For Brianna Worden, pageantry has never been about perfection. It has always been about purpose. More than just a stage, she sees it as a megaphone where voice meets visibility.

The Sullivan County native, now representing Miss Massachusetts international 2026, is using her spotlight to advocate for people living with Neurofibromatosis (NF1), a lifelong genetic condition she has battled since infancy. 

A three-time cancer survivor, school counselor, advocate and public speaker, Worden says every challenge she has faced has shaped the woman she is becoming.

Born and raised in Sullivan County, Worden credits the area for teaching her the importance of family and resilience. She comes from a close-knit family; her support system that includes her brothers, Robert and Brandon Worden, along with her younger brothers, Jayce Walter and Justin Worden. Above all, she says her mother, Janna Walter, has been her greatest source of strength. 

“Without her, I would not be as healthy or the person that I am today,” she said. And when things start to feel heavy, she leans on the advice of her mother, “It’s not brave if you’re not scared.”

When Brianna was just two months old, doctors warned her mother she might not survive past age seven. After years of traveling and seeking specialized care, the family found hope in Boston, Massachusetts, where she received lifesaving treatment through Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

That connection to Boston would later shape her future in more ways than one. Worden earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Boston University and says Massachusetts became her second home. It is also why she proudly represents Massachusetts on the pageant stage.

Worden’s pageant journey began with a desire to create visibility for people who often feel unseen. Over the years she has held titles including Miss Teen Sullivan County International 2012, Miss New York International 2022, Miss Garden State International 2023, and Miss Empire State International 2024. This July she will be competing at nationals for the title of Miss International in Chicago. 

But what meant the most to Brianna, is when people tell her that her story made them feel less alone. Being the only one in her family to be affected by Neurofibromatosis, she understood that feeling. “I use every challenge as fuel to uplift others, inspire hope and create meaningful change,” she said.

For Worden, advocacy remains at the heart of everything she does. Living with NF1 has meant enduring more than 14 surgeries, tumors throughout the left side of her body and three rare malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), an aggressive form of cancer. One of the hardest moments came after surgery that left her vocal cord paralyzed.

“I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t swallow normally,” she recalled. “It took six months of intensive speech therapy to regain what I had lost.” 

Today, she uses her voice to champion her platform, “Hidden Heroes” which highlights invisible illness, inclusion and resilience.

Outside of pageantry, Worden works as a school counselor, helping students pursue careers and build confidence in themselves. She continues to speak at NF forums, galas, and advocacy events across the country. She hopes people leave her presentations understanding that those who “live with Neurofibromatosis are not monsters, that it is not contagious and it cannot be transmitted, that those living with NF are capable just like anyone else.” 

At this time, Neurofibromatosis is incurable; it affects the population equally regardless of gender or ethnicity and is a lifelong condition that impacts each person differently. There are three types of Neurofibromatosis. Her goal is to create meaningful change in how NF is seen and represented.

“Beauty is inclusive,” she said. “It’s truth, courage and showing up authentically.” 

She encourages the community to support NF awareness efforts this month by wearing Blue and Green on May 17th for world NF Awareness Day and again on May 22nd for NF2-SWN Awareness Day.

Readers can follow Brianna’s journey and advocacy work on her Instagram at @Brianna.Worden and her Facebook at Brianna Christine, if anyone feels connected to her mission, they can support her path towards the international stage by Private Messaging her.