Meet The Team

Melody proudly serves as the Executive Director of the Miss Austin Scholarship Organization, bringing a fresh vision rooted in purpose, service, and empowerment. A lifelong advocate for women’s leadership and community engagement, Melody’s journey with the Miss America Organization began in 2017 on a local stage and continues now behind the scenes, leading and mentoring the next generation of titleholders.

Crowned Miss Arizona 2022, Melody competed at the Miss America competition and earned recognition for her passionate advocacy and powerful public speaking. Her social impact initiative focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, drawing national attention and leading to a curriculum she helped implement in over a dozen states. During her year of service, she logged hundreds of hours volunteering, speaking in schools, and building partnerships that made a tangible impact on communities.​

As Executive Director of Miss Austin, Melody combines her firsthand pageant experience with her professional background in communications and nonprofit leadership to create a transformative experience for candidates. Her mission is to enhance the program’s local presence, expand scholarship opportunities, and continue the legacy of empowering young women to become confident and capable leaders.

Melody believes that Miss America is more than a crown; it's a platform to launch careers, create community change, and discover one’s full potential.

Melody Pierce

Executive Director

Jennifer Navratil

Jennifer's involvement in the Miss America Opportunity began in Wisconsin more than ten years ago, when her dance teacher, a local titleholder in 1963, encouraged her to compete in her local teen competition because “she had a talent."

For more than ten years, Jennifer continued to compete, not simply because she had a talent, but because she wanted to continually challenge and improve herself. This included volunteering with the American Diabetes Association (ADA)-Wisconsin to promote her community service initiative. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Jennifer began her professional career in nonprofit with the ADA as their Manager of Donor Relations. In May of 2020, the ADA permanently closed its Wisconsin office due to the pandemic and lack of funding. Jennifer reevaluated and reaffirmed her decision to compete for Miss Wisconsin, realizing that, while she lost her job, Wisconsin lost a valuable resource. Winning Miss Wisconsin 2021, Jennifer used her social influence to bring statewide exposure to her initiative and grow in her nonprofit career.

After representing her home state at the 100th anniversary Miss America competition and a year serving as a spokesperson and ambassador for Wisconsin, Jennifer got engaged to her boyfriend of 9 years and moved across the country to Austin, Texas. She is now married with two dogs and is so excited to join the Miss Austin Organization and give back to the organization that single-handedly allowed her to begin college, pay off $18,750 of her student loans, inspired her career, and shaped the woman she is today. She hopes to set other women on the same trajectory of success and make their dreams come true both within and outside the organization.

Co-Director

Our Local Board