Miss New Hampshire Hopes To Make History For Granite State

Xanthi Russell, Miss New Hampshire 2025, will be competing in the national Miss America competition September 2-7. The ambitious 23-year-old accomplished 4,000+ hours in community service while simultaneously earning her associate degree in NHTI-Concord Community College’s prestigious paralegal program. She graduated with honors just weeks after being crowned.

Since Miss America began in 1921, Miss New Hampshire has never won the competition. Russell hopes to be the first to bring home the crown, gaining recognition for her state and changing society’s views towards young women who value fashion alongside intellect, professional achievements, and volunteerism.

Russell was drawn to the Miss New Hampshire competition because of its purpose as a scholarship program. She has earned $61,000 through the competition and graduated debt-free from NHTI in May. She made it a priority to invest these funds in the best academic opportunities available.

“Community college was a no-brainer,” said Russell, who transferred to NHTI from a traditional four-year college. She found NHTI’s paralegal program offered the best value for her hard-earned scholarship funds. “It was a night and day difference in how I was educated,” she said. “The education is more tailored to your needs. You’re not just a name on a roster in a class of 100 students.” She hopes the Miss America competition can help fund her future plans for a bachelor’s and law degree.

NHTI also accommodated Russell’s intense competition schedule, work responsibilities, and outstanding record of 800+ volunteer hours per year. “If you make volunteering a habit, it will enrich your life,” she said after explaining that these hours accrued organically for her. “Community service is a great social outlet, and great for networking.”

Russell volunteers at local events but primarily gives back to the community by co-advising the Strafford County Youth Leadership Team, a 4-H program that she participated in as a teen. This club fostered her passions for leadership, public speaking, and volunteerism. Now she mentors students to pursue their own unique interests and find meaningful ways to give back to the community.

In preparation for the Miss America competition in early September, Russell is currently working on tap dance choreography for her talent show performance at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando. She has gone the extra mile by recording her own soundtrack for the show. “The gratitude outweighs the nerves,” she said when discussing the upcoming high-pressure environment of the national competition.

Along with preparing for the Miss America events, Russell is continuing her community service work, which she considers to be the “main part of my job as Miss New Hampshire.” She is eager to support local events and initiatives, and can be requested to attend community events at missnh.org/appearance-request-miss. She hopes to serve as a role model for volunteerism and be an active participant in the Granite State community.

About NHTI-Concord’s Community College

NHTI is a dynamic public institution of higher learning that provides accessible, rigorous education for students, businesses, and the community. We create pathways for lifelong learning, career advancement, and civic engagement, offering 80+ academic programs to 4,600+ students annually. NHTI is a member of the Community College System of New Hampshire and since 1969 has been accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, a nongovernmental, nationally recognized accrediting agency.

If you are an alum of NHTI-Concord’s Community College, you are invited to come back to campus to celebrate the college’s 60th anniversary and Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, September 20. Learn more at nhti.edu/alumni.