2026 MIss Apple Blossom volunteer

OLIVIA ESCALANTE

Olivia Escalante proudly serves as Miss Apple Blossom 2026, representing the Miss Virginia Volunteer organization and its S.E.R.V.E. initiative: Service, Education, Responsibility, Volunteerism, and Empowerment. Her personal platform, “An Ear to Hear: Invisible Not Ignored,” is inspired by her journey with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), which she was diagnosed with during her senior year of high school. After years of struggling without answers, the diagnosis empowered her to become an advocate for individuals living with invisible disabilities.

Through her platform, Olivia works to raise awareness and promote education surrounding conditions that are not always immediately visible, including auditory processing disorders, learning differences, neurodevelopmental conditions and mental health challenges. She is passionate about encouraging early identification, supportive accommodations, and creating a culture where individuals feel heard, valued, and never overlooked.

Olivia has continued advancing this mission throughout her college career at Virginia Tech through campus outreach and conversations surrounding invisible disabilities. Her dedication to advocacy led to her selection to Virginia Tech’s Homecoming Court, where she proudly used the opportunity to further amplify awareness and representation for individuals with unseen challenges. During her year of service as Miss Apple Blossom, Olivia looks forward to engaging with communities across the Commonwealth through service, education, and volunteerism while fostering compassion, understanding, and inclusion for all.