BYU senior JessiKate Riley was crowned Miss Utah 2017 on June 17. (Emily Lesher Photography)
BYU senior JessiKate Riley was crowned Miss Utah 2017 on Saturday, June 17, 2017.
Riley, from Beaver, Utah, is majoring in violin performance and aspires to be a recording studio artist.
She received a $10,000 scholarship and will take a year off school to travel throughout the state and speak as a state ambassador for the Children’s Miracle Network. She plans on graduating from BYU in 2019.
Riley said being a music major at BYU has connected her to who she is and allows her to connect with other people.
'Music is a very emotional and spiritual experience,' she said.
Her pageant platform, 'Find ValYOU within,' is centered on educating people to find something they love within themselves.
Riley experienced a lot of stress and anxiety when she was younger. Discovering something she loved helped give her life meaning and value, she said.
She advised BYU students to do the same.
'Find what you love, and hopefully that is your major. Dedicate everything you can because four years is really not a long time,' she said
Salt Lake City’s Jesse Craig placed first runner-up in the contest, followed by Alexa Knutzen of Springville/Mapleton and Miss Provo Madison Monson. Miss Riverton Whitney Gillman placed fourth runner-up.
Riley will compete in the Miss America Competition this September.