Payton May tells stories for a living. Katelyn Chen commands the stage.
Recently named Miss Paradise Valley and Miss Paradise Valley’s Teen, Payton is a KOLD 13 News reporter, USC graduate and former Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, while Katelyn is an eighth-grade student, nationally ranked ballet dancer, award-winning painter and National Latin Exam gold medalist.
Before they compete at Miss Arizona 2027, we met the two behind the titles.
Payton May
You have spent years in front of cameras. What do people get wrong about you?
People assume reporters simply “read the script and look pretty.” They are surprised to learn we pitch, write and edit our own stories.
What moment from your year as Miss America’s Outstanding Teen has stayed with you?
As a national ambassador for Kids Voting USA, I spoke to more than 500 elementary students in Arizona. Watching them become excited about something so important to me was unforgettable.
Payton fun facts?
I have a massive sweet tooth, use Goodreads like social media, and have traveled to 14 countries. The key to my heart is probably spicy tuna crispy rice or a cheeseburger. And if Broadway called tomorrow, I might leave news behind and follow that childhood dream.
Katelyn Chen
What would surprise people about the world behind a polished ballet performance?
Backstage can be chaotic. Dancers are fixing costumes, helping with hair and makeup, stretching and making sure everyone is ready.
Behind the curtain, there is some panic.
Is there one performance that stays with you?
Performing “Snow” in The Nutcracker. Dry ice creates fog, and soap bubbles fall from the ceiling to look like snow, making the stage incredibly slippery. It is also a six-minute nonstop dance.
What would make this feel like a true Paradise Valley year?
I want to know the people and traditions that make Paradise Valley special, discover local restaurants and places, and finish the year with memories I will always connect to this community.