Meet Athenna Crosby, the reigning Miss World America, model, entertainment correspondent, disability advocate, and California girl. Born and raised in San Jose, CA, Crosby recently won the Miss World America pageant in November 2024 in Seattle, WA, and will go on to represent the United States at the international Miss World competition sometime this year. The Miss World Organization itself is one of the top pageant systems in the world and also the oldest. Every year, delegates from around the globe are sent to compete in the Miss World pageant, which strongly focuses on charitable and volunteer aspects in their pageant system highlighting “Beauty With A Purpose.”
Since her crowning of Miss World America, Crosby has been on a whirlwind of travel adventures representing the U.S. around the world while attending various events and media appearances. A proud Latina-American and of Venezuelan heritage, Crosby has been involved in pageantry for many years, and is also a former Miss California Teen USA, winning the title in 2016. A passionate advocate for disability rights, Crosby’s “Beauty With a Purpose” project for the Miss World organization hits home as she navigates life with her brother Adrian who has autism. Inspired by her brother, Crosby works with the non-profit Best Buddies where she has been involved with fundraising, organizing events, and advocating for those suffering from developmental disabilities. Let’s cheer on Athenna when she heads to India to compete at Miss World in May, and get to know more of the ambitious beauty queen below in our Q&A.
The LA Girl: Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself?
Athenna Crosby: Well I live and work in Los Angeles as an entertainment correspondent, actress, and model. I grew up in San Jose, California so I am a California girl born and raised and I went to college in Utah. I obtained my Bachelor’s of Science in Communications with a Journalism track. I’ve also been doing pageants since I was little, and that portion of inspiration comes from my cultural background of being Venezuelan and being a Latina because pageants are so huge in Venezuela. So naturally, I grew up watching Miss World & Miss Universe on TV, and I was so inspired by the women that I saw.
So being Venezuelan and participating in pageants is a match made in heaven as it’s literally in my blood and culture. And so I definitely identify a lot stronger with my Latina heritage through pageantry and getting to connect with the fans from all over the world. Aside from that, I’m a very passionate advocate for disability rights based on my relationship with my younger brother who has autism, and throughout our life we’ve seen the struggle that he’s experienced and the way that society and people have treated him because of his disability. I would say the purpose of my life outside of pageantry and modeling is to be a big sister to Adrian. It’s to provide and care for him and to learn from his resilience. I truly think that’s my purpose on this earth.
The LA Girl: You recently got back from New York Fashion Week, can you tell us what that experience was like?
Athenna Crosby: New York Fashion Week was incredible. Having the opportunity to walk for three different gown designers was also right up my alley because of course in pageants you need a beautiful gown to slay the day, and it was just a very surreal moment. I grew up doing a little bit of modeling here and there, but never really considered New York Fashion Week as a possibility for me, and to be able to make my debut as Miss World America was so fulfilling because it just goes to show that if you keep working hard, eventually those opportunities can come your way. So it came my way through the pageant.
The LA Girl: You got to go with the other ladies who made top 5 as well?
Athenna Crosby: Yes, we all did it together, and that was also great because it shows that you don’t have to win a pageant to gain opportunities from it and to grow your network. So, to have the other top 5 there with me was wonderful, and also the sisterhood and the camaraderie is such a special part about the pageant. We also got to wear Carmelodesigns (Carl Andrada) and he is a Filipino designer based out of Los Angeles actually. So to wear his designs was so special, and the Filipino community is very supportive of pageants. So it was a natural partnership for the pageant and him.
The LA Girl: What was it like coming back a second year in a row to the Miss World America Pageant after placing runner up the year before, any discouragement or doubt that went through your head?
Athenna Crosby: There wasn’t any discouragement or doubt. If anything, there was a little bit of nerves because the pageant has an age limit of 26 which is your final attempt to compete age wise. I knew that it was my last try and that puts a little bit of extra pressure on the situation. But I am a woman of faith and I think God has a plan for us and that everything happens in his perfect timing and for a reason. So, I was content with the fact that if it was meant for me it would happen and if it wasn’t then that’s okay and I could move on to other things in my life. But of course, you know being first runner-up (the previous year) I could feel that the title was an opportunity that was possible for me and it was within my grasp.
So at that point when you get so close it’s like okay, I was obviously doing well, but what’s something small that I can change that maybe will put me over the edge? So that was my strategy going into competing again-just fine-tuning the details and really honing in on ‘why do I want this opportunity?’ Why despite losing do you keep pursuing something that you really want? Although I really wanted the job I knew it was a lot bigger than me. So I was so excited, honored, and just over the moon elated that this dream had finally come true for me.
The LA Girl: When you won what were you thinking?
Athenna Crosby: The first thing that came to mind was like I actually did it, that I achieved this goal that I had in my heart for so many years and it went far beyond last year because this is actually my 20th year of doing pageants. That’s two decades of hard work for the opportunity to go compete at an international pageant like Miss World. There were many times where I felt like maybe I should just hang up the towel and move on to something else because I can’t keep doing this forever. There comes a time where you have to respectfully bow out. I felt like it was close and I felt like it was possible for me, and thank goodness I didn’t give up because I was much closer than I realized. And had I given up at any point in that journey I would not have the opportunity to represent the United States at Miss World, which is the oldest international pageant. I think to me, what kept me going was my chance to inspire another girl to continue this dream.
The LA Girl: What would you say is the best thing about your Miss World America experience so far?
Athenna Crosby: There have been so many incredible opportunities that have come out of this, namely meeting new people and getting the chance to travel. I’ve been able to do two international trips and now have one coming up next week. I’m so excited to be able to travel to other places in the world where there’s more work that needs to be done. Whether that’s philanthropic work or whether that’s bridging different cultures and communities together. And a pageant title like Miss World America allows me the opportunity to be that liaison where not only am I representing my country of the United States, but I’m representing young women and get to be a role model for others as well.
The LA Girl: How are you prepping for Miss World?
Athenna Crosby: Life is the best preparation.” Everything I’m doing in my life is preparing me to take and assume the job. It’s being in the entertainment industry here in LA, thinking on my feet, meeting new people. It’s traveling the world, experiencing different languages, cultures, and religions. It’s modeling, doing philanthropic work where I’m giving back to the community that helped me reach this goal in the first place. All of these things are what Miss World is and does. So, I’m really just trying to live my life and embody the genesis of this pageant.
The LA Girl: What has living in LA been like for you?
Athenna Crosby: I think it was so helpful for me to move here. I’ve been a Hollywood girl for two years, and the lives that I’ve lived in between moving to LA is astronomical. There’s been so many things that have happened and that have changed in my life since then.
The LA Girl:What are some of your favorite places to shop and eat at in LA?
Athenna Crosby: Century City Mall, The Grove, and Fashion Square Mall are some of my favorite places to shop. But to be honest, I love shopping at thrift stores and going to second-hand stores and getting random clothes from Goodwill and other places. For food, I love Casa Vega in Sherman Oaks which is a Mexican restaurant. They have so many celebrities on the wall, and you walk in and it’s like every celebrity you’ve ever thought of has eaten there. So that’s a favorite for me. On Ventura, they have Boulevard Steakhouse which is also really nice.
The LA Girl: For people that have never been to LA, where should they go and what should they expect?
Athenna Crosby: If you’re coming to LA for the first time, I would say coming to Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood is a great start because it’s got so many restaurants, clubs, bars, and iconic venues where you can go watch different acts, shows, and live music. It’s a very LA experience and they will quickly see some of the most vibrant places of the city. The comedy store is also hilarious if you want to go watch standup. And then Santa Monica is a favorite of mine as well for that beach day vibe you can go hit the pier, surf, and grab a bite at the boardwalk.
The LA Girl: You were at the Miss USA pageant last year which took place at LA’s Kodak Theatre, how was that experience?
Athenna Crosby: I was a red carpet correspondent for Maximo TV and got to interview not only the outgoing Miss USA but the incoming Miss USA and also some of the celebrity judges which was amazing.
The LA Girl: What has been the best thing about the Miss World America Organization and the Miss World brand as a whole?
Athenna Crosby: My favorite thing about Miss World America and Miss World is hands down the Beauty with a Purpose initiative. The fact that Miss World America allocated 50% of our score to our Beauty with a Purpose project just goes to show that they’re not only looking for a pretty face and nice body, but looking for a way to be a part of the community. And to see a pageant that finally listened to my message and cared about it was a game changer for me because I had come from competing in pageants that love philanthropy, but it’s not an active part of the scoring system whereas Miss World America were very clear in looking for a woman who has a beauty with a purpose message that’s already established and something that you wholeheartedly believe in which was the difference for me. M
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