Top 10 2015, 2nd runner-up Miss Louisiana Teen USA 2013, 2nd runner-up 2012, 4th runner-up 2011
A native of Lake Charles, Maaliyah Papillion was crowned Miss Louisiana USA on 24 October 2015 and represented Louisiana at the Miss USA 2016 pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A native of Lake Charles, Miss Louisiana USA 2016 Maaliyah Papillion is a 21-year-old a junior at McNeese State University. Maaliyah is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Biology and plans to pursue a PhD in Psychology and eventually open her own practice.
Maaliyah says her goal in life is to help others and in addition to doing that professionally, she strives to achieve that personally through charity work. She is a board member of the Southwest Louisiana International Club, an organization which specializes in helping new citizens who have migrated to the area get acclimated with their new surroundings. The International Club helps new citizens find jobs, housing and even handles the paperwork for work and resident visas, permits and passports.
She is also passionate about the issue of safe and responsible driving, having lost both a close friend as well as a family member to drunk drivers. During her reign as Miss Louisiana USA, she plans to partner with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), while working with other charities.
An avid travel, Maaliyah enjoys visiting exotic locales. She counts herself as both an environmental enthusiast and a yogi. One of her best friends is her 3 year-old Akita named Duke.
The on-stage moments, the tension of the final two and the glory of the crowning, here are Maaliyah’s state pageant photos.
Lights, camera, action! Professional photoshoots are one of the perks that comes from winning a title.
There’s nothing better than watching a contestant progress from year to year! Here’s a look back at Maaliyah’s previous pageant photos.
All beautiful things must come to an end, no matter how bittersweet. See Maaliyah’s farewell walk and other candids from the weekend she crowned her successor Bethany Trahan as Miss Louisiana USA 2017.
Winning a state title is a sisterhood for life. Here are Maaliyah’s “after the crown” photos.