Miss Ohio Valley

06/18/2026

Walking into my Talent and On-Stage Conversation preliminary competitions tonight like:

(I got more photos from Wheeling Fashion Week this afternoon!)

Photo Credit: Justin

06/18/2026

Livestream link for tonight! Start time is 7pm EST.

06/18/2026

This is HUGE. We’re incredibly fortunate to have such a strong local chapter of NAMI in the area. Congratulations to the NAMI Greater Wheeling/NAMI in West Virginia - your national recognition and award are well deserved!

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in West Virginia has been named the 2026 Outstanding NAMI Affiliate of the Year, one of the highest honors awarded by NAMI National, during the organization’s national convention in Atlanta, Georgia.

The national award recognizes a local NAMI affiliate that demonstrates exceptional leadership, meaningful community impact, outreach to diverse populations and outstanding stewardship of NAMI's mission. NAMI in West Virginia was selected from hundreds of affiliates across the United States.

"For years, NAMI in West Virginia has shown what is possible when a dedicated team, volunteers, advocates and community members come together around a shared mission," said Julie Gomez, Executive Director of NAMI West Virginia. "Our team’s unwavering commitment to supporting individuals and families affected by mental illness, reducing stigma and building a stronger community has made an impact not only in West Virginia, but now serves as a model for affiliates across the country."

The recognition comes as NAMI in West Virginia continues to expand access to free mental health education, support groups, advocacy and resources for individuals and families throughout the Mountain State.

“This award is a testament to the work happening every day across the state and belongs to every volunteer, facilitator, board member, donor, partner and participant who has helped build NAMI in West Virginia into what it is today," said Erin Stoddart, board member for NAMI in West Virginia. "We are honored by this recognition and remain committed to ensuring that no one in the Mountain State faces a mental health condition alone."

NAMI in West Virginia provides free programs, support groups, educational opportunities and advocacy efforts designed to improve the lives of people affected by mental health conditions. The affiliate has become a trusted resource for individuals and families seeking support, information and hope while helping lead important conversations around mental health throughout the region.

06/18/2026

My face this morning when I woke up to look at my social media analytics and saw my post with a pile of crumpled receipts outperformed all other posts I made yesterday 😂 For those of you who are new here (hi!!!) these are my dogs, Lou (left) and Beau (right). I’ve definitely made more intentional efforts with my social media this competition season, but I’ve also come to realize that some of my best performing content has just shown me living my life in a way others find relatable. Here’s to crumpled receipts and THE FIRST NIGHT OF PRELIMS!!

06/17/2026

As promised - no surprise I decided to rock some red again for this year’s interview fit 😉

06/17/2026

POV: you just finished your interview for Miss West Virginia🤩

(Realizing I forgot to get a picture in my outfit lol - I’ll grab a photo from Courtney’s phone to post later today)

06/17/2026

I interview for the job of Miss West Virginia around 2:45pm, which means it’s time to get some work done while I wait! These are the receipts I have for about the last six weeks of purchases for my business 🙃. I carefully record, catalog, and track my business expenses and earnings to stay on top of my business finances and ensure I’m organized for tax season!

06/17/2026

I couldn’t sleep past 6am this morning (my internal clock from daily life with my hounds is still running strong!). Going into my fifth Miss America state interview today, I’ve done a lot of reflection on interviews and competitions in years prior. I used to be so anxious about it during the COVID years because I became so accustomed to online/Zoom interactions during that time. For the first time ever, I’m actually genuinely excited to interview (which almost feels weird to type here because of the years when I was so worked up about it). Swipe through to see my interview looks from years past: Miss West Virginia ‘25, Miss WV ‘24, Miss Vermont ‘22, and Miss VT ‘21. Any predictions of what I’ll be wearing today? 😉

06/17/2026

Lots of rehearsals today! Last night, I was gifted a thrifted Bob Huggins Fish Fry (which no longer exists…lol) 2020 shirt from Miss Mon Valley because she knows I do a lot of thrifting in my line of work. Which is true! What she didn’t know was the Bob Huggins Fish Fry in 2024 was my very, very first event with the Miss West Virginia Organization, so as ironic as the shirt was, it was also a little sentimental for me. At the 2024 event, I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t know what I was doing, and I was so scared 😂. I wound up having a lot of fun at that event, which reaffirmed my decision to compete down here in West Virginia (I had competed previously in the Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization when I lived in Vermont). Swipe for some of those photos at the 2024 Fish Fry. ❤️ Thank you, Zoe, for unlocking a core Miss West Virginia memory via this shirt 😂

06/16/2026

Miss West Virginia week is officially underway, but my internal clock is still waking me up at 6:30am because of these two.🙃 It’s strange not waking up to Lou whining in my ear for breakfast or Beau barking in the backyard as he “secures the perimeter” (runs back and forth across the yard monitoring the surroundings). Very proud of their A+ grades so far this week, though! Thank you to Soul Train Animal Care LLC for always taking wonderful care of the boys. ❤️