Madalynn Anderson

Empowering Beauty in Difference

Meet Madalynn

Welcome to the official website of Madalynn Anderson. A Miss Ohio titleholder, Physician Assistant student, athlete, and vascular birthmark survivor turned advocate. Here, you can explore my scholarship journey, advocacy work, athletic background, and Community Service Initiative focused on embracing both visible and invisible differences. Learn more about my experiences within the Miss America Organization, follow my podcast and fitness initiative, and discover how I use my platform to educate, empower, and inspire others. Keep scrolling to book an appearance or speaking engagement.

Advocate

For a long time, I was afraid to show the true me.

I was born with a facial birthmark, and growing up, I believed that being different meant I was destined to be held back from success. I saw my birthmark as something I needed to hide, something that separated me from the world around me.

Through years of reflection and growth, I’ve learned a powerful truth: real beauty lives in our differences. Beauty isn’t about chasing an unrealistic idea of “perfection”...but rather about embracing what is real. I don’t believe in the word perfection, because there is no true definition of what it means to be perfect. What makes us unique is what makes us beautiful.

Athlete

I was a four-sport high school athlete and a 2020 Ohio state champion in cheerleading. These experiences shaped my discipline, resilience, and love for the game. In college, I served as a Division I Women’s Basketball Manager at the University of Pittsburgh, where I practiced and traveled with the team while gaining hands-on experience in high-level athletics. Through this role, I built strong relationships with coaches, staff, and organizations across the country, further developing my leadership and professional network.

First Generation Student

I graduated high school as valedictorian with guaranteed admission into the University of Pittsburgh's Physician Assistant program. College presented challenges, as I am a first-generation college student with neither my parents nor grandparents having earned a four-year degree. Through determination and persistence, I sought out every scholarship opportunity available and learned to always focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. Today, I am proud to be a Physician Assistant student, continuing to pursue my passion for healthcare and service with hopes to one day serve the same patient that I once was.

Miss America Ambassador

One of the most powerful aspects of the Miss America Organization is the way it embraces authenticity. As a girl competing in pageants with a facial birthmark, I once believed this dream would never be possible for me because of society’s narrow and unrealistic standards of “perfection"... again, whatever that is supposed to mean.

Instead of asking me to hide who I am, the Miss America Organization celebrated it. I was encouraged to show up exactly as myself, proving that confidence, purpose, and heart matter far more than appearance. This organization gave me a platform where difference is not only accepted, but valued.

Because of Miss America, I learned that there is no single definition of beauty, and that sometimes, the very thing you think holds you back is what makes you stand out the most.

Community service Initiative

Beyond the Beauty Mark: Embracing Differences, Defying Odds

Diagnosed with a glomovenous malformation at just two years old, I grew up learning how to navigate the world with a visible difference. My red and purple facial birthmark often made me feel like an outsider long before I understood what that meant. From curious questions to hurtful labels, I quickly learned how deeply society struggles to see beauty beyond appearance.

As I grew older, the emotional impact of living with a visible difference weighed heavier than the physical challenges. For years, I believed my birthmark was something I needed to hide in order to be accepted. With time, reflection, and community, that belief began to shift. I stopped seeing my birthmark as a limitation and started recognizing it as a symbol of resilience, identity, and strength.

That transformation inspired me to use my voice for others who feel unseen. I created a podcast to share the stories of individuals with visible and invisible differences, providing a space for honest conversation, representation, and empowerment. Through storytelling, education, and advocacy, I work to challenge society’s narrow standards and redefine what beauty and worth truly mean.

Every platform I hold is used to educate, empower, and remind others that difference is not something to fix, it’s something to celebrate.

The Beauty in Difference Podcast

Advocacy

VBF Global Ambassador

Love's Reflection Ambassaor

What began as a deeply personal experience has grown into a lifelong commitment to advocacy. I am incredibly proud to serve as a Global Ambassador for the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation, where I work to increase awareness, acceptance, and most importantly, the celebration of all vascular birthmarks, anomalies, and associated syndromes. Whether I’m speaking in a classroom or a hospital room, connecting with families at community events, sharing conversations on my podcast, or attending national conferences, I use my story every day to highlight the real beauty of vascular birthmarks and to push for greater research, understanding, and access to treatment.

Pictured is myself as well as the Founder and President of the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation, Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon. We were able to chat at the national conference held in NYC October of 2025.

VBF Global Ambassador page

Love's Reflection Ambassaor

I am proud to serve as an ambassador and partner with Love’s Reflection, a nonprofit dedicated to uniting generations through acts of kindness and compassion. This partnership began after sharing my advocacy journey at the Miss Ohio Optimist Luncheon and quickly grew into a shared mission of service. Together, we work to bring moments of love and support to organizations such as Akron Children’s Hospital, local hospice facilities, and beyond.... proving that meaningful impact often starts with a simple connection.

Love's Reflection Ambassador page

Miss America X AHA Partner

Love's Reflection Ambassaor

Miss America X AHA Partner

MaddiesChallenge is a social media series that reflects who I am at the intersection of athletics, healthcare, and advocacy. Through my work as a Physician Assistant student, a Division I women’s basketball manager, and an ambassador for Miss America x the American Heart Association, I am deeply committed to promoting heart health and lifelong movement. I am certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), with the training and clinical foundation to provide high-quality, patient-centered heart health care.

Through #MaddiesChallenge, I step into the workouts and movement routines of others. From high school cheer teams and Little All-Star cheerleaders to nursing home residents, I share their workouts through videos on social media. This challenge highlights an important message: fitness looks different for everyone and evolves throughout the lifespan. Movement doesn’t have to be heavy or intense to be meaningful; it simply needs to be accessible, safe, and enjoyable. As an athlete, I’ve learned the value of movement. As a future Physician Assistant, I understand the importance of meeting people where they are. #MaddiesChallenge encourages anyone who feels stuck to try something new, move in a different way, and discover what works best for them. Supporting both overall wellness and heart health.

#Maddieschallenge