Washington

Kelsey Schmidt received a B.A. in biology from Scripps College and is currently a pre-doctoral fellow at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) and the University of Washington. Her research focuses on investigating the relationship between lifestyle factors and chronic disease. Having been teased for being "chubby" growing up, Kelsey is passionate about helping young women embrace a healthy body image and lifestyle. As Kelsey navigates her own health journey, she's chosen to help young women regain their confidence by learning to take care of themselves from the inside out. When Kelsey walks onto the Miss USA stage, she wants everyone to see an example of being physically fit by living a life that embraces long-term health-conscious decisions. Kelsey has been an avid supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation for over 14 years. She loves the trapeze and enjoys checking things off her bucket list. The most recent item checked off the list is diving with the sharks at the Zoo.