The Miss DC 2026 Competition Judges

Howard Gordon, Head Judge

Howard Gordon serves as the Miss Delaware Scholarship Organization's State Field Director and Recruitment Chair. Howard has been a volunteer with Miss Delaware for 17 years, having served as a Local Executive Director, State Judges Chair and assists in numerous Miss Delaware projects, and is a Miss Delaware Board Member. Howard works for a regional agricultural trade association in Philadelphia and helps small to medium sized companies export food products in international markets. He holds a 1989 Bachelors Degree in Marketing from Jacksonville University. Howard is a Delaware native, and enjoys pageantry, airlines and traveling, health and nutrition, and has helped over 200 food manufacturers in the Northeastern part of the country grow their businesses internationally.

Lamont Easter

Lamont Easter is a career Civil Servant with more than 36 years of service in the Federal Government, while simultaneously building a successful career in television, film, commercial, and voice‑over performance.

He has appeared in co‑star roles on Apple TV’s Swagger and ESPN’s Peyton’s Places, and in numerous independent films including Jacqueline and Jilly. Lamont was also the host of the daily broadcast Stripes in Seven for the Stars and Stripes News and Information Network, keeping the global U.S. Military and Defense community informed on issues that mattered to them.

His on‑screen work includes recurring featured background roles on Netflix’s House of Cards, Showtime’s Homeland, HBO’s VEEP, and CBS’s Madam Secretary, along with national commercial campaigns, corporate productions, and a wide range of independent films and web series.

Beyond on‑camera performance, Lamont has been a sought‑after Master of Ceremonies and event host for engagements across the country. He has also served as an MC, host, and judge for several national pageants, and strongly believes in giving voice and platforms to women. He remains committed to using his platform to support community causes and amplify voices that often go unheard.

Man in a maroon vest and checkered shirt smiling outdoors.

William Gray

Will Gray was born and raised in rural eastern North Carolina. He attended East Carolina University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science and business administration. After graduating from ECU, he continued his education at Campbell University, earning a joint Juris Doctor and Master’s of Trust and Wealth Management. He later obtained a Master of Laws in taxation from the University of Alabama School of Law and proudly rolls with the Crimson Tide.

After law school, Will worked with SunTrust Bank as an estate settlement specialist in Atlanta, GA. During his time there, he was named one of the “Top 40 Under 40” in wealth management by the American Bankers Association.

He currently resides in Deep Run with his wife, Jaymie. Will works for the North Carolina State Banking Commission, where he specializes in trust compliance, and also serves as an instructor with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, training financial regulators from state banking agencies nationwide. Additionally, he is a North Carolina licensed attorney focusing on estate planning and probate.

Will has been involved with the Miss America Opportunity in various capacities for more than eight years. He is active in his community, serving as Vice Chair of his county’s Department of Social Services Board of Directors and as Board Secretary for the Lenoir County Board of Elections. He is also a member of the Bishopric of the Woodington Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a black blouse and red lipstick.

Paige Hunt

Paige is an experienced destination marketer who has worked at both the state and local level. She joined The Greater Starkville Development Partnership in 2021 as the Director of Tourism. In her role, she works to develop and implement programs to further the vision for tourism in Starkville: Mississippi’s College Town. She focuses on the promotion of Starkville as a destination market for conventions, sporting events, and cultural tourism efforts that directly benefit the Starkville economy.

Prior to joining The Partnership, Paige most recently served as Director of Sales & Visitor Services at VisitHATTIESBURG, where she actively sold Hattiesburg as both a leisure and corporate destination. Prior to VisitHATTIESBURG, Paige served as Senior Bureau Manager for Tourism Communications at the Mississippi Development Authority. Paige currently serves as Vice President for the Mississippi Destination Marketing Organization Association, as President for the Mississippi Tourism Association, as Vice President of the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area Alliance and as President of the Board of Directors for Visit the Cities of the SEC.

Paige has been involved in pageants for more than 20 years. She served as a local director in both Starkville and Greenwood and was a judge for a state competition. In her role at Visit HATTIESBURG she served on the staff for a state competition. Additionally, she has assisted with interview preparation for numerous ladies competing at the state and local level and as a volunteer with a preliminary competition in Amory. In addition to her passion for tourism marketing and pageants, Paige enjoys reading, attending live theater and attending Mississippi State sporting events. She and her husband Andy have a 13-year-old son.

Tinna Jackson

Tinna Jackson is a nationally recognized executive strategist with 30 years of experience guiding leaders to rise, lead, and win in high-stakes environments. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., she spent two decades in national politics—including 10

years in the U.S. Senate as Deputy Chief of Staff—before serving as a C-suite executive at a national political committee.

As the founder of Jackson Consulting Group, Tinna equips executives and mission-driven organizations with the strategy, emotional intelligence, and mastery of power dynamics needed to make decisive moves, align teams, and lead with authority when

pressure and politics collide.

 IAOTP's Trailblazer of the Year (2026)

 IAOTP’s Top Executive Coach and Management Consultant of the Decade (2025)

 Top 15 Coaches in Washington, DC (Influence Digest, 2026 and 2025)

 Top Women Leaders of 2026 (Women We Admire)

 Women to Know in Washington, DC 2026 (The Know Women)

Tinna is the author of the award-winning book, The Power Play Journal: Battle-Tested Strategies: Reflections for Impactful Leadership, and a Forbes Coaches Council Thought Leader. She is a Certified Executive Coach, Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, and Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, with BoardSource Certification in Nonprofit Board Education. Her mission is to help leaders step fully into their power with confidence, self- awareness, and strategy. Clients who work with her emerge more focused, empowered, and equipped to lead transformative, lasting change.

Kelsey Nicole Nelson

Kelsey Nicole Nelson aka "KNN" is an award‑winning D.C.-based sports journalist, George Washington University professor and multi-business owner. She currently serves as a host and reporter for FOX Sports Radio, a studio host for the Atlantic 10 Conference, and a color analyst for American University women’s basketball. Kelsey is also the founder, host and executive producer of “Listen In With KNN” podcast network and owns KryptiaNN consulting firm. Her career includes work with NBC/Peacock, Bally Sports, the Washington Commanders, and The Draft Network, along with appearances on major media outlets across the U.S. and abroad. She is commonly seen on FOX 5 DC locally. The Heisman voter was named to the 2026 Women Making History Award by the Montgomery County Commission for Women in partnership with Montgomery Women, Maryland’s Top 100 Women of 2025 and Leading Women Under 40 by The Daily Record. She's also a former national pageant title holder. Kelsey has also been recognized by the DC Chamber of Commerce and SERVPRO.

Kelsey has covered the top sporting events globally including the FIFA Club World Cup, WNBA Finals, NBA Finals and Super Bowl.

Today, she serves as the Co-Chair of the communications committee for the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter Emmy Awards of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Kelsey also serves as the Social Media and Digital Marketing chair for the Entertainment and Sports section for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Kelsey sits on the board of the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame and on the Washington, D.C. Regional Advisory Council of Tickets for Kids.

Joanna Guy

Joanna Guy is a community and business leader whose career has spanned roller coaster engineering, venture capital, and national defense. Joanna leads Growth Strategy within Booz Allen Hamilton where her work focuses on advanced technology and national security innovation, including leading a partnership that brought the first multimodal LLM to space on the International Space Station National Laboratory.

A graduate of Cornell University and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, Joanna serves on the Executive Circle of the Northern Virginia Technology Council. She is a certified yoga instructor who works with veterans and is a published composer.

As Miss Maryland’s Outstanding Teen 2008, Joanna placed 3RU at the national competition. As Miss Maryland 2012, Joanna placed in the Top 10 at Miss America and received the Preliminary Talent and Quality of Life Awards.

Joanna lives in DC with her cat Gracie, where she loves to see live music, jam sesh, and explore the city.