Top 15 2019, Top 15 2016
A native of Zachary, Mariah Clayton was crowned Miss Louisiana USA on 19 October 2019 and represented Louisiana at the Miss USA 2020 pageant in Memphis, Tennessee. She has a psychology degree and hosts her own podcast, “Girls IRL”.
Miss Louisiana USA 2020 Mariah Clayton is a graduate student at Southeastern Louisiana University where she is majoring in psychology. The 23-year old Zachary native was top of her psychology class in her undergraduate work at Southern University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She hopes to combine her two passions of psychology and athletics to become a licensed school counselor as well as a high school volleyball coach.
A gifted volleyball player, Mariah was a walk-on player at SU but quickly established herself as a force as defensive player. She earned a full scholarship for her abilities and ultimately became team captain for SU’s Division I volleyball team. She was also named Athlete of the Year for her university. She currently serves as a volleyball coach for middle school girls, teaching them not just the fundamentals of basketball, but about life.
The second oldest of eight children, Mariah enjoys working with young women to encourage them to believe in themselves. She also has her own YouTube channel that focuses on empowering young women to be their best selves and embrace their natural beauty.
When she is not studying or playing ball, Mariah enjoys modeling and fashion, as well as learning new hair and makeup techniques. She loves spending time with her siblings, who she describes as her biggest cheerleaders.
Mariah hopes to use her year as Miss Louisiana USA to grow her platform of encouraging others as well as promoting the importance of mental health.
The on-stage moments, the tension of the final two and the glory of the crowning, here are Mariah’s state pageant photos.
Lights, camera, action! Professional photoshoots are one of the perks that comes from winning a title.
Mariah made the Miss Louisiana USA Top 15 in 2016 and 2019.
All beautiful things must come to an end, no matter how bittersweet. See Mariah’s farewell walk and other candids from the weekend she crowned her successor Tanya Crowe as Miss Louisiana USA 2021.
Winning a state title is a sisterhood for life. Here are Mariah’s “after the crown” photos.
