Alpha Kappa Alpha Soror MonaLesa Brackett Makes History as First Hijabi State Titleholder to Compete at Miss USA

In a historic moment for both the pageant world and Black greekdom, MonaLesa Brackett, a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., broke barriers as the first-ever Hijabi state titleholder to compete on the Miss USA stage. Representing New Hampshire, Brackett competed on October 24, 2025, and secured a spot in the Top 16, making a bold and beautiful statement in every sense of the word.

A graduate of Morgan State University, where she was initiated into the Alpha Delta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Brackett is now active in Delta Rho Omega Chapter in Brooklyn. Her journey reflects the very essence of what it means to serve, lead, and uplift on her own terms.

At 36, MonaLesa is not just a beauty queen. She is an entrepreneur, educator, community advocate, and founder of The Real Estate Fairy, a platform dedicated to helping housing voucher holders and unhoused individuals secure stable housing. Her return to the pageant world comes after a decade-long hiatus, made possible by the Miss USA organization’s recent decision to lift its age cap.

Originally competing as Miss New York USA 2025, Brackett made waves in August when she placed as Second Runner-Up, becoming the first Hijabi contestant to ever break the top five in the state’s history. While many thought her pageant journey had ended there, fate had other plans.

When Miss USA opened applications for unfilled state titles, including New Hampshire, Brackett took a leap of faith and was crowned Miss New Hampshire USA 2025.

“When I came short of the title at New York USA, I was proud to have made history and began strategizing for next year’s competition,” she said. “Seeing the open submissions was a sign that my journey wasn’t meant to end yet. God was saving me for a bigger blessing.”

Brackett competed in full modest attire throughout the competition, including a hijab and burkini during the swimwear segment, challenging narrow definitions of beauty, confidence, and womanhood on one of the world’s most visible stages.

Her presence was not just symbolic. It was historic. And it sent a powerful message to girls and women everywhere: you do not have to shrink, shift, or compromise your identity to take up space.

Brackett’s impact extends far beyond the crown. As a Muslim, a Black woman, an HBCU grad, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she continues to redefine representation, showing that excellence comes in every form, faith, and fabric.