Community News

Miss West Virginia, Miss West Virginia’s Teen take Mountain State to national stage

MARTINSBURG -- The Eastern Panhandle will have a connection to the national Miss America competition as Miss West Virginia Elizabeth Romanek and Miss West Virginia's Teen Zoe Little head to Florida to represent the Mountain State. Both were crowned at the Miss West Virginia and Miss West Virginia's Teen competition held in Martinsburg earlier this year.

Romanek, 24, of Wheeling, and Little, 16, of Huntington, have spent the months since their respective victories preparing for the national competitions, focusing on interviews, their performance talents and the community service initiatives they hope to advance on a larger stage.

Romanek has been practicing both her interview skills and her dance talent, a performance of "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing." The song was originally chosen as her senior dance solo, but she never got to perform it because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a competitive dancer for more than 20 years, Romanek has made movement the focus of her Community Service Initiative, M.O.V.E. -- Motivate, Optimize, Vitalize, Energize Performance.

Through M.O.V.E., she encourages West Virginians to embrace active, healthy lifestyles. She founded the WV Step Club, a weekly three-mile community walking group, and serves as an ambassador for the West Virginia Physical Activity Plan.

Romanek said exercise has also helped her prepare mentally for the competition, giving her a way to clear her mind and reduce stress.

She is looking forward to the busy schedule in Florida, including rehearsals, the private interview, preliminary competitions and the final competition. A 250th gala involving the contestants is another event she is anticipating.

Romanek said meeting many of the other state titleholders at an event in Philadelphia earlier this year helped strengthen the sense of sisterhood among the contestants.

"I'm just so excited for this upcoming competition," she said, while expressing gratitude for the family and friends who have supported her throughout the process.

Little, a Cabell Midland High School junior, has likewise spent much of her time preparing for interviews and practicing her talent -- an energetic baton-twirling routine to "Zoo" from Disney's "Zootopia 2."

She has paid particular attention to interview questions involving her Community Service Initiative, Project Girl Code, which grew from her own experience with relational bullying as a young teen.

Little created Project Girl Code to help girls recognize unhealthy relationship behaviors and develop friendships rooted in confidence, kindness and inclusion. She has created an online resource, conducted workshops and mentored girls through schools and other organizations.

As Miss West Virginia's Teen, she plans to hold at least 10 Project Girl Code workshops at libraries throughout the state and train ambassadors to take the program into their own communities. If she becomes Miss America's Teen, she hopes to expand the initiative nationally.

Little also has stayed active during her preparation, including exercising at the gym and playing pickleball.

Like Romanek, she said staying active helps her manage stress, but she also has been intentional about protecting her mental health.

Little said she is trying not to put pressure on herself because she never expected to make it to the national competition in the first place.

"I just want to remain grateful for where I am and how I got here," she said.

Unlike Romanek, Little has not yet met most of the other Miss America's Teen contestants, as the teen titleholders did not attend the Philadelphia gathering. She said she is excited to meet them in Florida, including Miss Tennessee, whom she considers a close friend.

Little and her mother drove to Florida, while other family members and friends are expected to make the trip to cheer her on.

For both West Virginia titleholders, the national competition represents an opportunity to do more than compete. They will carry their respective messages -- movement and wellness for Romanek and healthy friendships and confidence for Little -- onto a national stage.

The national competitions will take place Sept. 2-7 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida. The Miss West Virginia's Teen competition will culminate Saturday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m., followed by the Miss America finals at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7. Both final competitions will be streamed live, with viewers able to watch the Miss America finals for free on the official Miss America YouTube channel and PageantVision.com.