Miss UAB 2025 Melissa Mercer and Miss UAB 2024 Lacey JohnsonMelissa Mercer is the new Miss University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Twelve students competed for the title in the Miss UAB 2025 Scholarship Pageant on Saturday, Nov. 9, in the Hill Student Center Ballrooms. The scholarship pageant is an official preliminary to the Miss Alabama and Miss America competitions and is presented by Student Involvement and Leadership.
Mercer, 21, of Spanish Fort, Alabama, also won the Miss Congeniality and Talent awards, winning $2,600 in scholarships.
Mercer is a senior majoring in bioinformatics with minors in computer science and biology, in the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program in data science. She is in the UAB Honors College’s Science and Technology Honors Program and won the STH Student Success Award. Winner of Presidential Honors at UAB, Mercer is on the dean’s list, placed as a winner in the UAB Undergraduate Research Expo and won a UAB Summer Research Academy Scholarship. Her talent is self-defense training and awareness. Mercer is a member of Delta Gamma sorority. Her parents are Melinda Mercer and David Mercer.
Sophomore Emily Boles, 19, of Woodstock, Alabama, was named first runner-up and won a $1,000 scholarship. Her major is elementary education, and she is a member of Kappa Delta sorority, the Vietnamese Student Association and Pakistani Student Association. Her parents are Kim and Lester Boles.
Senior Chloe Carter, 22, of Cullman, Alabama, was named the second runner-up and won an $800 scholarship. Her major is communication studies with a concentration in public relations and a minor in marketing. Carter is a member of Kappa Delta sorority and is in the Undergraduate Student Government Association. Her parents are Gillian and Robert Carter.
Sophomore Jadyn Moreno, 20, of Mount Olive, Alabama, was named third runner-up and won the Spirit Award, winning $700 in scholarships. Her major is neuroscience and minor is chemistry; she is in the UAB Honors College Personalized Path. Moreno is a member of the Blazerette dance line and UAB Teach and was on the president’s list. Her parents are Chris and Julie Moreno.
Junior Emily Marbut, 21, of Mount Olive, Alabama, was named the fourth runner-up and won a $500 scholarship. Her major is accounting. She is a member of Beta Alpha Psi Honor Society, has earned Presidential Honors and has been on the dean’s list. Her parents are Gina Lindley and Sean Marbut.
Miss UAB 2025 will receive a gift certificate from Southern Exposure Photography, free workout classes from True40 Fitness Studio, free cuts and coloring from Morgan Ashley Salon, a gift certificate from Glitz & Gowns, and a crown lapel pin from the Dressing Room Moms. EQS Photography, LLC, provided the candidate headshots.