On June 28, the Miss Maine Scholarship Program hosted the 2025 Miss Maine and Miss Maine Teen Competitions at the Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center at Edward Little High School. The winners were Miss Maine 2025 Paige Lessard (Biddeford, Miss York County) and Miss Maine Teen 2025 Alana LaCourse (East Boothbay, Miss Boothbay’s Teen). The titleholders will now represent Maine at community events and competitions on the national stage.

"I am so grateful to be named Miss Maine's Teen. It was an honor to share the stage with the other amazing participants. I am looking forward to fundraising for the American Heart Association and to participate in national competition in September. I want to thank all of my friends and family and supporters who have been part of this journey and we're all in this together and I am excited for what is ahead," said Alana LaCourse.

LaCourse, from East Boothbay, is an alpine skier at Gould Academy. In addition to being a ski racer, she is a dancer and model. She enjoys the arts, including dancing and playing the ukulele.

At age 15, LaCourse is passionate about helping the less fortunate and being a good role model for children. She has formed her own nonprofit called GIVE O.N.E., which helps raise funds to help aspiring ski racers in the Maine Junior Ski League acquire equipment needed for their upcoming alpine racing season. 

Lessard, from Biddeford, won the Miss Maine Competition.

While participating in the Miss Maine Competition, young women gain skills in public speaking, interviewing, resume and essay writing, and making an impact in their communities. Women who compete in the Miss and Teen competitions have gone on to become professional musicians and Hollywood actresses, as well as doctors, lawyers, firefighters, nurses and leaders in business and service communities in Maine and around the world.

LaCourse and Lessard will now be eligible to compete in the Miss America/Miss America’s Teen 2025 competition from Sept. 2–7, 2025 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida. The competition has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships to young women since 1921.

As part of the opportunity, LaCourse will need to raise money for the American Heart Association and additional competition expenses. She plans to connect with local businesses and secure sponsors who will support her fundraising goal and aspirations to compete in September. To donate to her efforts, visit www.bit.ly/alana-fundraising.

Miss America and Miss America's Teen National Scholarships are awarded by a separate non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the Miss America's Scholarship Foundation Inc. This collaboration provides funds for national awards, and in addition, both Miss America's/Miss America's Teen State Scholarships and the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement. The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women is Miss America's Scholarship Foundation's national health thought leader. All above mentioned entities are 501(c)(3) organizations and all donations to this campaign are fully tax-deductible per IRS regulations.

The Miss Maine Scholarship Program is led by Lindsey Gervais, a former Miss Maine runner-up ('08 & '09) and Juliana Strout, Miss Rhode Island 2009 and Miss America Talent Finalist.