On Saturday, January 26th, Heather Lee O’Keefe was crowned Miss Miami 2019.
The pageant was held at Coral Springs Charter School in Coral Springs, Florida. Phases of competition included 10-minute personal interview with the judges, on stage question, talent, evening gown, and swimsuit. This will be the last year that “swimsuit” is a phase of competition, due to recent changes within the Miss America Organization.
As Miss Miami, O’Keefe is now a candidate for title of Miss Florida. The 2019 Miss Florida pageant will be held in late June in Lakeland, Florida. The Miss Florida winner will then go on to compete for the title of Miss America.
All candidates in the Miss America Organization are required to have their own platform, as well as advocating for the organization’s national platform, Children’s Miracle Network. O’Keefe’s personal platform is the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida.
O’Keefe is a 21-year-old first-year law student at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law and an alumna of West Virginia University. With a strong commitment to her education, O’Keefe received multiple academic scholarships to attend West Virginia University Reed College of Media, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism, a minor in Political Science, and graduated with Cum Laude honors in May 2018. In addition to graduating with honors, O’Keefe was named 2018 Outstanding Journalism Senior by West Virginia University Reed College of Media. You can read more about O’Keefe on her personal website, blondebarrister.com.
O’Keefe wants to fill her year as Miss Miami with as many community service events and speaking opportunities as possible. If you would like to book Miss Miami for your event, please email miamipageants@gmail.com.