Alexia Rodrigues, Miss Rhode Island and a member of the Rhode Island Army National Guard, said Sunday that her military service “fuels” her as she competes for the Miss America crown in Orlando.
The 25-year-old enlisted during the COVID-19 pandemic and has completed more than three years of full-time active duty. A Warwick native, Rodrigues told Fox News Digital she is eager to use the pageant platform to raise awareness about women in the armed forces and to encourage girls to pursue roles that have not traditionally included them. "I absolutely love my job," she said. "I get excited every day to be able to put on my uniform, to serve my country, my community… That’s what fuels me every day."
Rodrigues described training and support programs within the Army as foundational to her development. "What the Army does, which not a lot of companies do, is ensure that our soldiers are trained from day one on EO, which is 'equal opportunity' and SHARP, which is the 'Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program,'" she said. She added that units are guided through each step by a supportive team that helps ensure policies are followed.
Rodrigues said she hopes her visibility in the competition will spotlight servicewomen and inspire younger women to claim space in fields where they may appear underrepresented. She is among contestants from across the country vying for the Miss America title, a competition that historically emphasizes scholarship, talent and public service.
Organizers of Miss America hold the final competition events in Orlando this weekend. Rodrigues’s participation follows a broader trend of contestants using pageant platforms to highlight personal and civic causes, including veterans’ issues and military service. Her combination of active-duty experience and pageant participation underscores the diversity of backgrounds among contemporary contestants and the varied public-service initiatives they bring to the national stage.
Rodrigues’s appearance at Miss America comes as many veteran and active-duty women continue to seek greater recognition for their roles in the armed forces. By spotlighting training programs and unit support, she said she hopes to convey that military service offers both professional development and purpose, and to encourage young people to create opportunities where they do not yet exist.
The outcome of the Miss America competition will be determined after the final round of judging in Orlando. Rodrigues’s campaign reflects a continued intersection of service, advocacy and the scholarship-focused mission of the pageant.