About
Since 1954, the Miss Roanoke Valley program has mentored hundreds of local women and girls to achieve their dreams. As representatives of the Miss Virginia and Miss America Organizations, Miss Roanoke Valley and Miss Roanoke Valley’s Teen spend their year speaking at civic events, volunteering for local non-profits, and entertaining Virginians of all ages.
The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs for young women and the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Miss America's values, Scholarship, Service, Style, and Success, are symbolized in the four-points of its crystal crown and are exemplified by the thousands of women who participate in local pageants every year.
Stars of the Star City
Meet
Miss Roanoke Valley
Emmeline Soyars
Emmeline Soyars, Miss Roanoke Valley 2025, is a senior at Liberty University, earning an interdisciplinary degree in Business Leadership and Communications. She graduates in December 2024 and plans to become a financial advisor with Edward Jones
A musical theater singer and actor since the 3rd grade, Emmeline performed "Shy" from Once Upon a Mattress for her talent. Her favorite theater role was Liesl in The Sound of Music. She initially majored in costume design because of her love for theater and sewing.
Emmeline's community service initiative is called “Girls Like Me," which advocates for research and education about autism in girls. Emmeline completed a school tour in which she visited 9 schools, 55 classes, and 1,100+ students to speak about autism to the students, share her personal experiences, and educate teachers about autism in young girls.
Emmeline is active in the Virginia community as an autism advocate. She designed library book displays during Autism Awareness Month. She has lobbied at the Virginia State Capitol for bills regarding autism. To raise funds for the Autism Society of Central Virginia, Emmeline organized a team to run in the non-profit's 5k charity fundraiser.
Emmeline is also a volunteer at an assisted living home, nursing home, and the Jubilee Center, which is a center for underprivileged children and their families.
Atalented speaker and winner of the Interview award at the Miss Roanoke Valley Competition, Emmeline has also earned 1st place forensics awards for speeches about autism.
Emmeline has two cats, Mushu and Louisa. She loves to travel and has visited five countries. Follow her journey as Miss Ronaoke Valley on Instagram at @missroanokevalleyva.
Meet
Miss Roanoke Valley's Teen
Makenzie Lucas
Makenzie Lucas, Miss Roanoke Valley's Teen 2025, is a high school junior, born and raised in the Roanoke Valley. Makenzie is active in Future Farmers of America, in which she is a chapter officer. She's a Junior Class Officer and a member of National Beta Club. A volleyball player, Makenzie is also a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
At the Miss Roanoke Valley competition, Makenzie performed a country pop song for her talent. She is a lifelong musician, singing in church choir, leading the praise & worship team, and playing ukulele. She is the Assistant Director for her church children's choir.
Makenzie's community service initiative is "Educate One, Empower Many -- Be the Change Against Human Trafficking." Her mission is to empower people to spot, report, and prevent human trafficking. Through proper training, community awareness, and case reporting, Makenzie believes that can victim identification can be strengthened and lives can be saved.
Makenzie is a volunteer with The Lampstand, a ministry of Straight Street, which provides a safe home in the Roanoke Valley to girls ages 12-17 who have been sexually trafficked or who are at risk of being trafficked. The program offer trainings in schools, workplaces, and churches to further educate people on the topic of human trafficking. Makenzie is also a volunteer with Straight Street, a nonprofit located in downtown Roanoke that provides a variety of services and a positive Christian environment to teens in the area facing difficult situations.
In her free time, Makenzie hatches and raises chickens and volunteers at her church's Sunday School. Follow her adventures in Roanoke at @missroanokevalleysteenva.
Meet
Miss Magic City's Teen
Lexie Hovey
