Lydia Sohn, Miss Maryland 2021
Korean-American | Future Navy Doctor | Arts Advocate
Growing up, I eagerly watched the Miss America Competition with my family every year. Beyond the fancy gowns and dazzling production, I was in complete awe of each candidate’s confidence and accomplishments. However, I didn’t see myself on that stage, and I didn’t know if the Miss America Organization had a place for me. That all changed my senior year of high school at the Miss America 2014 competition, when I saw Crystal Lee (Miss California 2013) and Nina Davaluri (Miss New York 2013) holding hands as the final two. Crystal Lee was hoping to become the first Chinese-American Miss America, and Nina Davaluri was hoping to become (and would become) our first Indian-American Miss America. It was in that moment that I realized maybe I have a spot in this organization. I remember looking up if we have ever had a Korean-American Miss America; we have not. I also remember thinking wouldn’t it be cool if I competed at the 100th Anniversary or Miss America?
I quietly held onto those dreams in the following years as I continued my educational journey. In 2018, I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a Music Minor. I then obtained my M.S. in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University in 2019. Throughout my time at these institutions, I volunteered with art and music therapy programs. Whether working with pediatric patients or individuals experiencing homelessness, I saw the way art provided hope and healing. The more involved I became in the community through arts-based initiatives, the more apparent the need for arts integration across disciplines became to me.
As Miss Maryland, I advocate for my social impact initiative, ArtWorks: promoting arts integration and education. I have the incredible opportunity to work with museums and organizations that utilize arts-based methods to instill hope and healing in individuals from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. The cherry on top? The $14,400 in scholarships I earned thus far have paid for my medical school application fees and will help finance my journey to becoming a Navy Doctor next year at the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
When I step on the Miss America stage this December, I do so realizing young eyes from communities I represent as a Korean-American, future Navy Doctor, and Arts Advocate are watching intently. My hope is to inspire a vision for their futures and instill hope that lasts far beyond my reign into the journeys ahead of them.
With that being said...
It’s time for America’s Choice! This is your chance to have your voice heard in who you think exemplifies the qualities of Miss America as a leader, servant, and role model for young women. This year we’re offering a $5,000 scholarship to the winner to help her advance her education and achieve her life and career goals.
To vote, click your favorite candidate below to go to her page. Each dollar donated equals 1 vote, so the candidate with the most donations will win the America’s Choice scholarship. In addition to the $5,000 scholarship, she will be recognized on-stage during the Preliminary Competition at Mohegan Sun in December.
Voting has no impact on placement in the Final Night Competition. As a 501(c)4 nonprofit under IRS regulations, all donations to The Miss America Organization are not tax-deductible.
The Miss America Organization, a 501(c) (4), is one of the most recognizable household names in America working to empower young women through education and service. The Miss America Organization is comprised of 51 licensed state organizations, including all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The organization awards more than five million dollars in cash scholarships and millions more in-kind per year through national, state, and local programs. For more information, visit https://www.missamerica.org.
