Alyssa Howell Biography

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. In September 2011, Howell was named Miss Greater Springfield's Outstanding Teen 2012. She was a top-10 finalist for the 2012 state title. After graduation in 2013, Howell moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to attend Creighton University.

On February 1, 2014, Howell won the Miss Eastern Nebraska 2014 title. She then competed in the 2014 Miss Nebraska pageant and was named fourth runner-up.

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. 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. Her platform is the "Miracle Bags Program", collecting donated blankets, toys, and crayons in special tote bags and delivering them to patients at Omaha Children's Hospital.

Howell won the competition on Saturday, June 6, 2015, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss Nebraska titleholder Megan Swanson. She earned more than $10,000 in scholarship money from the state pageant.

As Miss Nebraska, her activities include public appearances across the state of Nebraska, including community groups, schools, and charity events.

Vying for Miss America 2016

Howell was Nebraska's representative at the Miss America 2016 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 2015. 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.

Personal life and education

Howell grew up in Leesburg, Virginia, and is a 2013 graduate of Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Virginia.She is currently a resident of Omaha, Nebraska. Her parents are Robert and Cathy Howell. Howell's sister Devin is also a titleholder, having been crowned Miss River City 2007, Miss Douglas County 2008 and Miss Omaha 2009.

Howell is a student at Creighton University where she studies elementary education. While a student at Creighton, Howell became a member of the Pi Beta Phi international fraternity for women.