Burien’s Highline Performing Arts Center played host to the “Miss World America” 2024 competition on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, bringing together 60 women from across the nation.
Each contestant graced the HPAC stage with beauty, intelligence, and a commitment to community service. Vying for the honor of succeeding outgoing titleholder Miss World America 2023 Victoria Disorbo.
In a dazzling finale, Miss World America California Athenna Crosby, emerged as the new Miss World America. Selected by an esteemed panel of judges, Athenna will represent the United States at the 72nd Miss World Festival in 2025. The results were announced by Ekta Saini, National Director of Miss World America and the first Indian-American woman to be the national director of Miss World America.
Alongside Athenna, Miss World America 1st Runner-Up is Kimberly Nwankolo (Miss World America Oregon) and Miss World America 2nd Runner-Up is Anne Li (Miss World America Washington District of Columbia). Miss World America BWAP Ambassador is Devon Viola (Miss World America Massachusetts).
The event was hosted by Shree Saini, Miss World America 2022, who became the first Indian-American and Asian American woman to be Miss World America, who shared:
“As a burns survivor and pacemaker patient, I have changed my pain into purpose. I’ve poured every ounce of my being into serving others. I’ve humbly voluneerted in 34 states and 14 countries, spreading the message of resilisnce and kindness. In a world that often seems to care less, be someone who couldn’t care more.”
Meet the New Miss World America 2024: Athenna Crosby
Athenna Crosby is a Los Angeles-based actress, model, and television presenter who proudly embraces her Latin American heritage as a dual citizen of the United States and Venezuela. A graduate of Utah Valley University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Communications, Athenna’s platform combines her skills in media and advocacy.
Her Beauty With A Purpose project, titled “Inclusion for All: Fighting for Those With Disabilities,” reflects her decade-long commitment to creating a more inclusive world. Inspired by her brother Adrian, who has Autism, Athenna has worked with nonprofits like Best Buddies and successfully lobbied for her hometown of San Jose, CA, to recognize April as Autism Awareness Month.
“This is a dream come true.” Athenna said during her acceptance speech. “As the first Venezuelan-American Miss World America, I am proud to represent the incredible diversity of this nation, and I am committed to using this platform to champion inclusivity and equality for all.”
As Athenna Crosby prepares to represent the United States at the 72nd Miss World Festival, she joins a global network of women united by the Beauty With A Purpose mission. Guided by the visionary leadership of Julia Morley, the Miss World Organization is the oldest international pageant that has raised over $1.3 billion for charitable causes.
National Director Ekta Saini’s Vision for Miss World America
The Miss World America 2024 contest is the second consecutive year under the leadership of Ekta Saini and her husband, Sanjay Saini. The Punjab-origin couple gave the highest prize package in pageant history – $250,000 in kind and cash sponsorship. Ekta Saini also hosted over 80+ free mentorship zoom calls to mentor the contestants prior to their arrival to nationals.
Ekta Saini brought fresh energy to the national competition, where shared her deep commitment to service:
“My request to all the parents and friends here today is to help your daughters feel empowered, help them recognize all that they have achieved and all that they are capable of achieving. Even though there is one winner tonight; We are forever a Miss World America family.”
To join Miss World America as a contestant, sponser or team member, apply at https://www.missworldamerica.org.
Is Burien also holding a Mr. World contest? If not, then all this is, is objectification of women. This is completely disgusting.
I think you should investigate not only the long history and tradition of the Miss World Pageant but also pageants in general. Your opinion is absurd, leftist, and from the point of view of a person who has let himself/herself be swayed away by identity politics and woke ideas. The purpose of pageantry, from the beginning, is to elevate women, and men to become extrovert communicators of social causes to better their communities, countries, and the world. Women have long been celebrated because women are the ONLY ones who can become and perform the universe’s purpose of becoming mothers. Women are celebrated because they are unique, are born with all the eggs they can reproduce, and are the only ones who pass down the mitochondrial DNA. Hugely and contrary to objectivism it is a celebration of the huge heavenly value of womanhood. Many compete with master’s and doctorate degrees, extremely capable, super-intelligent women who MOVE THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER OF HUMANITY. How do you truly change the world? So, before you go undermining the value of pageantry, look at yourself in the mirror and become a better person.