The DO

Beauty meets brains: A physician’s journey competing in the Miss USA pageant system

By The DO Staff

12.19.24

If you had told me during residency I’d be competing for a Miss USA state pageant as an attending physician, I’d tell you there’s no way. My pageant heels were buried in the back of my closet, my crown was on my highest shelf and my evening gown was stored behind my interview suits and white coats. After aging out of the Miss America system during medical school, I was ready to leave my sash and stilettos behind to fully embrace the scrubs and stethoscopes of my future.