About

Isabella Jessee, Miss Roanoke Valley 2022, is a graduate of Hollins University and was raised in Roanoke, Virginia. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry. At Hollins, she was the assistant to the university’s president and a tour guide student ambassador. Isabella was a National Honor Society student.

Isabella’s platform is “Lifesaving Techniques,” and her community service work is dedicated to helping civilians in medical emergencies. As Miss Roanoke Valley, Isabella leads interactive lessons for children on six Lifesaving Techniques: CPR, Epi-Pen administration, Heimlich maneuver, bleeding control, splinting, and recognizing signs of heart attack or stroke. Isabella is a certified EMT at Hollins Station 5 with Roanoke County Fire & Rescue and has her EVOC certification to drive an ambulance. She is currently working to bring back classes on bleeding control techniques for Roanoke County educators. Additionally, Isabella is a Virginia Department of Health COVID Community Ambassador to promote health and safety in the pandemic.

Isabella was 2nd Runner-Up in the Miss Virginia 2022 Competition and recipient of the Best Overall Interview Award. For her talent, she performed an original arrangement of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” on her grandfather’s 75-year-old violin. She previously served with the Miss America Organization as Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen 2017.

Meet
Miss Virginia's
Outstanding Teen

Ayana Johnson, Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2022 and Miss Roanoke Valley’s Outstanding Teen 2022, is a rising junior in high school. She is the winner of the Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2022 Competition and earned a preliminary award for On-Stage Question & Evening Gown. She competes for Miss America's Outstanding Teen in August.

Ayana is an award-winning scholar with recognition from National Honor Society, National Beta Club, Governor’s School for the Arts, and the Suffolk Art League, among other organizations. She was the 2019 recipient of the Excellence Girls Club Pioneer Award and has been featured in the Suffolk News Herald “20 under 21.” Ayana was the 2020 Student Council President at her school and is a current member of her superintendent’s student advisory board.

Ayana’s platform is “Ayana’s R.E.A.D. Initiative,” which stands for Readiness to Empower, Advocate, and Diminish Hopelessness in Chronic Illness. In particular, Ayana is an advocate for Sickle Cell Warriors and an ambassador for the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. As Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen, Ayana educates the public to negate the disparities and stigmas faced by those living with chronic illness.  

A competitive dancer for over ten years with national awards, Ayana performed a musical theater dance routine to "Don't Rain on My Parade" at the Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2022 Competition. Ayana has many interests, including playing classical violin, listening to jazz, traveling, spending time with family, film & photography, and journaling.