Berks woman crowned Miss Pennsylvania 2022

Michelle Lynch, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·2 min read
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Jul. 5—A Berks County woman has been crowned Miss Pennsylvania 2022, the Miss PA Scholarship Foundation Inc. has announced.

Alysa Bainbridge, Miss Greater Reading, won the title this month at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts in York.

Bainbridge will go on to compete at the 101st Miss America Competition in December at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Uncasville, Conn.

"I'm really thrilled that we have a Miss Pennsylvania from Berks County," she said in an interview. "We haven't had one since the 1960s, so I'm really thrilled to go and represent our county and my hometown at Miss America."

Bainbridge, 23, of Leesport is the daughter of Jeff and Michele Bainbridge.

She is a graduate of Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, with Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies and a minor in journalism. She is working toward a Master of Science degree in leadership at Cabrini University, Radnor.

Along with her title, Bainbridge was awarded a $12,000 scholarship, sponsored by York businesswoman Chloe Eichelberger. She also won the $1,000 Social Impact Pitch Award sponsored by Shipley Energy and the $1,000 Women in Media Award sponsored by Fox43.

Her focus

For her reigning year, Bainbridge has chosen mental health awareness as her platform.

She understands all too well the difficulty of living with mental illness and the impact it can have on families.

Her older brother, Tyler, struggled with substance abuse and bipolar disorder. He died of an opioid overdose in 2018 at the age of 24.

Her younger sister also was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The title of her platform, "Tyler's Triumph: More than a Project," honors her brother's memory and helps raise awareness of mental health.

She also seeks to empower those who struggle with mental health or substance use issues, she said.

"This isn't about myself being on a pedestal," she said. "It's about serving other people. My main goal through this year is to serve the mental health and recovery community and help to especially break down that stigma that surrounds mental health and substance use disorders."

Bainbridge, who began competing in area pageants at age 5, said winning the Miss Pennsylvania title is a dream come true.

"I've been dreaming of being Miss Pennsylvania since I was 9 years old," she said. "I met Miss Pennsylvania at a local parade, and I've been working for this pretty much ever since and dreaming of going to Miss America. It still doesn't quite feel real."