Congratulations Ashley!

Miss Virginia United States Ashley Smith was recently crowned MISS UNITED STATES 2011 in Las Vegas. The 23-year-old Virginia native is only the second African-American to hold the national title.

As a junior at Oscar Smith High in Chesapeake, Smith competed in the school pageant, taking first-runner-up. The following year, she won the title and a month later won Miss Virginia Beach. She has also won Miss Virginia Peanut, Miss Norfolk, Miss Chesapeake, and Miss Hampton Roads.

Ashley will travel across the country for a year, promoting the Miss United States Organization and her personal platform of breast cancer awareness.