Athenna Crosby from California has been crowned Miss World America 2024, triumphing over more than 40 contestants at the pageant held on November 17 in Seattle, Washington. This prestigious title allows her to represent the United States at the upcoming 72nd Miss World competition in 2025. Crosby received a prize package exceeding $250,000 and was crowned by the outgoing titleholder, Victoria DiSorbo.
The event was organized by Ekta Saini and her husband Sanjay Saini, a couple of Punjabi origin who have retained the franchise for the second consecutive year. Ekta Saini made history as the first Indian-American woman to serve as the national director of the pageant. Their daughter, Shree Saini, previously held the title of Miss World America and was a first runner-up at Miss World.
Crosby expressed her gratitude, stating, “My wildest dream came true,” and thanked Ekta Saini and Julia Morley from the Miss World organization for their support. She is a multifaceted talent based in Los Angeles, excelling as a TV host, entertainment correspondent, actress, and model. With a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Utah Valley University, she aims to leverage her diverse skills within the entertainment industry.
Her pageantry experience includes being crowned Miss California Teen USA 2016, where she reached the Top 15 at Miss Teen USA. She also placed in the Top 5 at Miss California USA in both 2022 and 2023 and was the first runner-up for Miss World America in 2023. Athenna has received two “Miss Congeniality” awards, highlighting her approachable and friendly demeanor.
Ekta Saini emphasized their commitment to community service under Julia Morley’s leadership, noting that their socially driven pageant aims to make a positive impact.
