By Toni Milbourne
For the Dominion Post
MARTINSBURG — One year ago, Courtney Bearer stood on the stage of the Miss West Virginia competition and heard her name announced as the state’s newest titleholder. On Saturday, a new group of contestants competed for the crown, and Bearer returned to Martinsburg to pass the title to her successor and reflect on a year that took her to every corner of the Mountain State.
For Bearer, the year was about far more than wearing a crown. It became an opportunity to serve as an ambassador for West Virginia, promote heart health and connect with communities from the state’s largest cities to some of its smallest towns.
Crowned Miss West Virginia in June 2025, Bearer immediately set an ambitious goal for herself.
“I hit all 55 counties,” she said.
The accomplishment did not come easily. While fulfilling her duties as Miss West Virginia, Bearer also maintained a full-time job as an account coordinator at Blaine Turner Advertising. Her weekdays were spent working, while weekends were often dedicated to traveling the state.
She structured her schedule around four-day workweeks, using Fridays for school visits and community outreach programs before spending Saturdays and Sundays attending festivals, parades, fundraisers, fairs and special events.
The result was a year unlike any other.
Bearer made more than 225 appearances across West Virginia, logging countless miles on the road and meeting thousands of residents along the way.
A Morgantown native and summa cum laude graduate of West Virginia University and the Community College of Beaver County, Bearer brought a strong focus on service to the role. Before beginning her career in advertising, she taught dance, an experience that helped shape her passion for working with young people and promoting healthy lifestyles.
That passion became the foundation of her community service initiative, Connecting with Cardio.
The program was inspired by her family’s own experience with heart disease, particularly her mother’s heart attack at age 41. Wanting to educate others about prevention and healthy living, Bearer developed programs aimed at encouraging children and families to become more active and aware of cardiovascular health.
Throughout the year, she used a variety of creative approaches to spread that message. Her signature “Hula-Thons” combined fitness and fun while raising money for heart-health causes. She also visited schools around the state, speaking with students about exercise, healthy habits and the importance of caring for their bodies.
While the advocacy work remained at the center of her reign, the opportunity to experience West Virginia’s communities and attractions became one of the most memorable aspects of the year.
Bearer said she made a conscious effort to visit places that previous Miss West Virginia titleholders may not have had the opportunity to see. Those visits allowed her to discover hidden gems throughout the state and meet residents whose pride in their communities left a lasting impression.
One of her favorite memories came during a visit to Hampshire County, where she rode aboard the Potomac Eagle’s Christmas excursion train. The experience, she said, was one of many moments that highlighted the beauty and unique character of West Virginia.
She also embraced another growing tourism trend — visiting the scenic swings that have become popular attractions throughout the state. During her travels, Bearer checked several swings off her list and hopes to eventually visit them all. She is particularly looking forward to seeing the newest swing currently under construction at Poor House Farm in Martinsburg.
For Bearer, one of the greatest rewards of the year was the opportunity to represent a state she deeply loves. Whether speaking to students in a classroom, greeting families at a festival, or promoting local communities through social media, she viewed each appearance as a chance to showcase the people and places that make West Virginia special.
Bearer’s time as titleholder has drawn to a close. While she is excited to see another young woman begin her own journey, she admits it is bittersweet to say goodbye to a role that has shaped the past year.
Looking back, Bearer dubbed the past year as the “most rewarding year of my life.”
Bearer crowned fellow West Virginia University graduate Elizabeth Romanek as 2026 Miss West Virginia on the stage of Airborne Church on Saturday night.
As she took her final walk across the stage as Miss West Virginia, Bearer leaves behind a legacy defined by service, advocacy and a commitment to reaching every corner of the state she was honored to represent.
