Alannah Bruce – Miss Twin Rivers
Alannah Bruce, the new Miss Twin Rivers, encourages other young women to compete with the Miss America organization because of the growth and opportunities that can come from the experience. “The Miss America competition gives women an outlet to develop themselves in a glamorous way. Each phase of competition is curated to allow them to grow to their fullest potential while being themselves,” Alannah says. “The scholarships and service aspects also encourage them to give back to their communities and continue their educational careers.”
Alannah is the 20-year-old daughter of Heather and Andre Bruce. She has two sisters, Zoey (12) and Amaryss (10), and she is also close to her grandparents, Doug and Debbie Edwards. “My family are some of my best friends, and I love being an older sister,” Alannah says. “My family has allowed me to do everything I could imagine. They have done everything from driving me to auditions when I was younger to taking a week out of their summer to support me at Miss Texas. I am so grateful for them and the sacrifices they have made to allow me to continue to pursue my every dream and passion.”
While attending school in Carroll ISD, Alannah was actively involved in track and field, a DEI task force, the National Honors Society, Diamond Dolls, and Hope Squad. “My time there was well spent, and I am grateful for the education, connections, and friendships throughout my years there,” Alannah says.
Alannah is a student at UT Austin majoring in psychology and minoring in sociology. She dreams of becoming a child life specialist working in hospitals and healthcare settings to support children and families coping with challenging medical experiences. “My role will be to provide emotional support, education, and guidance to help children and their families understand and cope with medical procedures, diagnoses, and hospitalization. Child life specialists use play, therapeutic activities, and developmentally appropriate interventions to help children express their feelings, reduce anxiety, and maintain a sense of normalcy during their healthcare journey,” Alannah says. “I will also collaborate with healthcare teams to advocate for the psychosocial needs of pediatric patients and their families. This is important to me because I love serving in pediatrics, and I know this is a space where I can help others.”
Pageantry has been a part of Alannah’s life since she was 6-weeks-old, and in 2023, Alannah held the title of Miss Texarkana. “I chose the Texarkana Twin Rivers pageant because I love this community and the people that have poured into me,” Alannah says. “I am excited to serve them again and hope to make them proud.”
For the competition, Alannah sang “To Make You Feel My Love” by Adele. “I chose it because I have always been a fan of hers, and this song speaks beyond romantic love to me,” Alannah says. “When I sing it, I imagine all the people I hope to serve and have served and my love for them.”
When preparing for the interview and on-stage question, Alannah felt confident because those events are her favorite phases of competition. “I love to talk, and the biggest way I have prepared is by being out and communicating with others,” Alannah says. “I learn so much by simply holding conversations with people who may have different interests and opinions than me, and it helps me be a more well-rounded candidate.”
When the emcee announced that Alannah would be crowned Miss Twin Rivers, she only felt gratitude. “I was so grateful for the judges, the directors, my family, and my heavenly father,” Alannah says. “Without them, I would not be the young woman I am today.”
Besides winning the title, Alannah was most proud of the friends she made in the competition. “This organization creates a space for women to be alongside and lift each other up. All of my fellow candidates could have held this title gracefully, and they all helped me throughout the day,” Alannah says. “I am grateful to be able to call all the candidates my new friends. They are all so accomplished, and I feel honored to represent them and the Twin Rivers area this summer at the Miss Texas competition.”
Fun Facts:
- The most beautiful girls are the ones who are always themselves.
- Most people don’t know that I can wiggle my ears.
- If I could tell my younger self anything, I would tell her to not care so much about other people’s thoughts and to embrace who she is.
- I am passionate about service to others.
- My guilty pleasure foods are chocolate ice cream and French fries.