Ellen Bryan is an American television personality and beauty pageant 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.[citation needed] In March 2016, she left KXAS-TV and moved to Washington, D.C., where she began working for WUSA 9.

Ellen Bryan
Born1988 or 1989 (age 35–36)
Celina, Ohio, United States
EducationBall State University
SpouseReese Waters
Children1
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss Lake Festival 2008[1]
Miss Miami Valley 2010[2]
Miss Clayland 2011[3]
Miss Ohio 2011[4]
Major
competition(s)
Miss America 2012[5]

Pageant career

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Bryan began competing in pageants while a sophomore at Ball State University on the advice of one of her professors.[2] In July 2008, Bryan won the Miss Lake Festival title[1][6][7] then, in June 2009, competed in the 2009 Miss Ohio pageant.[8] She was named fourth runner-up to winner Erica Gelhaus.[2] In 2010, Bryan won the Miss Miami Valley title then, in June 2010, competed in the 2010 Miss Ohio pageant.[3] She was named third runner-up to winner Becky Minger.[2]

In October 2010, Bryan was crowned Miss Clayland 2011 which made her eligible to compete at the 2011 Miss Ohio pageant.[3][9] 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 film The Lion King.[3] Her platform was promoting lightning awareness: “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors”.[7][10] Bryan took up lightning awareness as a cause after lightning struck and seriously injured her older sister, Christina, on a golf course.[11]

Bryan won the competition on Saturday, June 18, 2011, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss Ohio titleholder Becky Minger.[7][11] She earned more than $10,000 in scholarship money from the state pageant and more than $25,000 over her pageant career.[11] As Miss Ohio, her activities included public appearances across the state of Ohio.[2] 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".[6]

Bryan was Ohio's representative at the Miss America 2012 pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January 2012.[5] 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.[10][12] Her reign as Miss Ohio continued until Elissa McCracken was crowned on June 23, 2012.[13][14]

Personal life and education

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Bryan is a native of Celina, Ohio, and graduated from Celina High School in 2007.[1][11][15] Her parents are Kent and Virginia Bryan.[11] 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.[16]

Bryan began her broadcasting career in 2008 as a news writer and on-air personality at WCSM/WCSM-FM in Celina, Ohio.[12] In 2010, she joined WLIO-TV in Lima, Ohio, as an intern then reporter and editor. In June 2012, after her reign as Miss Ohio, she joined WTVQ-TV in Lexington, Kentucky, as a news anchor and reporter.[14] In May 2014, Bryan began working at KXAS-TV in Dallas–Fort Worth as a reporter.[17] In March 2016, she relocated to Washington, D.C., and began working as a reporter for WUSA 9.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Lawrence, Betty (July 22, 2008). "Wearing the Celina Lake Festival crown". The Daily Standard. Celina, OH. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e "An Interview With Miss Ohio 2011 – Ellen Bryan". Winning Through Pageantry. February 21, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Wright, Joe (June 20, 2011). "Miss Clayland, Ellen Bryan, crowned Miss Ohio". The Times-Reporter. New Philadelphia, OH. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  4. ^ "Former Miss Ohios". Miss Ohio. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "State Contestants: Ohio - 2011". Miss America. Archived from the original on September 25, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  6. ^ a b "S.R. No. 106 - Honoring Ellen Bryan on being selected as Miss Ohio 2011". Columbus, OH: 129th Ohio General Assembly. June 28, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "Miss Ohio 2011 Ellen Bryan Is From Celina". Dayton, OH: WHIO-TV. June 19, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  8. ^ "3 local women in contest for crown". The Daily Standard. Celina, OH. June 17, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  9. ^ "Ellen Bryan Crowned Miss Clayland 2011". Miss Clayland Scholarship Organization. October 16, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  10. ^ a b Leach, Robin (January 6, 2012). "2012 Miss America photos: IHOP breakfast, Quality of Life finalists". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c d e Kincaid, William (June 20, 2011). "Ellen Bryan wins title of Miss Ohio; Crown back in Mercer County". The Daily Standard. Celina, OH. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  12. ^ a b Baker, Steve (January 14, 2012). "Miss Ohio not in the top 15 for Miss America". Dayton, OH: WHIO-TV. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  13. ^ Whitmire, Lou (June 24, 2012). "New Miss Ohio crowned; Frankfort's Kristen Free is third runner-up". Chillicothe Gazette. Chillicothe, OH. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  14. ^ a b "Ohio Northern Pharmacy Student wins Miss Ohio". Lima, OH: WLIO-TV. Associated Press. June 24, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  15. ^ Southard, Janie (April 19, 2007). "Seussical". The Daily Standard. Celina, OH. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  16. ^ "Ellen Bryan on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-04-27.[user-generated source]
  17. ^ Knox, Merrill (May 12, 2014). "Ellen Bryan Joins KXAS From WTVQ". TVSpy. Mecklermedia. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  18. ^ "Ellen Bryan". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Becky Minger
Miss Ohio
2011
Succeeded by
Elissa McCracken