The finalists vying for the title of Miss District of Columbia!

Hannah Cartwright​

Hannah Cartwright, a 20-year-old junior at Howard University, is majoring in international business. Hannah’s resilience defied a Hodgkin's Lymphoma diagnosis, as she emphasizes that one's identity is not defined by a diagnosis. Hannah advocates P.L.E.A.S.E: positivity, love, education, ambition, service, and empowerment to overcome an unexpected health crisis. Hannah strives to raise awareness to healthcare access and inequalities faced by marginalized people. She aspires to enter the wealth management sector, driven by her passion for positively impacting lives and community service. Hannah appreciates the arts, enjoying singing and acting. This summer, she is engaged in the legislative process, while interning on Capitol Hill.

Maloreigh Todd

Maloreigh Todd is a 23-year-old Master’s graduate from George Washington University. A communicator passionate about youth representation in politics, Maloreigh works in digital media for the Millennial Action Project, the largest nonpartisan organization of young lawmakers in the United States. Throughout her political career, she has served in a variety of public-facing roles such as Campaign Manager, Digital Director, and Campaign Spokesperson. In her free time, you can find her exploring local coffee shops, hiking at Rock Creek Park, or out on the soccer field.

Nicole Linder

Nicole Linder is a 20-year-old rising junior majoring in psychology with minors in both criminology and neuroscience at The Catholic University of America. She is from Doylestown, Pennsylvania and has a twin brother. Throughout her process in the Miss DC competition she has been speaking out to bring more awareness to anxiety disorders and depression, both of which she has suffered from for many years, but failed to talk about up until recently. Nicole’s desire is to graduate from college and become a forensic psychologist. In Nicole’s free time she likes spending time with her dogs, Meggie and Nala, her family and her friends exploring different parts of DC.

Anna Ross

Anna Ross is a 24 year-old resident of Cathedral Heights. She earned her BA in Political Science with a concentration in American Government from American University, where she’s currently pursuing a master’s in Political Communication. Anna serves as a Research Assistant studying the impact of harmful algal blooms on fisheries to inform environmental management policy. Committed to a healthy lifestyle, she’s a certified Fitness Coach at Orangetheory. Anna raises awareness of breast cancer, advocating for early detection and prevention with the American Cancer Society. This passion has led her to create her CSI, the Exploring My Passion Project. 

Tatenda Rameau

A recent graduate of the Honors Acting Conservatory at The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts and a Wellesley College political science alumna, Tatenda is constantly balancing between arts, politics, and the corporate world. As a polyglot Caribbean-American, raised in the US, France, and Ghana, she loves bringing her cultural sensitivity to the arts. She believes her mouth, pen, and tongue are her tools for changing the world. Currently, you can find her in the DC theatre scene acting, writing, or producing. Finally, she was this year’s first runner-up at Monologue Madness, DC’s annual acting tournament!

Rachel Huang

Rachel Huang is a 24-year-old recent graduate from Gallaudet University with her Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology and will soon begin her clinical fellowship year and studying for the national Praxis certification exam. During her time as a student, she has also been working as a lifeguard, swim instructor, nanny, and camp counselor; Rachel enjoys working with children and hopes to open her own pediatric speech-language private practice. She uses her platform, ausome.studies, to discuss her lived experiences as an ADHD and autistic adult while she continues to advocate for access and inclusion.

Monica Waldau

Originally from Orange County, California, I am a current graduate student at Georgetown University pursuing my Masters in Business (MBA) in hopes to start my own company in the dance or fashion industry. I am an advocate for women in business and champion for equal pay. I volunteer with the American Association of University Women and the Junior League to eliminate the gender and racial wage gaps. In my free time, I am a professional dancer specializing in jazz and hip hop. My greater purpose in life is to bring my combined passion for dance and business to the world.

Tiera Williams

Advocate, globetrotter, and model Tiera Williams has been making a lasting impact across the District through her financial literacy initiative, Launching the Legacy, and as Women’s Policy and Initiatives Commissioner in the Mayor’s Office. In honor of her extensive community service, she received an Official Proclamation from Jersey City, NJ. This Google BOLD Immersion scholar graduated magna cum laude from Howard University and is a member of the National Urban League of Young Professionals and Zeta Phi Beta, Sorority Inc. When she is not hard at work, Tiera travels to learn about new cultures and enjoys print and runway modeling. ​​

Emma Grimes

Emma is a published author, public speaker, and professional marketer. She has devoted countless hours over the years volunteering as a pro bono speaker, and has donated her books to help young women across the nation develop self-marketing and branding skills. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communications/Public Relations and a minor in English, and a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in User Experience Research, Leadership, and Business Marketing. Emma works for the Office of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Visit emmagrimes.com to learn more about her passions and initiatives.

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Anna Kelly

Anna Kelly is a political communicator, rescue dog “mom,” youth political engagement advocate, and DMV native hailing from Fairfax, Virginia. Anna first became involved with the Miss America Organization as an eight-year-old Princess Program participant. Now at 26 years old, she has leveraged the skills obtained through the program to serve as Communications Director for a presidential and gubernatorial campaign, consult a U.S. Congressman, and spearhead communication strategies for a state political party. Anna holds a Master of Professional Studies in Political Management from George Washington University and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Auburn University. She hopes to acquire a second policy-focused Master’s degree using scholarships from the Miss District of Columbia Scholarship Organization.

Ashley Hollis

Ashley Hollis is a rising third-year law student at Georgetown Law and Co-President of Georgetown’s Entertainment and Media Law Association. She graduated magna cum laude from Loyola Marymount University's School of Business where she served on LMU’s Reformative Justice project, Phi Delta Phi Pre-Law Honors Society, and as an Orientation Leader. This educational experience created an intersection with her passion for law, training in communication, and her imperative interest in helping others find their voice. Ashley has interned on the Business & Legal Affairs Team at Paramount Pictures, Sony Music, and is currently a summer associate at a "big law" firm.

Brelynn Hunt

Brelynn Hunt, a passionate women’s health advocate, holds dual Master’s Degrees in Physiology and Health Science. As an x2 HBCU graduate from Spelman College and Meharry Medical College, she is pursuing her Doctorate of Medicine with the goal of becoming an OB/GYN. Brelynn, a social media influencer with 5 million lifetime views, inspires and mentors through her YouTube channel and podcast. She has raised funds for March of Dimes and advocated for Birth Equity 4 All on Capitol Hill. With her media health correspondent aspirations, Brelynn aims to improve women's health, particularly for underserved populations, beyond the doctor's office.

Jude Maboné

Jude Maboné is a heart health and athlete safety advocate, a small business owner, and an active member of the community serving with Children’s National Hospital, the Honor Flight Network, and a variety of other organizations in the District. Her diagnosis of heart disease at age sixteen led her to begin her community service initiative “Check Your Heart” which provides preemptive heart screenings and AED devices for young people. When Jude is not working at a DC based law firm, she enjoys pampering her dog, Waffle, running through Rock Creek Park and helping female-owned small businesses in DC with their marketing plans. Jude is looking forward to her next chapter as she applies to business school this fall as a Management Leadership for Tomorrow fellow.

Georgia Turpin

Georgia Turpin is a 20 year old graduate of The George Washington University and current Master’s student at Northwestern University, where she studies public policy and administration. She also serves our country as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. As an Intelligence Officer, she determines the vulnerabilities of our adversaries in order to defend our nation’s interests. Through her military experiences, it has inspired her to create From Princess to Soldier: an initiative that seeks to defy stereotypes by empowering females to pursue male dominated career fields. In addition to her coursework and serving as a Reservist in the Air Force, Georgia works as a Background Investigator, retained by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, where she continues to protect our national security interests, all while paving the way for women to follow suite. In her free time, she enjoys running/cuddling with her puppy, Winnie, and volunteering through her non-profit organization, Mission: Shared Smile.

​Ghelatia Araia

Ghelatia Araia is a native Washingtonian. She recently officially graduated with her MPH degree with a concentration in Global Health from New York University. Prior to starting her graduate school journey, Ghelatia earned her B.S. in biology from American University. Her journey in the health field began with the passing of her father and she is using her personal experiences to go into the field of adolescent grief. Ultimately, her goals in life are to become a pediatrician and open a program in D.C. to mentor students who have experienced loss. Currently, Ghelatia works at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the KidneyX portfolio. Outside of work and school, Ghelatia enjoys reading new books, hiking and drinking dirty chai lattes.

​Salma Elakbawy

Salma Elakbawy graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and women's and gender studies and a Master of Arts in political science and global policy studies. Upon graduation, she combined her passion for politics and women's rights and currently works as a policy analyst at a leading women's economic think tank. She is the founder of Belly Dance Studios where she offers belly dance classes to all people who want to rebuild their relationship to health and wellness. Additionally, she is the creator of the Sensitive Girls' Survival Guide, an art and literary zine to connect people to creative inspiration.

Kathleen Bostick

Kathleen Bostick, a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Spelman College, holds a Bachelor's of Science degree earned in 2023. She made history in 2022 as one of the youngest Black women in America to publish research in Plant Biology. Kathleen has garnered multiple awards for her contributions to plant biology, neuroscience, and space education. Committed to empowering women and children in STEM, she collaborates with esteemed institutions such as the Smithsonian and National Science Foundation to make STEM more accessible. Kathleen draws inspiration from her artistic pursuits as a filmmaker, writer, poet, and actress while pursuing her scientific endeavors.
Professional Headshots by Moshe Zusman Photography Studio