For Ebony Mitchell, an Arkansas native and John Brown University alum, December was a busy month, as it was her chance to receive the title of Miss America 2023.
Miss Connecticut Sylvana González says there is so much more to competing at Miss America than the glamour. "The work we’re doing in our communities, regardless of whether we walk away from this as Miss America or not, is stuff that’s actively happening, even when the show isn’t on,” she said.