With Pageantry and Purpose, This PsyD Student Inspires Mental Wellness
Earning a clinical psychology degree was never on Isabelle Nicholas’ radar. Neither was being in the running for Miss America.
As the newly crowned Miss New Jersey 2025, Nicholas is using her doctoral experience in Widener’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology and new platform to advance mental health awareness and support -- amplifying her voice, and others.
“I get the opportunity to be a role model for other people who have had mental health challenges and are looking for hope,” said Nicholas. “I get to be that hope.”
The unconventional path to inspiring hope for others as a mental health advocate and future psychologist began in high school for Nicholas.
“When I was 17 years old I went through a very challenging time. I had a lot of anxiety and along with that came depression and then eventually suicidal thoughts, and I struggled with those thoughts in silence for a significant amount of time,” said Nicholas.
With family by her side, Nicholas was able to get the support she needed, although gaining access to appropriate resources was not something that was immediately clear for her or her parents. Inspired to help others in similar scenarios, Nicholas enrolled in Widener’s doctoral program, the longest-running clinical psychology program in the country.
Facing financial and experiential gaps required for graduate school, Nicholas entered her first pageant in 2021. To her surprise, Nicholas won her first competition and uncovered a pathway to her career and passion.
“It's changed my life. It's given me, of course, the scholarship money that I needed for school,” Nicholas said, referring to the $40,000 she has earned in competition scholarships.
“But it's helped me to find my voice and it's given me the confidence to step outside of my comfort zone and to make connections with people,” Nicholas added.
That same year, Nicholas founded Shout Our Struggle, an initiative to support individuals navigating mental health challenges. From podcasting and legislative advocacy to school presentations and community engagement across the Garden State, Nicholas’ multifaceted initiative removes stigma around mental health through storytelling, advocacy, and fundraising.
“When I started competing in Miss America I realized that I could use this story for good and use it to create hope for people and for families,” said Nicholas. “My mission the whole time has been that families like mine don't have to be in the dark about the steps that they can take to recover and to heal.”
According to Nicholas, a rising third year graduate student, her student experience sharpens her advocacy through evidence-based practice.
“Having an education in clinical psychology has shifted the way that I'm able to make an impact and has given me the tools to correct a lot of the misinformation that's out there for our mental health and about therapy.”
Now, after all of her hard work and success, Nicholas doubles down on her commitment to be a force for good, spreading medically accurate and accessible information for those in need both in New Jersey and beyond.
“I'm not just an ambassador for Miss America. I feel like I've been ambassador for the field and I take that very seriously,” said Nicholas.
Nicholas will take the national stage at the Miss America competition in Orlando, Florida in September. Amid the excitement and preparation, she remains focused on her initiative and the mission that has guided her from the start.
“If my work helps one person, one family, then that means that I've done my job,” said Nicholas.
