Meet the 50 women competing to be the next Miss America

Bradford, 21, has a bachelor's degree in finance from Auburn University and she is studying to get her master's in finance from Vanderbilt University, according to the Miss America website.

Bradford plays the violin as her talent in pageants, even using an electric violin to take her performances to the next level, as she shared on Instagram. "UNPLUG: The Digital Diet Plan" is her social initiative for Miss America.

Broyles, 19, studies biomedical science and voice performance through the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University, as stated on the Miss America website. She hopes to be a dermatologist.

Broyles' social initiative for the pageant is "Building Community Through Special Olympics," and she will sing for the talent portion of the competition.

Barto, 23, has degrees in both business law and political science from Arizona State University, per the Miss America website. She hopes to be a lawyer or to work in government, with the lofty ambition of being the Secretary of State or a Supreme Court Justice.

Her talent is dancing, and Barto's social initiative is "Leadership Through Service: Awareness, Action, Results."

Williams, 23, is a senior pursuing her degree in speech pathology at the University of Arkansas. As stated on the Miss America website, she hopes to combine her degree with her love of art to create an art studio that uses speech pathology to help people someday.

She advocates for the "Heart for the Arts" social initiative, and Williams baton twirls for the talent portion of pageants.

Avalos, 22, got a degree from Fullerton, California State University, making her the first person in her family to obtain a college degree, according to the Miss California website. She hopes to get a master's degree in education as well, per the Miss America site.

Avalos is a vocalist, and she advocates for "Ending Substance Abuse."

Spence-Carroll, 21, is an active-duty soldier who works as an intelligence analyst, according to CBS Denver. She is the first active-duty soldier to serve as Miss Colorado.

Spence-Carroll also has a degree in communications from Pikes Peak Community College, and she aims to work as a civil-rights attorney with a focus on LGBTQ advocacy, according to the Miss America website.

She's a vocalist, and she advocates for "22 Too Many: Ending The Epidemic of Military and Veteran Suicide."

Raghavan, 22, studied business management and marketing analytics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, as stated on the Miss America website. Inspired by her parents who own a small business, Raghavan hopes to become an entrepreneur.

Raghavan will dance for the talent portion of the Miss America competition, and she advocates for "Embracing Diversity: Overcoming Adversities."

Phillips, 25, hopes to use her master's degree in energy and environmental policy as a National Park Service ranger, with the goal of bringing more visitors to the parks annually, as she shared with Miss America.

Phillips plays the piano for her talent, and her social impact initiative is "Educated. Engaged. Empowered. Community-Driven Environmental Justice."

Medina, 25, is pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology from Georgetown, according to the Miss America website. As a member of the Navy, gaining a doctorate will promote her to the rank of lieutenant and secure her a job as a Navy psychologist.

Medina's social initiative is "Demand an End: Stop Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking," and singing is her talent.

Roddenberry, 22, has a degree in family, youth, and community sciences from the University of Florida, according to the Miss America website. She hopes to get a Juris doctorate degree and become a corporate communications specialist.

Roddenberry founded the nonprofit "Be a LeadHer: Igniting the Spark Within," and she will dance for her talent in the pageant.

Pennington, 23, attended the University of Georgia, where she earned bachelor's degrees in political science and history and a master's degree in political science and international affairs, according to the Miss America website.

She's currently studying to become a doctor in philosophy in political science and international affairs, with the goal of becoming a professor.

Pennington's social initiative is "ROAR: Reach Out and Read," and her talent is tap dancing.

Choy, 25, has a bachelor's degree in business administration, and she has a law degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, as stated on the Miss America website. She hopes to either become a senior counsel or the executive director of a national women's organization.

Choy hula dances as her talent in pageants, and her social initiative is "Women's Empowerment through Partnership."

Torres, 21, is a member of the US Army who has a bachelor's degree in political science. Her goal is to become the first female governor of Idaho, per the Miss America website.

Torres advocates for "The Equity Project," and dancing is her talent.

Hanson, 25, studied journalism, music, and marketing at the University of Miami Ohio before becoming an anchor and reporter for an Illinois CBS affiliate TV news station, according to the Miss America website. She hopes to be an anchor on Good Morning America someday.

Hanson's talent is playing the violin, and she advocates for "The Media Literacy Movement."

Hiser, 24, has a degree in elementary education from Indiana University, according to the Miss America website. She plans to become a secondary guidance and career counselor.

Hiser sings as her talent, and her social initiative is "The Love Thy Neighbor Project."

Keller, 22, has a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Iowa, according to the Miss America website. She launched a podcast startup, and she plans to make it her full-time career.

Keller advocates for "Read to Succeed: Promoting Literacy in Grades K-3," and her talent is contemporary dance.

Clark, 21, studies music education at Kansas State University, according to the Miss America website. She wants to be a high-school music teacher and administrator.

Clark plays the drums for her talent, and her social initiative is "Sound for Common Ground: Music Connects."

Wheeler, 23, has her master's degree in communication disorders and speech pathology from Western Kentucky University, per the Miss America website. She plans to work as a geriatric medical speech pathologist, focusing on patients with Alzheimer's and dementia.

Fittingly, Wheeler's social initiative is "A Stitch of Hope: Alzheimer's Awareness," and her talent is vocal performance.

Julia Claire Williams, 22, graduated from the University of Louisiana Monroe with a pre-med degree in biology, per the Miss America website. She intends to run a pediatric practice and open a summer camp that helps children who are disadvantaged or disabled.

Williams' talent is dancing, and her social initiative is "Find Your F.R.E.D.D.Y. – Fostering Rewarding Engagements with Disabled and Disadvantaged Youth."

Sohn, 25, has studied at Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Conservatory, and Georgetown University, and she holds a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology, as stated on the Miss America website. She's also an Ensign in the Navy, so Sohn will become a Navy doctor after completing medical school at Des Moines University.

Sohn advocates for "ArtWorks: Promoting Arts Integration and Engagement," and she plays the cello for her talent.

Pierre, 23, is currently studying to get her master's degree in social work from Boston College, as stated on the Miss America website. She hopes to use her degree to help children and families.

Pierre dances for her talent, and her social initiative is "We Hear You: Empowering Youth Voices."

Zhong, 24, is pursuing her doctorate of osteopathic medicine at Western University of Health Sciences so she can become a pediatric oncologist, as the Miss America website says.

She advocates for "Golden Warriors of Pediatric Cancer – Fight Like A Kid," and Zhong plays the piano as her talent.

Mark, 25, studied public health and community health education at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, as stated on the Miss America website. She hopes to work as an epidemiologist for the Minnesota Department of Health or the CDC.

Mark is a singer, and her social initiative is "The Campaign to Change Direction: Changing the Culture of Mental Health."

Brand, 21, studied communications at the University of Alabama, though she wants to have a career as a musician, per the Miss America website.

Brand's social initiative is "Volunteerism: If you See a Need, Take the Lead," and singing is her talent in the Miss America pageant.

Cox, 21, studies communication at the University of Missouri, as stated on the Miss America website. She wants to work in communications or PR at a nonprofit.

Cox's talent is singing, and "People First" is her social impact initiative.

Criss, 23, studies animal science with an equine concentration at Montana State University, according to the Miss America website. She hopes to open a therapeutic horseback riding facility in the future.

Criss, who is a black belt, performs martial arts moves and teaches people about self-defense for her talent. Unsurprisingly, "Sense of Defense" is her social impact initiative.

Holen, 23, has bachelor's degrees in broadcast journalism and advertising and public relations from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, as stated on the Miss America website. She is also pursuing her master's degree in business administration, with the goal of being a corporate leadership and development trainer.

Holen's social initiative is "Lead With Your Strengths: The Power of Strengths-Based Mentoring," and her talent is dancing.

Tuell, 24, has a degree in film from the College of Southern Nevada, and she hopes to be a director and screenwriter, as stated on the Miss America website.

Tuell's social initiative is "Memories Matter: Alzheimer's Awareness," and her talent is singing.

Marsh, 26, has a master's of education in athletic counseling from Plymouth State University, per the Miss America website. She aims to either have a career as a Master Resilience Trainer for the Army or a social-media manager for professional athletes.

Marsh dances for the talent portion of pageants, and her social initiative is "Fit for Life!"

Sullivan, 25, studied broadcast journalism at Rowan University, as the Miss America website says. Her goal is to become a TV anchor.

Sullivan's initiative is "Peer Challenge Commit2Character," and her talent is singing.

Mascareñas, 20, is studying chemical engineering at the University of Alabama, per the Miss America website. She wants to be a petroleum engineer after she graduates.

Mascareñas' social initiative is "Girls Get Math: Breaking Gender Stereotypes in STEM," and her talent is dancing.

Park, 25, has a bachelor's degree in American studies from Columbia University, and she is currently getting her law degree at Fordham, according to the Miss America website. She hopes to be a partner at a firm in the future.

Park's social impact initiative is "One Team Empowerment," and she reads poetry for her talent.

Batson, 21, studies communication and public relations at Appalachian State University, according to the Miss America website. She hopes to use her degree and her love of the arts in an arts management position.

Batson's talent is dancing, and she advocates for "Carolina Cares; Supporting the Needs of Performing Arts Communities."

Bergstrom, 25, studied communication at Concordia College, per the Miss America website. She wants to be an editor at National Geographic.

Bergstrom's social impact initiative is "The Influencer Era: Impact Beyond the Screen," and she sings opera for the talent portion of pageants.

Current, 20, is pursuing her bachelor's degree in social work at the Ohio State University, according to the Miss America website. She hopes to work in governmental policy reform in the future.

Dancing is Current's talent for Miss America, and her social initiative is "ReadOn! Empowering Literacy, Learning, and Leadership."

Robinson, 23, studied music theater at Oklahoma City University, though she wants to work at a nonprofit or government job to help others, per the Miss America website.

Her social initiative is "Inclusion for All Abilities," and Robinson sings jazz as her talent for pageants.

Hayes, 20, studies strategic communications and political science at Liberty University, as the Miss America website states. She intends to become a lawyer and a legislator moving forward.

Hayes advocates for "Generation Next: Equity for the Underserved," and she plays the piano for her talent.

Sinisi, 25, has a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and a master's in speech-language pathology from the University of Missouri, according to the Miss America website. She hopes to own an interdisciplinary therapy clinic for children with disabilities in the future.

Sinisi's initiative is "Inspiring Autism Acceptance From a New Perspective," and her talent is baton twirling.

Payne, 21, is studying economics at George Washington University, per the Miss America website. She plans to work in the private sector after she graduates before pursuing a career in local government.

She advocates for small businesses in her community, and Payne's talent is playing the piano.

Herrin, 19, studies piano performance and communications at Auburn University, as stated on the Miss America website. She wants to combine her passions to become an attorney focused on entertainment law.

Julia Herrin uses her piano skill for the talent portion of pageants, and her social initiative is "#RealNotPerfect: Promoting Social Media Literacy."

O'Neill, 24, has bachelor's degrees in dance and marketing from Minnesota State University, Mankato, as the Miss America website says. She wants to become a Rockette, as well as a creative director for a marketing or advertising agency in the future.

Her social initiative is "BLOOM Into a Healthier You," and dancing is her talent in pageants.

Bevis, 24, graduated from Belmont University with a degree in music business. She wants to create an "international social enterprise" to combine her love of conservation and live entertainment, as stated on the Miss America website.

Her social initiative is "Vote With a Vision," and Bevis' talent is vocal performance.

Fuller, 23, has a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders from Baylor University, and she intends to become a speech-language pathologist for adults who have suffered neurological trauma, as stated on the Miss America website.

Her social initiative is "Mallory's Mission: Suicide Prevention," and she plays the violin as her talent.

Sloan, 23, studied political science at Brigham Young University, according to the Miss America website. She has multiple career goals, including becoming an entrepreneur, broadcast journalist, and author.

Sloan's social initiative is "Refugees Welcome." Her talent for the Miss America pageant is singing.

Morse, 22, studied nursing at Castleton University, as the Miss America website says.

She aims to become a registered nurse in the near future, and she is using her passion for nursing to champion her social initiative, "Championing for Children's Hospitals," at the Miss America pageant.

Morse creates live paintings for her talent.

Sheppard, 22, got her bachelor's degree in musical theater at Liberty University, as the Miss America website states. She hopes her degree will lead her to a career in film and theater.

Sheppard's social initiative is "Mentoring Matters," and she sings theatrical vocals in pageants.

Louder, 23, studied psychology at Oklahoma City University, per the Miss America website. Louder is in recovery from an eating disorder, and she wants to use her degree and personal experience to help others as a clinical psychologist.

As a result, Louder's social initiative is "Radical Self-Acceptance," and she dances for her talent.

Wratchford, 20, got her bachelor's degrees in business administration and psychology from Shepherd University, and she's currently studying to get her MBA, according to the Miss America website. She hopes to work for a nonprofit, helping them with strategic communications and public relations.

Wratchford's social initiative is "Investing in Our Future: The Impact of Youth Empowerment," and she reads poetry as her talent.

Schmidt, 25, has a degree in rehabilitation psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She intends to work for a national nonprofit, as the Miss America website says.

Schmidt's pageant talent is dancing, and she advocates for "Diabetes, YOU Have the Control."

DeBolt, 21, got her undergraduate degree from Black Hills State University, according to the Miss America website. She hopes to be an event and wedding planner in the future.

DeBolt advocates for "Kids Unplugged," and she will perform an original monologue for her talent in the pageant.