Miss Alabama USA 2023: Miss Auburn-Opelika wins the crown

Sophie Burzynski, a student at Auburn University, is the new Miss Alabama USA 2023.

Burzynski, who competed as Miss Auburn-Opelika USA, was crowned Saturday night during a ceremony at the Gogue Performing Arts Center in Auburn. She’ll move on to compete in the Miss USA pageant later this year.

Burzynski, 21, was one of 37 womenvying for the title of Miss Alabama USA 2023. She participated in interview, swimsuit and evening gown segments during preliminaries, and moved on to the finals Saturday night.

Katelyn Vinson, Miss Alabama USA 2022, crowned her successor at the pageant, which was streamed online via PageantsLive.

Burzynski, a senior at Auburn, has a double major in nutrition science/pre-dental and business management. (She founded a wedding videography company, Videos by Sophie B.) Burzynski’s also an Auburn football fan, posting photos from game days on Instagram.

At Auburn, Burzynski serves as director of Big Man on Campus, an all-male beauty pageant that raises money for breast cancer awareness and education, organized by Zeta Tau Alpha. This year’s event raised more than $100,000, according to Burzynski’s Instagram.

Burzynski, who’s originally from Louisville, Kentucky, says her ambition is to become a dentist. She also wants to “become an agent of transformative impact in empowering others,” according to her bio for the Miss Alabama USA pageant.

During an on-stage question segment for the top five finalists, Burzynski was asked: “You have a sitting U.S. Congressman on your judges panel. What topic is important enough to you that you’d like see addressed at the congressional level?” (U.S. Rep. David Rouzer, from North Carolina, was one of the judges this year.)

“I think there are so many topics I would love to discuss, but I think the main thing would be to start an experience class in all colleges across the United States,” Burzynski said. “I think this is something that is so important. Teach young adults how to write a check, how to open up a bank account, how to do their taxes. This is something that is so important that we need to address more. If we started this at the college level, this would allow young leaders to be able to propel into their future, and be able to be set up for great success. So this is something as, owning my own business, Videos by Sophie B., that I think would be perfect, all over the congressional level, at colleges.”

Noelia Voigt, who competed as Miss Greystone, was named first runner-up on Saturday. Diane Westhoven, Miss Southern Plains, was took third place. Margaret Anne McNeill, Miss River Region, came in fourth. Randee Hinson-McCrary, Miss Huntsville, rounded out the top five.

Ava Register, who competed as Miss Dothan, won the People’s Choice Award on Saturday. That meant she raised more money than the other contestants before the pageant began, via $1 online votes. Samantha Huver, Miss Northport, won the Congeniality Award. Carli Kim Guin, Miss Capstone, won the Photogenic Award.

The Miss Alabama Teen USA pageant also was held this weekend at the Gogue Center. Kensey Collins, who competed as Miss Spanish Fort Teen, won that competition, besting 35 other contestants. She’ll move on to compete for Miss Teen USA 2022. AnnaLee Story, Miss Alabama Teen USA 2022, crowned Collins as her successor on Saturday.

Kensey Collins, who competed as Miss Spanish Fort Teen, was crowned Miss Alabama Teen USA on Jan. 28, 2023, at the pageant finals in Auburn. (Courtesy of RPM Productions)

Ava LeBlanc, who competed as Miss Shelby County Teen, was named first runner-up on Saturday. Jaycee Parker, Miss Mobile Teen, took third place. Georgia Busby, Miss Queen City Teen, came in fourth. Halle Sullivan, Miss Camellia State Teen, rounded out the top five in the teen group.

Victoria Caballero, who competed as Miss Vestavia Hills Teen, won the People’s Choice Award among the teen group. Halle Sullivan, Miss Camellia State Teen, won the Photogenic Award. Mia Pilkinton, Miss Tuscumbia Teen, won the Congeniality Award.