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The next contestant to be featured in our series, “The Road To Miss America,” is Miss Vermont, Rylee Field. I had the chance to catch up with Miss Vermont for a short Q&A 🙂

Please tell us about your platform, which you’re supporting for the Miss America pageant, and why you chose this particular one.
The goal of my work is to open up the discussion throughout the country on mental health issues, predominately with kids and teens. Being able to have that discussion about these challenges opens up the door to allow kids and teens alike to begin “stigma-fighting.” To put that simply, it’s about education and inclusion. If we don’t allow the younger generation in on this discussion now, they are far more likely to stay out of that discussion when they are adults. We need as many voices as we can get talking about what we can do for others with mental health challenges, and how to promote positive mental health approaches, to break down the stigmas surrounding mental illness. That’s why I’m so excited to bring this message to the Miss America stage. I hope to have the opportunity to continue this work as Miss America.

Please tell us the three things any Miss America representative needs or should possess in order to have a successful reign at a State or National level.
Some of the most important things that any state or national Miss America representative needs are the abilities to communicate, give selflessly, and persevere.

If you were to be crowned Miss America 2017, what is the one thing which you are looking forward to accomplishing or being a part of?
Meeting each of the state representatives for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

What advise do you have for the young girls who want to one day step into your shoes and represent their home state as gracefully as you have?
The best thing you can do to prepare for the job of state titleholder is learn to embrace every aspect of who you are.

“Bravura” is an artistic word for exceptional; what makes you a ‘bravura’ choice for Miss America 2017?
I think each contestant this year brings something exceptional to the table. But as a state titleholder, with a full time, and a part time job, I know my exceptional work ethic and commitment to my jobs is what really sets me apart.

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Learn a bit more about Miss Vermont now 🙂

Age: 24

Hometown: Montpelier, Vermont

Platform Issue: Find a Happy Place: Positive Mental Health & Wellness

Talent: Spoken Word Poetry – “Say Yes” by Andrea Gibson

Education: Colby-Sawyer College

Scholastic Ambition: Accomplished receipt of Bachelor of Arts Degree

Scholastic Honors: Presidential Scholarship Award 2010-2014

My Inspiration: The people who have the most influence on me are my professional mentors – the creative and hardworking people in the wedding industry who have come before me.

My Proud Accomplishment: Being the youngest wedding coordinator in my company.

One of the most important parts of the Miss America Organization is the value that it places on community service. I have embraced that by focusing on promoting positive mental health and wellness initiatives across Vermont. I began this journey when I realized there weren’t enough voices like mine talking about the importance of mental health. There were not enough young women, seemingly perfectly healthy, talking about the fact that 1 in 5 Americans deal with mental health challenges each year. I knew I wanted to be part of that discussion because I know how vital it is to recovery.