By: Jenny Castro
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 5/18/26
Born in Kuwait, Maria Derisavi has broken barriers as the first Iranian American woman to represent Miss Maryland in the Miss America organization. At the age of nine, Derisavi moved to the United States and since has been able to overcome adversity while championing her passion for education, leadership, and advocacy by sharing her life experiences to students across Maryland. By sharing her personal journey and educational experiences, she has been able to inspire other young adults and students to pursue their goals. Reflecting upon her move and early life experience, Derisavi shares her thoughts, “When I moved to the U.S. and settled in Maryland, I think that experience has really shaped every element of my journey,” she said. Adding, “ And I’m so grateful to have had that international experience coming from my Iranian American background, because it’s really given me gratitude to be where I am, especially to be specifically in this country. I think that this sentiment has translated into many different facets of my life, particularly in my career and in pageantry.”
Eventually attending college, Derisavi studied at the University of Alabama and received her BA in International Studies with a minor in Chinese as well as a Master of Public Administration.
Pertaining to pageantry, she won the Miss Maryland Teen USA competition in 2021 and eventually the title of Miss Maryland with the Miss America Organization a year ago, becoming the first Iranian-American woman to hold the title. Speaking more on her pageant experience and advocacy platform Derisavi elaborates, “I fell in love with this entire industry and this experience of being a title holder and being able to serve,” she said. Adding, ” In 2021, when I won Miss Maryland Teen USA, that’s when I began my platform of “Seize Your Opportunities,” and began going to schools. I really saw a need for empowerment of low-income students and coming from a lower-income background myself, I wished that I had some guidance when facing challenges in school. So I talk to students about goal setting, resilience, and confidence amidst adversity. At the time, I also began to reach out to educators in Maryland to create the curriculum that I use to this day. So, it served as a really great launch pad for everything that I’m doing today as Miss Maryland,” Derisavi said.
With the Miss America Organization being widely recognized for its scholarship programs, titleholders are given opportunities that extend far beyond the stage as the scholarships awarded help them further their education and pursue college degrees. For many contestants, the organization serves as a platform for personal and professional growth, allowing them to develop leadership skills, advocate for causes they are passionate about, and build careers in fields such as law, medicine, education, public service, and a wide variety of other industries and fields. For Derisavi, she worked as a litigation paralegal and recently transitioned into a role at the Department of Justice with plans on attending law school to become an international human rights attorney. “I feel very passionate about advocating for the rights of women worldwide. I’ve seen firsthand the disparities in opportunities for women and for many others, and I’ve always been committed to serving underserved communities and advocating for those who may not have the ability to do so for themselves,” she added.
Regarding her heritage and socioeconomic background, Derisavi is thankful for the opportunities the United States has given her as she further shares, “Going to college is something I’m incredibly grateful for, because growing up I never knew if it would truly be possible for me. Coming from a lower-income background, higher education often felt uncertain. In addition, being raised in a very conservative environment in the Middle East, I wasn’t always sure whether pursuing that path would even be an option for me. Attending college has made me deeply appreciative of every educational opportunity I’ve received, and a representation of what the American dream meant to me.”
Familiar with pageantry at a young age, Derisavi became inspired by the industry due to the empowerment of women and representation. “I grew up watching Miss America before I even moved to this country, “ she said. Adding, “And I saw these women who were so confident and they were able to choose what they wanted to wear, and speak about causes they were passionate about and champion causes that matter to them. Those were things I never truly believed would be possible for me, but when I watched these women, I saw the embodiment of the American Dream and remember thinking, ‘I want to be like her.’ So, being able to one day stand on that stage myself was an incredibly significant experience more than anything, and it left me with a deep sense of gratitude and it wasn’t just about me. It was about the women who came before me who could have never dreamed about being on such a stage. For me, the Miss America organization represents opportunity, empowerment, and the promise of education, especially through its strong emphasis on scholarships. I also really appreciate what Robin Fleming, the new CEO of Miss America, has done for the organization as she has made it contemporary and has elevated the brand with incredible appearances and meaningful service partnerships.”
Regarding the U.S./Iran tensions at the moment, Derisavi shares a unique and personal reflection on her culture and heritage, “I’ve felt incredibly embraced by the Iranian American community here in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and throughout this region. One of the most meaningful parts of that experience has been hearing so many different Iranian-American perspectives and voices, especially regarding what is happening geopolitically right now,” Derisavi explained.
Also participating in engagement with various organizations, Derisavi has been able to help support community engagement within her cultural background as she further explains, “I’ve had the opportunity to engage with a variety of organizations centered around the Iranian and Iranian American experience. That includes community associations as well as organizations that support democracy in Iran. Through those conversations, I’ve learned that there are many different perspectives on these issues. I think the most important thing is to truly listen to Iranian Americans and Iranians in general. There is so much that exists beyond the headlines, and there is often room for misunderstanding or misrepresentation. I encourage people to reach out to Iranian Americans in their own communities, listen to their experiences, and take their perspectives seriously.”
Reflecting on this last year and her experience in the Miss America organization, Derisavi looks back with fond memories and is excited for what’s to come, “I’m really excited by the work that the Miss America team is doing now as they’re reinvigorating the program, and they truly made it such a great experience for us girls competing. Robin Fleming has ensured that, regardless of if we win, lose, place, don’t place, you walk away from Miss America with something, I know she worked to ensure that every girl left with a $3,000 scholarship, and it’s so much more than that. We learn networking skills, public speech, and take away so much from the organization beyond just materialistic things or prizes. It’s really an organization that builds one’s life skills, and my main takeaway beyond it being the effectuation of my American dream.”
Follow Miss Maryland on Instagram here.
Miss America: https://missamerica.org/
