By Michelle Jimmerson
Lincoln Parish was well-represented at the Miss America and Miss America’s Teen competitions last week at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla.
Both of Louisiana’s titleholders have ties to the parish: Miss Louisiana’s Teen, Melissa Le, is a junior at Ruston High School, while Miss Louisiana, Olivia Grace George, is a senior elementary education major at Louisiana Tech University.
On Tuesday, the Teen contestants competed in preliminary fitness, onstage question, and evening wear. On Wednesday, the Miss contestants did the same. George said that the highlight of her week was the evening gown competition and described it as “a moment I had dreamed of my entire life.”
She continued, “Walking across the Miss America stage, representing the best state, was a privilege and an honor I will cherish forever.”
On Thursday afternoon, the Teen contestants competed in the talent preliminary, and Le was one of three contestants honored as talent preliminary winners. A piano student who has studied with Jeanne Patterson of Ruston for 12 years, Le played “Hungarian, Op. 39, No. 12” by Edward MacDowell and earned a $3000 scholarship for her talent win.
“It is hard to express just how special Melissa is to me,” Patterson said. “Because of extremely busy schedules, Melissa has had a 6 a.m. lesson for many years. She is exceptionally talented, has an extremely high work ethic, and is always willing to listen with an open mind. Having a talent winner at the national level has been a goal of mine for many years. My heart is full!”
Le pointed out that winning the talent award was her goal for the week and added, “A video of my talent performance was shared and has garnered about 20,000 views, propelling my piano career further.”
On Thursday evening, the Miss contestants competed in preliminary talent. George performed a jazz dance to Elvis Presley’s “Bossa Nova Baby.”
At the Teen finals on Saturday night, Le was named one of the top 11 finalists and competed again in all phases of competition.
While being a finalist was exciting, Le said that the biggest highlight of the week was meeting the other contestants—young women “who are in similar positions with like-minded dreams and aspirations.” Le shared that the friendships she renewed and made are what she treasures most about her experience.
Miss Arkansas’s Teen, Peyton Bolling, earned the title of Miss America’s Teen.
The final night of the Miss America competition was on Sunday. Miss Alabama, Abbie Stockard, earned the title of Miss America 2025.
Both Le and George have developed community service initiatives (CSI) that they regularly share with school children, clubs and organizations, and businesses. Le’s CSI, “STEM to Bloom,” focuses on diversity in STEM, and Le creates regular videos showcasing women leaders in STEM. George’s CSI is “Education is KEY—Knowledge Empowers Youth.” The daughter of two educators, George is aware of how education can empower young people to fulfill their dreams and become leaders.
Le said, “I’m extremely proud to have had the chance to share my platform on a national stage and represent a state that has given me so much—for every little girl out there that looks like me or feels as though she doesn’t quite fit a certain mold. The unique position I’m in, with the unique story I have—I hope—inspired others to dream big, regardless of their backgrounds.”
Le said that she believes that her experiences at the national competition have “opened a world of opportunities.” She pointed out that her network has expanded and that she has “acquired skills that will help professionally in the future.”
George grew up watching the Miss America competition with her mother and remembers being “completely captivated by the incredible leaders representing our nation. These women were well-spoken, intelligent, and inspiring. From a young age, I knew I wanted to compete at Miss America. I wanted to be one of the women on that screen, making a difference.”
“When I was 14, I met Miss America Cara Mund,” George said. “There she was, Miss America, and there I was, bawling my eyes out because she let me hold her crown. I got to see Cara again this week, and I felt 14-year-old Liv emerge, teary-eyed all over again, overcome with gratitude and disbelief about how far I had come.”
As she reflected on her experience at Miss America, George said, “I want to show young girls that they can become the best versions of themselves. I want them to believe that anything is possible through determination and dedication. Most importantly, I hope to spark the same desire in them to make a difference, just as Miss America inspired me.”
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