MISS MAINE USA 2015 HEATHER ELWELL, celebrates her crowning achievement with sister queen, Skyler Gaudette, who was crowned Miss Maine Teen USA on Nov. 30.

Heather Elwell of West Bath beat out 22 other contestants to earn the title Miss Maine USA 2015.

The competition took place at the Sable Oaks Marriott Resort in Portland Nov. 30. The delegates competed in runway, a choreographed evening competition; fitness/ swimsuit, a high fashion style competition showcasing physical fitness and health; and an interview. The three segments were judged on a scale of 1 to 10 and averaged to get an overall score to determine the finalists. Eventually the field was narrowed down to the top five before the crowning of Elwell.

Also crowned that night was Skyler Gaudette of Saco, as Miss Maine Teen USA. The state title-holders will receive a prize package worth more than $100,000, including cash, college scholarships, wardrobe, travel opportunities and more.

Elwell had placed first runner up at Miss Maine USA for the past three years and said the real work for her began last year after placing runner up a third time.

“I told myself after the competition that I was going to live my life parallel to that of a Miss Maine USA and do everything I could in order to prep for last weekend’s competition,” Elwell said.

Winning the title now allows her to inspire others with her story, which shows the importance of hard work, attitude and that “you should never give up on a dream.”

Now, Elwell plans to work with many charities throughout Maine while she prepares to represent her state in the Miss USA pageant in 2015. Already she was scheduled to appear in The Nite Show in Bangor on Dec. 20. One of her favorite charities she will work with is STRIVE.

“While there are scholarships and numerous prizes awarded for winning your state title,” Elwell said, “the best thing that I have gained is who I am as a person.

“I’ve learned to network and cultivate personal and business-related relationships; I’m confident, live a healthy lifestyle, and want to be an advocate for those who are too afraid to step out on faith and follow their dreams,” she added. “Anything is possible and you should never give up on yourself.”

Elwell, 26, also attributes her success in the workplace to her 10-year involvement with the Miss Universe Organization. She works as an integrated sales representative at the Maine magazine, Down East, in Portland.

Able to play seven musical instruments, Elwell received a scholarship and was chosen as one of seven flautists to attend Florida State University’s College of Music. There she was a member of the Big 8 Drumline and performed at every football game during her collegiate career, according to her Miss Maine pageant biography. She has performed at Convent Garden in London and on the Great Wall of China with legendary jazz musician Bill Prince.

Growing up near the water, Elwell spent summers on the boat with her family, giving her an appreciation for the outdoors. One of her hobbies is fishing and she has hiked most of the mountains in Maine. This coming summer, when she hikes Mt. Katahdin, the state’s tallest mountain, she will count the time as training for the swimsuit competition as she strives towards her dream of becoming Miss USA 2015 and, ultimately, Miss Universe.

dmoore@timesrecord.com