Ellen Bryan is an American television personality and
beauty pageant
A beauty pageant is a competition in which the contestants are judged and ranked based on various physical and mental attributes. Per its name, beauty pageants traditionally focus on judging the contestants' physical attractiveness, sometimes sol ...
titleholder from
Celina, Ohio. She was crowned
Miss Ohio 2011 and competed for the
Miss America 2012 title. She worked as a reporter for
KXAS-TV in the
Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex
The Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, officially designated Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, is the most populous metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States, ...
. In March 2016, she left KXAS-TV and moved to Washington, D.C., where she began working for
WUSA 9.
Pageant career
Bryan began competing in pageants while a sophomore at
Ball State University on the advice of one of her professors.
In July 2008, Bryan won the Miss Lake Festival title
then, in June 2009, competed in the 2009 Miss Ohio pageant.
She was named fourth runner-up to winner
Erica Gelhaus.
In 2010, Bryan won the Miss Miami Valley title then, in June 2010, competed in the 2010 Miss Ohio pageant.
She was named third runner-up to winner Becky Minger.
In October 2010, Bryan was crowned Miss Clayland 2011 which made her eligible to compete at the 2011 Miss Ohio pageant.
Entering the state pageant in June 2011 as one of 26 finalists, Bryan's preliminary competition talent for Miss Ohio was singing "
Circle of Life" from the
Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...
film ''
The Lion King''.
Her platform was promoting lightning awareness: “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors”.
Bryan took up lightning awareness as a cause after lightning struck and seriously injured her older sister, Christina, on a golf course.
Bryan won the competition on Saturday, June 18, 2011, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss Ohio titleholder Becky Minger.
She earned more than $10,000 in scholarship money from the state pageant and more than $25,000 over her pageant career.
As Miss Ohio, her activities included public appearances across the state of Ohio.
On June 28, 2011, Bryan was honored by the 129th
Ohio General Assembly with Senate Resolution 106 which, in part, resolved to "applaud Ellen Bryan on being named Miss Ohio 2011 and salute her as a fine Ohioan".
Bryan was Ohio's representative at the
Miss America 2012 pageant in
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
, in January 2012.
Bryan's preliminary competition talent for Miss Ohio was singing "On My Way" from the musical ''
Violet''. She was named a Quality of Life Award Finalist but was not among the top 15 semi-finalists for the national title.
Her reign as Miss Ohio continued until Elissa McCracken was crowned on June 23, 2012.
Personal life and education
Bryan is a native of
Celina, Ohio, and graduated from
Celina High School in 2007.
Her parents are Kent and Virginia Bryan.
She graduated ''
cum laude'' from
Ball State University in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications. She has been married to comedian and fellow WUSA broadcaster
Reese Waters since September 27, 2020. On August 29, 2021, she gave birth to a daughter.
Bryan began her broadcasting career in 2008 as a news writer and on-air personality at
WCSM/
WCSM-FM in
Celina, Ohio.
In 2010, she joined
WLIO-TV
WLIO (channel 8) is a television station in Lima, Ohio, United States, affiliated with NBC and Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox. It is owned by Block Communications alongside WOHL-CD (channel 35), which broadcasts American Broadcasting Company, ABC ...
in
Lima, Ohio
Lima ( ) is a city in Allen County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 35,579. It is located in northwest Ohio along Interstate 75 in Ohio, Interstate 75, appr ...
, as an intern then reporter and editor. In June 2012, after her reign as Miss Ohio, she joined
WTVQ-TV in
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city coterminous with and the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the city's population was 322,570, making it the List of ...
, as a news anchor and reporter.
In May 2014, Bryan began working at
KXAS-TV in
Dallas–Fort Worth as a reporter.
In March 2016, she relocated to Washington, D.C., and began working as a reporter for
WUSA 9.
References
External links
Official website*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bryan, Ellen
1980s births
Living people
American beauty pageant winners
American television reporters and correspondents
Ball State University alumni
Miss America 2012 delegates
People from Celina, Ohio
Women in Ohio
Journalists from Ohio
American women television journalists
Year of birth missing (living people)