2022 Winners
Mrs. Alaska America - Melisa Behrendt
Miss Alaska for America - Mary Mitchell
Mrs. Alaska American - Jamie Lytton
Saturday evening, May 14, 2022 the stage at the Bettye Davis East High School Auditorium in Anchorage was packed with friends and family members as women from across Alaska competed for the title of Mrs. Alaska America AND the Miss Alaska For America.
The ultimate prize and title of Mrs. Alaska America 2022 went to our newly crowned Mrs. Alaska America is Ashley Goodrich, wife of Rhett Goodrich. Ashley is a nursing student and wellness coach, and mom of 2. She’s originally from Florida and received military orders to Alaska and have now made this her forever home. She is passionate about women’s health, having been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, it has led her in her career path to serve others, and inspire wellness in women.
Our newly crowned Mrs. Alaska AmeriCAN is Angela Merkle, married to Nick Merkle. Angela is the Development Manager for all of the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer initiatives in Alaska to include event planning, breast cancer awareness, and volunteer and relationship management. She plans to help bring awareness to Cancer Moonshot, which is an initiative to utilize federal resources to decrease the cancer mortality rate by 50% over the next twenty-five years.
Our new Miss Alaska for America is Kirsten Swanson from Anchorage. Kirsten is currently the Individual & Corporate Giving Manager for the Anchorage Museum; where she gets to work with individuals and companies in Alaska wanting to make a difference. She is inspired by the next generation through her platform “PIVOT.” She wants to help Alaska’s youth become the next generation of change makers, helping Alaska grow and flourish.
They will be on their way to the Mrs. America Pageant and Miss for America Pageant at the annual National Competition in August in Las Vegas. Additionally they will be making personal appearances throughout Alaska during her year’s reign.
The pageant also recognizes the accomplishments of the contestants in several other areas:
Mrs. Alaska America
Ashley Goodrich - Palmer
Mrs. Alaska American
Angela Merkle – Anchorage
1st RunnerUp – Ariel Boehringer – Wasilla
2nd RunnerUp – Veronica Hoxie – Eagle River
3rd RunnerUp – Jazmine McWilliams – Anchorage
Miss Alaska for America
Kirsten Swanson – Anchorge
1st RunnerUp – Paola Kennah – Anchorage
2rd RunnerUp – Alexx Cozzetti - Anchorage
Wedding Photo: Dawn Michel
Mrs. Alaska Photogenic: Angela Merkle
Miss Alaska Photogenic: Kirsten Swanson
Most Years Married: 19 Years – Dawn Michel - Anchorage
Mrs. Most Ticket Sales: Rori Van Nortwick
Miss Most Ticket Sales: Paola Kennah
Mrs. Top Model: Angel Holloway
Miss Top Model: Paola Kennah
Mrs. Most Spirited: Marlena Christianson
Miss Most Spirited: Kirsten Bornowski
Mrs. Friendship: Rebecca Hawkins
Miss Friendship: Kirsten Swanson
Mrs. Congeniality: Rebecca Hawkins
Miss Congeniality: Kirsten Swanson
Mrs. Business Woman of the Year: Rori Van Nortwick
Miss Business Woman of the Year: Grace Womac
Mrs. Community Service: Rori Van Nortwick
Miss Community Service: Grace Womac
Mrs. Contestant’s Choice: Angel Holloway
Miss Contestant’s Choice: Kirsten Swanson
Mrs. Best Smile: Holly Lee
Miss Best Smile: Jean Thompson
Mrs. People’s Choice: Wileina Rhodes
Miss People’s Choice: Kirsten Swanson
Mrs. Ambassador: Dawn Michel
Miss Ambassador: Kristen Bornowski
Mrs. Fabulous Face Award: Victoria Cason
Miss Fabulous Face Award: Grace Womac
Handsome Husband: DeShar Holloway
Mrs. Woman of Achievement: Barbara DuBois
