Santa Parade

Melissa Beyrand is the newly crowned Miss Michigan 2022. Melissa is originally from Milford, MI and graduated from Detroit Country Day School in 2018.  She recently graduated from the University of Michigan College of Engineering in Ann Arbor in May of 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in French.  She will be going back to school in the fall to get her Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering with the goal of attending medical school to become a craniofacial reconstructive plastic surgeon.

At U of M, she is a member of the Michigan Waterski Team, with whom she recently won the 2021 Collegiate Water Ski National Championship.  She also does research with the Potkay Biomedical & Microsystems Research Lab in partnership with Michigan Medicine and the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System.  Music is a very important part of Melissa’s life. She is a member of the executive boards for both the Michigan Pops Orchestra and Campus Symphony Orchestra.  She is also a member of Detroit’s own electro-pop violin group, Nuclassica, with whom she performs for a variety of public and private events, including weddings, corporate and holiday parties, and fundraisers.  Melissa is an active volunteer with the organization Project Sunshine, where she acts as the Communications Director to coordinate volunteer events for long-term pediatric hospital patients.  Melissa has also served on the board and is an active member of the University of Michigan chapter of Phi Chi Pre-Medical Fraternity.

Melissa’s Social Impact Initiative is Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.), where she promotes equity for women in these technical fields, educates young students on the amazing opportunities available through S.T.E.A.M., and advocates for performing and visual arts programs in schools.  As Miss Michigan, Melissa looks forward to speaking with students of all ages about the importance of experiential learning to refine critical thinking, enhance problem solving, and inspire curiosity.  She is excited to share her own experiences with the young women of Michigan and our nation to empower them to follow their dreams.