Miss West Virginia Courtney Bearer Brings “Connecting with Cardio” Platform to ALMBS Citizens

WVU Jackson’s Mill — June 11, 2026 — The American Legion Mountaineer Boys State (ALMBS) welcomed Miss West Virginia 2025, Courtney Bearer, as breakfast keynote speaker this morning. Bearer, who will pass on her title in approximately one week, shared her platform of heart health advocacy and her message of resilience, authenticity, and finding the passion that sets you apart.

Bearer’s community service initiative, Connecting with Cardio, was inspired by her family’s experience with heart disease — including her mother’s heart attack at age 41, when Bearer was just 14 years old. As Miss West Virginia, Bearer has partnered with the American Heart Association, organized “Hula-Thons,” and visited all 55 West Virginia counties to reach audiences of every age with one central message: approximately 80% of heart disease cases are preventable.

“It doesn’t need to be all or nothing,” Bearer told Citizens. “You can have little things throughout your life that make your heart happier.”

The 80th Miss West Virginia, Bearer made national history at the Miss America Competition as the first competitor ever to perform a hula hoop routine on the Miss America stage. She is a summa cum laude graduate of West Virginia University, where she earned dual degrees in Marketing and Advertising, served as President of the WVU Dance Team, and won two National Dance Alliance national championships.

Across her year of service, Bearer has logged more than 32,000 miles and 225 public appearances. She closed her keynote with a message that resonated throughout the room: work hard regardless of the obstacles, listen to the people who love you, and never let anyone turn you into “a robot version of yourself.”

ALMBS thanks Miss West Virginia Courtney Bearer for inspiring the next generation of West Virginia leaders.