"/> She was a top-10 finalist for the 2012 state title.<ref name="msva12re"/> After graduation in 2013, Howell moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to attend Creighton University.<ref name="anch140505"/>
On February 1, 2014, Howell won the Miss Eastern Nebraska 2014 title.<ref name="msam2014"/><ref name="anch140505"/> She then competed in the 2014 Miss Nebraska pageant and was named fourth runner-up.<ref name="omwh140610"/>
Miss Nebraska 2015
On November 8, 2014, Howell was crowned Miss Douglas County 2015 which made her eligible to compete at the 2015 Miss Nebraska pageant.<ref name="ketv141109"/><ref name="msomnepc"/><ref name="wowt150607"/> Entering the state pageant in June 2015 as one of finalists, Howell's competition talent was a piano performance of an original song titled "Northern Lights", written by Elizabeth Borowsky, her piano teacher.<ref name="omwh150607"/><ref name="knop150608"/><ref name="omwh150608"/> Her platform is the "Miracle Bags Program", collecting donated blankets, toys, and crayons in special tote bags and delivering them to patients at .<ref name="anch150513"/><ref name="omwh150607"/>
Howell won the competition on Saturday, June 6, 2015, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss Nebraska titleholder Megan Swanson.<ref name="kcau150608"/><ref name="knpl150608"/> She earned more than $10,000 in scholarship money from the state pageant.<ref name="kcau150608"/><ref name="reci150607"/>
As Miss Nebraska, her activities include public appearances across the state of Nebraska, including community groups, schools, and charity events.<ref name="knop150608"/><ref name="knpl150608"/>
Vying for Miss America 2016
Howell was Nebraska's representative at the Miss America 2016 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 2015.<ref name="msam2015"/><ref name="omwh150608"/> In the televised finale on September 13, 2015, she placed in the Top 12 as a semi-finalist but was eliminated after the evening wear competition. Howell was awarded a $5,000 scholarship prize.<ref name="msam16show"/><ref name="msam150916"/>
Personal life and education
Howell grew up in Leesburg, Virginia, and is a 2013 graduate of Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Virginia.<ref name="conn120412"/>She is currently a resident of Omaha, Nebraska.<ref name="omwh150608"/> Her parents are Robert and Cathy Howell.<ref name="kcow140122"/><ref name="kcsr140123"/> Howell's sister Devin is also a titleholder, having been crowned Miss River City 2007, Miss Douglas County 2008 and Miss Omaha 2009.<ref name="msomnepc"/><ref name="anch150513"/>
Howell is a student at Creighton University where she studies elementary education.<ref name="anch150513"/><ref name="kcau150608"/> While a student at Creighton, Howell became a member of the Pi Beta Phi international fraternity for women.<ref name="fran2015"/>
 
< Prev   Next >