Marissa of the Jacksonville ROAR is now Miss Jacksonville USA

By Beth Reese Cravey
Jacksonville.com

Jacksonville’s Arlington and Southside areas were well represented among the top winners at the recent Miss Jacksonville USA 2012 and Miss Jacksonville Teen USA 2012 pageant.

Marissa Arielle Danish, 20, who lives in East Arlington, was crowned Miss Jacksonville USA and received that competition’s Miss Pageantry Spirit Award.

She is a junior at Florida State College at Jacksonville, where she is studying psychology and dance and plans to become a psychologist, according to a news release. She will represent the Jacksonville area at the Miss Florida USA Pageant in July.

“This is one of the most exciting times of my life. I am proud that I will be representing Jacksonville at the Miss Florida USA Pageant and I will hold my title with honor,” Danish said in a statement. “One of the most important objectives I have is to show children and teens how to be a positive role model and to care for themselves and each other.”

Danish works as a receptionist at Plaza Surgery and enjoys volunteering, dancing and being a part of the Jacksonville Jaguar’s Roar cheerleading squad. The daughter of Celeste Wilkie and Peter Danish, she also received a prize package valued at more than $4,000, including her crown, banner, trophy, flowers, entry to the state pageant, as well as a $500 scholarship and other gifts, according to the release.