Zurcher earns Miss Apple Blossom 2025 title, advances to Miss Arkansas competition

Mountain Home and KTLO’s own Rebecca Zurcher has been crowned Miss Apple Blossom 2025, earning the opportunity to compete for the title of Miss Arkansas this June in Little Rock.The Miss Arkansas Competition, part of the Miss America Scholarship Program, emphasizes leadership, education, and community service over traditional pageantry. Contestants compete in five phases: evening gown, fitness, on-stage question, talent, and a private interview. The organization is built on four pillars: Service, Scholarship, Style, and Success, each representing the values of community impact, education, confidence, and achievement.Zurcher’s connection to the organization began a decade ago when she first competed at age 17, with “big dreams and little direction.” After several years living and working in Nevada, she returned to Mountain Home, where she discovered her professional calling at KTLO Radio.
KTLO News spoke with Zurcher, who shares what she has planned for the talent portion of the competition.

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The Miss America community service initiative is a cornerstone of the program, allowing contestants to develop and showcase a social impact project that reflects their personal passion and purpose. Zurcher’s community service initiative, Hometown Matters, focuses on uplifting stories from across the Twin Lakes Area, highlighting local people and organizations making a positive difference.

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Zurcher thought her days of competing were behind her, but after she found out the age limit for Miss Arkansas was raised from 24, to 28, she picked up right where she left off.

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The Arkansas Diamonds Program is a mentorship program for young people ages 5-12 that introduces them to the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Program. Participants are paired with a state-level Miss Arkansas titleholder, who mentors them through activities. Zurcher says she has asked her niece, Ella, to serve as her diamond.

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Through her title and platform, Zurcher hopes to expand public understanding of what the Miss Arkansas and Miss America programs truly represent – scholarship, service, and lasting community impact.

She will compete for the title of Miss Arkansas 2025 from June 6-13 in Little Rock.

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