Stewart Smith Photography

Bridget Cleary, 28, from Boston, Massachusetts was crowned Ms. America® 2009-10 at the national pageant held Sunday, September 6, 2009 in Ontario, California. This is Bridget’s first time to ever compete in a pageant and she is the sixth woman to be crowned Ms. America ®.  

The reigning Ms. America® is a senior manager at Arnold Worldwide advertising, which is owned by the 6^th largest global advertising company, Havas. One of the most highly awarded agencies in the world, Arnold has won the Grand Prix at the International Festival in Cannes, top honors at the International ANDY Awards, and is a consistent annual winner of Clios, EFFIEs, Obies and One Show awards, while generating over 100M in revenue yearly. A successful career advisor and motivational trainer, Cleary conducts and coordinates inspirational seminars across the east coast for employees at the junior, mid and executive levels.  Known as the ‘Talent Developer,' Cleary helps employees reach their greatest potential through strategic goal setting and specializes in elevating employees’ talents for branding, advertising and digital technology to the next level.  Her passion for providing successful, inspirational business training ensures that the agency produces winning brand strategies and promotions for clients such as: McDonalds, Volvo, Ocean Spray, Carnival cruises, Hershey’s and Fidelity.  

A 2003 graduate from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and Chi Omega alumna, Cleary holds a BA in Communication, with a Women’s Studies concentration and Philosophy minor. Ranked third in her class, Cleary achieved Magna cum Laude and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Lamda Pi Eta honors societies, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and was a Rhodes and Marshall Scholar nominee based on her scholastic achievements and strength of character.  A life-long advocate for education, motivation and serving others through philanthropy, she has worked with the Make-A-Wish foundation, Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, Babson College Leadership Development Program and is a Project Leader for the Boston Cares organization, the largest volunteer organization in New England and a part of the internationally recognized HandsOn Network with 370 volunteer affiliates serving 83% of the American population and 12 international communities.  

As Ms. America ®2009-10, Cleary is honored to represent an organization that enriches the lives of women across the country and is passionate about continuing to give back to others through philanthropic endeavors and being the inspiration that helps others achieve their dreams.