Miss Arlington Crowned Miss Virginia 2025, Wins $22,500 in Scholarships

ROANOKE, Va. — Madison Whitbeck, a 20-year-old college student from Leesburg, Virginia,

was crowned Miss Virginia 2025 on Saturday evening at the Berglund Center in Roanoke.

Competing as Miss Arlington, Whitbeck captured the title during the 90th anniversary of the

Miss Virginia Opportunity, Inc. She won scholarships totaling $22,500.

A sophomore at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, Whitbeck is pursuing a degree in

Commercial Music with dual emphases in Performance and Music Business. Her long-term goal is to earn a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Her community service initiative, “Arts For All: Advocating for Accessible & Affordable Arts

Education,” focuses on increasing funding and awareness for arts education in schools across

Virginia. “I want every child to find their confidence and voice through artistic expression, no matter their background,” Whitbeck said.

During the competition week, Whitbeck earned several honors. including:

● Miss Virginia 2025 - $20,000 scholarship

● Preliminary Talent / HER Story Award - $1,000 scholarship

● Preliminary Onstage Interview Award - $500 scholarship

● Overall Interview Award - $1,000 scholarship

For her talent performance, Whitbeck sang "Let Me Be Your Star" from the musical SMASH.

As Miss Virginia 2025, she will travel statewide as a performing artist, motivational speaker, and

goodwill ambassador. She will visit over 70 elementary schools as a spokesperson for the

Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, promoting healthy lifestyle choices and substance

abuse prevention. Additionally, she will champion arts education throughout the Commonwealth.

Miss Virginia 2025 Runners-Up:

● 1st Runner-Up: Emmeline Soyars, Miss Roanoke Valley County - $6,500 scholarship

● 2nd Runner-Up: Madison Marchant, Miss Loudoun County – $5,000 scholarship

● 3rd Runner-Up: Susanna Shedd, Miss Central Virginia – $3,500 scholarship

● 4th Runner-Up: Kira Sledge, Miss Apple Blossom Festival – $2,500 scholarship

Miss Commonwealth's Teen Crowned Miss Virginia’s Teen 2025

Also crowned Saturday night was Miss Virginia's Teen 2025, Aryana Guest, a 15-year-old high

school student from Yorktown. Guest won a total of $5,550 in scholarship awards. A rising

sophomore at Tabb High School in York County, Guest’s initiative, “Tiny but Mighty,” raises

awareness about infant prematurity and the critical importance of prenatal care.

She aspires to attend The Juilliard School, major in dance, and minor in acting.

During the competition week, Guest earned several honors. including:

● Miss Virginia's Teen 2025 - $5,000 scholarship

● Preliminary Talent / HER Story Award - $300 scholarship

● Preliminary Onstage Interview Award - $250 scholarship

Guest performed a lyrical dance to "I Didn't Know My Own Strength," in the talent competition.

Both Whitbeck and Guest will represent Virginia at the Miss America and Miss America’s Teen

Competitions in Orlando, Florida, in September 2025.

This year, the Miss Virginia Opportunity, Inc. awarded nearly $80,000 in cash scholarships,

along with additional in-kind tuition scholarships. 33 Miss candidates and 26 Teens participated

in the competition.

The Miss Virginia Opportunity is a part of the Miss America Opportunity, one of the nation's

largest service organizations and provider of scholarships for young women. Four Miss Virginias

have earned the Miss America crown and one state Teen titleholder has gone on to win the

national Teen competition.

Stay Connected

Follow Madison and Aryana on their journey throughout the year:

● Facebook: facebook.com/crownmissva

● Website: www.missvirginia.org

● Instagram: @missamericava