WORCESTER—Khailah Griffin was crowned Miss Massachusetts 2025 at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester on June 21. The 26-year-old is a graduate of Northeastern University and her Community Service Initiative is Blueprint: Creating Solutions for Unhoused Americans. A field of 22 women from across the state gathered to compete for scholarships, via five phases of competition – private interview, talent, evening wear, fitness wear and on-stage question.
Griffin, who was Miss Cambridge (and previously Miss Worcester County 2024), will go on to compete at the Miss America competition in Orlando, Florida, in September. Griffin was standing with Miss Commonwealth Faith O’Hanlon, as the final two contestants, before O’Hanlon was announced as first runner-up.
“First of all, Faith is an incredible human being. While we were holding each other’s hands, we were both praying and we looked at each other and said, ‘You’re going to be a great Miss Massachusetts.’”
Then came the news the two were waiting for.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” Griffin said. “I was excited. I was thinking about my family and all of my loved ones who came from far and wide to come see me, and all of the preparation it took to get here, and all the people who helped me from my first year as a titleholder until now. It was an incredible feeling. I was overwhelmed with gratitude. In a moment, my life just changed.” She said it may never fully sink in that she’ll be meeting and competing with 51 representatives of other states (including D.C. and Puerto Rico).
“This is crazy. I’m overwhelmed right now, but I know next week there will be photos and meetings and planning, and I’m just excited,” she said.
Griffin said she felt confident going into the weekend (including rehearsals, interviews and the preliminary competition on Friday, but said it was less of a competition and more of a convention for accomplished young women from throughout the Commonwealth.
“I want to highlight how incredible the other girls were,” she said. “Everyone was uplifting and wonderful. I just said ‘go out there and be yourself’ and it worked in my favor. I wanted to be myself and I’m just happy that the board and judges took a chance on me and crowned me Miss Massachusetts.” Helping homeless people is a cause Griffin has been working for, and has already made an impact.
“One of my goals was to raise thousands of dollars for an organization I work with – Horizons for Homeless Children. They do a wonderful job. What they do is truly life-changing for so many people,” Griffin said, adding that she’s planning to raise her goal from $5,000 to $20,000 for the cause.
She is also hoping to create a Miss Massachusetts Empowerment day for children, which would consist of going to schools – virtually or in-person – to talk about how to empower youth.
Besides doing well at the Miss America competition and helping the homeless, a main goal is to be involved with organizations and communities across Massachusetts.
“I want to leave a great legacy of kindness,” she said.
On Sunday, June 22, Shrewsbury’s Ava Dooley, 17, won the title of Miss Massachusetts’ Teen 2025, besting a field of 16 other contestants. She is a 2025 graduate of Shrewsbury High School and her Community Service Initiative is Choreograph Your Future Helping the Next Generation Find Their Path.
Dooley performed a contemporary dance to Con te partirò, which happened to be the wedding song of her parents, Rocio and David Dooley.
Local representatives Miss Worcester County Josette Huang and Miss Blackstone Valley Hunter Schulz placed as 3rd Runner up and 4th Runner-up, respectively.
For more information, visit www.missmass.org.
Steve Smith, a veteran reporter with 17 years at The Hartford Courant, now brings his passion for photojournalism to Worcester. An award-winning photographer, he has covered major events like U.S. soccer, pro football, and UConn basketball. He is also the official photographer for the Miss Massachusetts competition and works as a realtor. Contact him at steve@stevephotographysmith.com
