Miss America 2022: “I’m real. I have flaws. I have ADHD, I have dermatillomania, which is a form of OCD.”
“I am real. I have flaws. I have ADHD. I have dermatillomania, which is a form of OCD. I have struggled with all of these things and because of that, I am a better person. During COVID, it was an incredibly difficult time for me, being isolated in my college dorm for so long. It was that point when I hit rock bottom when I realized I can be so much more than that.”
Miss America Emma Broyles: “I’m OK now. I’m medicated.”
Emma Broyles, representing the state of Alaska, was crowned Miss America last night marking the competition’s 100th anniversary. Broyles, a junior biomedical sciences major at Arizona State University, won with brave disclosures about her mental health, responses to questions about sexual harassment and a social impact statement in support of Special Olympics.
She responded to questions during her on-stage interview with candor, including a question about navigating social media with transparency.
“I am real, I have flaws, I have ADHD, I have dermatillomania,” said Broyles, who wants to be a dermatologist. She also said she was better now with the help of medication. Also, she discussed the under-diagnosis of women and girls who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
In addition, Broyles was asked a hypothetical question about how she would handle unwelcome sexual advances from a major sponsor of the Miss America organization. She responded, “I know in my heart that as a woman, I am never going to let somebody treat me like (that), because women should never be treated like objects. Women can be angry! We cannot be content with things that are happening.”
In recent years the Miss America pageant has struggled to remain relevant in light of larger competitions such as Dancing With the Stars, America’s Got Talent and American Idol. It has rebranded itself as a competition focused on leadership, talent and communications skills and reportedly no longer judges on physical appearance. Click here to learn more about that.