Breaking Barriers: Helyna Park Crowned First Lebanese American Miss Ohio Teen USA
At just 17 years old, Helyna Park, a senior at Padua Franciscan High School, has become the first Lebanese American to hold the Miss Ohio Teen USA crown. More than a titleholder, she is a role model and leader, representing both her community and her culture on the national stage.
Park’s journey began at the age of 10, when she first stepped into scholarship pageants. By 2024, she was crowned Teen Universe USA and represented the United States in the Dominican Republic, placing in the Top 5 worldwide.
Through every accomplishment, she has stayed grounded in the values instilled by her family: service, compassion, and pride in her Lebanese heritage.
Her mother, a police officer in Moreland Hills, has always encouraged her to celebrate culture and identity, reminding her that America’s strength lies in its diversity.
And her parents’ shared careers in law enforcement shaped Park’s sense of duty to serve others. That calling now fuels her advocacy for domestic violence awareness, inspired by her mother’s nonprofit, Fight like a Girl.
Her community has noticed. The City of Seven Hills recently recognized Park with a mayoral proclamation, honoring her as a leader who uplifts her hometown while carrying the state’s banner to national recognition.
Though her dreams include attending the U.S. Naval Academy and one day becoming a pilot, Park is focused on the immediate challenge ahead: competing at Miss Teen USA this October, where another groundbreaking win could await.
Helyna Park’s story is a reminder that every child has the right to participate in culture, in community, and in shaping the spaces where their voices and talents can shine.
