Your new 2018 Miss United States is now Yashwi Aware

Yashvi Aware of College Park, Maryland has been named Miss Earth United States 2018. The Miss Earth United States pageant was watched by over 100,000 viewers throughout the week, with the July 14th finale presented by EarthWater at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center in Alexandria, Virginia.

Age 24, Yashvi Aware is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student at George Washington University. Fluent in Hindi and French, Aware holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of Maryland. She competed for the Miss Earth United States title in 2016 and placed in the top ten. Aware has supported the National Park Service, as well as Local Parks and Recreation through her state title.

Managed by Carousel Productions of the Philippines, Miss Earth focuses on empowering women, promoting eco-tourism and aiding environmental causes around the globe. Nearly 100 national delegates will participate at the highly anticipated four-week competition in the Philippines, with the coronation taking place on November 3, 2018.

As Miss Earth United States, Aware aims to show others they can make small daily changes to benefit our environment. Throughout her reign, she will travel extensively to visit schools, undergo Climate Reality leadership training with Al Gore, and aid rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico. Additionally, she will model for corporate partners such as AshleyLauren and Pixton Design, and she will walk in New York Fashion Week.

Aware says she competes in pageants to “help me grow, give back to others, and challenge me.” Her definition of beauty is being confident, intelligent, and compassionate.

During national activities taking place July 10-14, over 95 state delegates completed a clean up project for the US National Park Service at the Lincoln Memorial, with the support of Garbo Grabber, Inc. Reigning national queens visited DC Central Kitchen to prepare food in a sustainable environment.

The national competition included categories such as community service, interview, multimedia, public speaking, swimwear, runway and evening gown. State delegates are selected through application and interview or by winning a state or regional pageant.

The results of the national competition were first runner up Kailey Parker of Hawaii, second runner up Yvette Vaughns of Texas, third runner up Natalia Aldarondo of Puerto Rico, and fourth runner up April Maroshick of New York. Supporting national titles awarded are Teen Miss Earth United States Payton Stockman of Florida and Elite Miss Earth United States Keyace Sims of Florida. The national director of Miss Earth United States is Laura Clark, owner of Beauty Beyond Borders, Inc. in Washington, DC.

Judges included Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell of the Philippines, previous Miss Earth United States winner Siria Ysabel Bojorquez, Elle White of WeTV “Match Made in Heaven,” Miss Earth representatives from Sierra Leone and Pakistan, and owners of corporate partners HotWorx and EarthWater. Hosts were Miss Earth Water 2015 Brittany Ann Payne and Justin Stewart of Fox5 TV DC.