FRUITLAND, Iowa–Emily Lerch of Fruitland won the title of Miss Iowa’s Outstanding Teen at the Adler Theatre in Davenport on June 11. Emily represented Iowa’s capitol city as Miss Greater Des Moines’ Outstanding Teen, winning that title in the fall of 2021. Phases of competition included a private interview, fitness, talent, evening gown, and on-stage question. Candidate’s education, social impact initiatives, and future ambitions are also considered. She was presented the Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award. In August, Emily will compete at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen in Dallas, Texas. This is a sister program to Miss America, which broadcasts yearly on NBC.
Emily is 17 and is a graduate of Louisa-Muscatine High School. Her Social Impact Initiative is Feeding America: Actions to End Food Insecurity. As part of her initiative, Emily raised over $5,000 for the Food Bank of Iowa in one fundraising event and raised over 250 pounds of non-perishable food items for food pantries across Iowa. Her efforts have provided assistance to local pantries including the Salvation Army of Muscatine County, the Light House Pantry in Fruitland, and the Falcon Locker at Louisa-Muscatine Community School District.
Accomplishments in her talent of baton twirling include placing top five at the National Baton Modeling and Twirling Competition, being selected as Junior Beginner Miss Majorette of Iowa in 2019, and winning the Valera Ehlers Showtwirl Memorial Award. She will be performing a show twirl at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, where she exhibits skills in tumbling, dance, and multiple baton throughout her routine.
Emily is headed to Western Illinois University in the fall to further her education, where she will serve as a Marching Leathernecks Feature Twirler. In addition to many academic scholarships she has been awarded, Emily’s time in the Miss Iowa Organization has earned her $2,425 in scholarships. Her career ambition is in social work, specifically criminal justice.
