Arizona weather can be relentless, but Emma Broyles is used to extremes. She grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, where winter skies turn dark by 4 p.m. and summers stretch into midnight sunlight. She’s also used to living in the in-between; half Korean, half Irish, a small-town girl who became the first Alaskan and first Korean American to ever wear the Miss America crown.
Now 24, Emma is rooted in Arizona, a place she calls “predictable in the best way,” with its sunshine, sushi spots, and hikes she saves for winter. But her story- told with a mix of humility and candor- isn’t about tiaras and sashes. It’s about a brother named Brendan, a platform she never expected, and a belief that empathy can change the world.
“My brother has always been my why,” Emma says. “He’s the reason I got involved in the Special Olympics when I was five years old, and the reason I’ve spent my life advocating for inclusion.”
As October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Emma is exclusively sharing her journey, recounting hospital stays, therapy appointments, and a special family bond.
“Most siblings fight… we never did. Supporting Brendan united us. It’s why both my younger brother and I are going into medicine. Brendan shaped our futures without even trying.”
The Miss America crown gave her a megaphone.
“I never thought I’d win. Honestly, I just entered for scholarship money. I bought my Miss Alaska dress off eBay, but when I stood on that stage, I thought: okay, this is my chance. This is my moment to talk about the Special Olympics and mental health.”
What came next was whirlwind travel, international speeches, and a front-row seat to the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin.
“Seeing athletes from every corner of the world, hearing different languages, watching them carry their countries’ flags… it gave me chills. I thought: this is so much bigger than me.”
But she’s just as open about her struggles.
“People expect Miss America to be perfect. I wanted to show the opposite. I talked about my OCD, my anxiety, my ADHD, even compulsive skin-picking. It was scary, but vulnerability became my superpower. It lets me connect with people in a way perfection never could.”
For Emma, the point has never been polish.
“Empathy is the muscle we all need to build; that’s what’s going to create a better tomorrow. You don’t need to have a sibling with a disability to practice inclusion; you just need to step out of your comfort zone. Do it enough, and it becomes second nature.”
Behind the Crown with Emma
Rumor has it your boyfriend is kind of a big deal…
Laughs... “Yeah, Corbin (Carroll) plays a little baseball. It’s nerve-wracking watching him, but I go to as many games as I can. Off the field, we’re just normal… Netflix, cats, sushi.”
First Miss Alaska dress?
“Bought it off eBay. It was blue. Cheapest one I could find.”
What was going through your head the night you won Miss America?
“Honestly? I didn’t think I would win. I remember thinking, just do your song, answer your question, represent Alaska… and then suddenly, I had a crown on my head and was being whisked onto a plane. It was a blur.”
What do you remember most about that year traveling as Miss America?
“The people. Every city, every school, every Special Olympics event. I’d meet kids who reminded me of Brendan, or parents who whispered, ‘thank you for telling the truth about mental health.’ Those moments are what I carry with me.”
Favorite memory with your brother during your Miss America year?
“Flying him out to events with me. He loves the Seattle Seahawks, and when I did an event with them, he got to be part of it. Having him alongside me… at events, at games… made it all feel full-circle.”
What’s a beauty experiment you’ll never repeat?
"Blonde hair and blue contacts… never again."
What does beauty mean to you now?
“Not hiding who you are. I used to dye my hair blonde, wear blue contacts, try to look like everyone else. Now it’s about letting my freckles show, embracing my Korean features, and enhancing what makes me me.”
Your karaoke song?
“Dreams, by Fleetwood Mac.”
Favorite movies?
“The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie. I like happy movies.”
Biggest lesson from Miss America?
"People connect more with your imperfections than your perfection."
Biggest life lesson from Brendan?
“That inclusion isn’t a box you check. It’s a way of living.”
instagram.com/emmabroyles
"My brother has always been my why. He’s the reason I’ve spent my life advocating for inclusion."