Meet our 2026 Competition Judges!

Abigail Bergstrom earned her Bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communications from Liberty University and her Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law, graduating cum laude with a Pro Bono Distinction and a concentration in Litigation. While in law school, she completed two federal judicial externships, served as Managing Editor of the Creighton Law Review, and was published for her legal scholarship evaluating a Federal Rule of Evidence. She is currently studying for the Bar Exam and will begin her career as a civil litigation attorney with Fraser Stryker.

Abigail also competed in the Miss America Organization, where she was crowned Miss Oregon in 2021 and placed 4th runner-up at the Miss America Competition. Through the competition, she met her husband, Luke Bergstrom, and they were married a year and a half later.

Abigail is an active member of her community, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and serving in children’s ministry at her church. She is honored to serve as a judge for Miss Nebraska and looks forward to celebrating the talent and accomplishments of each contestant.

Blake Red Elk first volunteered with the Miss America Opportunity in 2007 and hasn’t looked back since. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Miss Dallas Park Cities Scholarship Organization in Dallas, Texas. In recognition of his leadership and dedication to development, Blake was honored as the 2025 Director of the Year by the Miss Texas Organization. That same year, his local organization was recognized as the Local Organization of the Year.

Over the past decade, he has worked with individual contestants across multiple states, mentoring them in interview preparation, personal development, and performance. Blake earned a BA in Speech Communications at Cameron University in 2006 and earned a MA in Educational Leadership & Policy in 2015 from Portland State University. Professionally, he works in Talent Development for Southwest Airlines.

Blake has a passion for the performing arts and has appeared in more than 30 stage productions across the country. In his free time, Blake enjoys creating digital art, curating a unique and stylish thrifted wardrobe, and exploring off-road trails across Texas in his Bronco. He and his husband, Tyler, make their home in Dallas.

Dr. Donna Newman is a dedicated professional known for her unwavering commitment to leadership, resilience, and community engagement. She brings a thoughtful, people-centered approach to every space she serves. Donna was born in Honolulu, Hawaii where her father served in the military. She attended Shepherd University and obtained a BS in Social Sciences, attended West Virginia University and graduated with a Masters in Communication Studies and Healthcare Administration, and earned her Doctorate in Executive Leadership through the University of Charleston (WV). A lifelong learner, she continues to expand her expertise in the disciplines of education and resilience building.

She is passionate about empowering others to recognize their value, build confidence, and navigate challenges with strength and clarity. Dr. Newman is especially inspired by the dedication young women demonstrate as they pursue their passion and enthusiastic about helping empower women to adapt, grow, and thrive at every level of society.  
She is no stranger to the Miss America Opportunity. She is the State Director for Miss West Virginia's Teen. Her involvement spans over 35 years during which she was a contestant, a preliminary Talent winner, first runner-up to Miss West Virginia, a local executive director, executive producer, state board member, and has judged several Miss America state competitions, including New Hampshire and North Carolina.
Dr. Newman is a mentor, speaker, author, and entrepreneur. She has been recognized for her excellence and service with the Trailblazer Award and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring her commitment to the betterment of the nation.
She is deeply grateful for the groundwork, experiences, and opportunities her parents provided as a pathway to success and servant leadership. She loves the Lord, enjoys traveling, and treasures time with her family and her grandchildren, Malakai and Teagan.

Dr. Angela Falter Thomas, from Tiffin, Ohio, spent 20 years as a public-school English teacher before earning her PhD at The Ohio State University. She has been a professor at Bowling Green State University in Ohio for the past 16 years.

A former Miss Ohio contestant, Angela competed as Miss North Coast, Miss Youngstown, and Miss Three Rivers. Her winnings in the Miss Ohio Scholarship program fully funded her master’s degree from Heidelberg University. She has since judged and emceed various pageants at the local and state levels for the Miss Ohio and Miss Ohio Volunteer systems as well as serving as Judge’s Chairperson each year for the Miss Maple City pageant.

Angela has 12 years of dance training. She was a member of the Bowling Green State University dance team.  She also trained with 12 years of baton twirling and seven years of piano lessons.  She served as a high school cheerleading coach for 14 years.

Dr. Falter Thomas has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles, presented at more than 45 national and international conferences, and secured six state and federal grants totaling $1.2 million dollars. She has been recognized with multiple teaching awards at BGSU, where the student lounge in the Education Building bears her name in tribute to her work with students.  Angela is twice certified a National Board Certified Teacher.

A two-time U.S. State Department Fulbright Scholar Award winner, Angela spent a year living and teaching in the Czech Republic in 2018-19 and returned again this spring to serve at a different university in Czechia.  She has also taught at BGSU’s sister universities in both China and England.

Angela enjoys cycling, reading, RVing, the visual and performing arts, and traveling -- having visited all 50 states and 61 countries. She is married to her high-school sweetheart, Shayne Thomas, and they have two children.

Mindee Jo Zimmerman Purchase, Miss Nebraska 1987, is a Nebraska native from Norfolk. Highlights from her year as Miss Nebraska include traveling to schools around the state and singing the National Anthem for the opening game of the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ 1987-88 season, a Kansas City Royals baseball game, and a longer version, extended and arranged by Claire Cloninger and David Clydesdale, for President Ronald Reagan on his visit to Nebraska…102 degrees, outside rodeo arena, 12,000 people! A great day! Mindee graduated with honors from Texas Christian University with a degree in vocal performance. Her performance opportunities have included the Dallas Opera, Veteran’s Day events, and many church programs and community events. She had the honor of portraying Mary, the mother of Jesus in the Greater Fort Worth Christmas Pageant for five years. She is blessed with two wonderful daughters, Johnna Leigh and Jaynee Lynn. Recent volunteer opportunities include the NRH Animal Services and Shelter and the North Ridge Elementary School library. Mindee’s pets, Phoebe (Johnna’s dog), and cats Coraline, Tigger, Duna and Freya bring joy. 

“I am grateful to the Miss Nebraska Pageant and the Miss America Pageant for the scholarships received. Traveling my home state and meeting with the wonderful people of Nebraska is a treasured memory!”

Victoria began dancing at the age of 2. She spent 17 years training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre and styles. Victoria spent 10 years competing in her studio’s dance company.  During high school, she was also a member of her studio’s professional performing company which performed at various events around the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. She has attended dance conventions to train with other choreographers and has won numerous scholarships and awards. Victoria has been teaching ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical for the past 10 years. Victoria is a former four year veteran of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) and a four year member of the DCC traveling show group. She was featured on Netflix’s “America’s Sweethearts,” a documentary about the DCC as well as CMT’s “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team”.  While she was a DCC, she was a trainee at the  Joffrey Ballet School in Texas. Victoria recently moved to New York City to continue dance training.  She started her own business, Victoria Kalina Dance, and teaches pom and dance technique privates, dance classes and masterclasses all over the US.

Keith Williams has been a volunteer with the Miss America Organization for the past 47 years.  He has served as the local director for several local competitions. Served the state organization as a member of the Board of Directors, Secretary, Treasurer, Regional Director, state judges chairman and is currently the Chairman of the Board and the State Executive Director.

He was named to the Miss Florida Organization Hall of Fame and recognized as a Volunteer of the Year. He has many years of experience judging pageants on the local and state level for various organizations. 

Keith also serves as the Chairman of the Board for The Sunshine State Scholarship Foundation where they award upwards to $100,000 in scholarships each year.

A graduate of Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, Georgia, Keith is a Florida Licensed Funeral Director, a Florida Licensed Real Estate Sales Executive selling residential and land real estate throughout central Florida. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for numerous local organizations and enjoys volunteering his time for a worthy cause.

Keith resides in Lakeland, FL.