Camille’s Bio
CamiIle Schrier, 24, grew up In Bucks County, Pennsylvania, before moving to Virginia to pursue her undergraduate degrees. In 2018, Camille graduated with honors from Virginia Tech with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Biochemistry and Systems Biology, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University.
In June of 2019, Camille was named Miss Virginia after breaking from tradition to perform the “catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide” as her onstage talent. Her unique talent performance and focus on women in STEM has sparked a positive reaction of inclusivity for the program as a whole. Camille's story has been shared with hundreds of children and viewed by millions. She can be seen on national and international media outlets including The Today Show, Talk Stoop, CNN, BBC, The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS This Morning, Inside Edition, The Weather Channel, Southern Living, Canada’s CTV, Germany’s RTL, and many more.
On December 19, 2019, Camille earned the job of Miss America 2020 after competing live on NBC from Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. A certified Naloxone trainer in the city of Richmond, Schrier will use the Miss America national recognition to promote her own social impact initiative, Mind Your Meds: Drug Safety and Abuse Prevention from Pediatrics to Geriatrics. Most recently, Camille was awarded the Engineering Champion Award by the Phi Sigma Rho National Sorority for her work in promoting women in engineering and technical fields. Camille will travel over 300 days this year to share her message and advocate for change.
In addition to her passion for science and drug safety, Camille has battled body image issues. As a young woman who previously battled an eating disorder, Camille chose to compete In Miss America 2020 because of the redirection from physical appearance to social impact.
Follow Camille's journey @MissAmerica and @CamilleSchrier.
WITH GROUPS CREATING PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE FEMALES TO CONSIDER STEM, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO ENTRY THAT IS STILL PREVALENT TODAY?
I’m so excited to see more and more young women like me entering STEM careers, but we still have lower numbers than our male counterparts. From my experience, I think the biggest barrier is a lack of relevant role models for women in science. During my undergraduate career as a STEM student, most of my professors were male, and those who were female I regularly struggled to relate to. As Miss America I want to show young women that you can be feminine, outgoing, stylish, AND be a scientist.
I think some women also struggle to see themselves in STEM careers if they don’t identify with traditional technology, engineering or science jobs. Are you a young woman interested in fashion? Try textile sciences. Want to start your own makeup line? Consider a chemistry degree to aid in formulating your products. Science is behind everything we touch, and every woman can find her place in a STEM career if she’s interested in having one.
WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU?
Ellen DeGeneres is a huge inspiration of mine. Her message of unwavering kindness is one that I believe is SO needed in today’s society. In our highly political culture, and the era of technology that allows us to hide behind screens, our world has become incredibly divisive and hateful. Ellen’s message of kindness, even to those with opinions other than our own, is something I try to apply in my everyday life.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT/ACCOMPLISHMENT?
My proudest accomplishment by far was the completion of my undergraduate degrees at Virginia Tech. My undergraduate experience was far from easy. I started at a university that didn’t suit me, in a STEM degree program that wasn’t a fit. Although I’d loved science my entire life, I really questioned if a career in science was right for me. Eventually, after a short stint at my local community college, I transferred to Virginia Tech. I found my home in the Systems Biology program, and added Biochemistry as a second degree shortly after. After 5 long, hard, confusing years, in 2018 I walked across the stage and graduated with honors earning my two bachelor of science degrees. Pursuing higher education in science isn’t easy, but it’s totally worth it.