A Pella High School student is pursuing a crown this summer in the Miss Iowa’s 2025 competition. Marlaina Lightkeeper was recently named Miss Capital City’s Teen 2025, and this month, will compete in the Miss America pageant circuit to earn the top title in the state.

Lightkeeper says she’s grateful for the community’s support of her efforts, which have included service projects through her non profit founded in 2022, Little Acorns. She first told KNIA/KRLS about that effort in 2022, when she was selected as Miss Iowa Pre-Teen. Little Acorns is a 501c3 with a mission to recruit and inspire young people to make a difference through community service.

Marlaina is a member of the Pella Forte dance team and the Marching Dutch color guard at Pella High School. Read more about Lightkeeper’s journey at her website. She’s featured on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.