Camille Schrier, PharmD, captivated the nation as Miss America 2020, using her platform to champion STEM education and inspire young women in science. With a unique background in biochemistry and systems biology, Camille has long been passionate about science and making it accessible to all. Her public role became a launchpad for Her Royal Scientist™, an initiative she founded to engage young girls in STEM through hands-on learning and role modeling.

Now, as a Post-Doctoral Medical Affairs Fellow, Camille brings her expertise to the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on patient-centered innovations and improving access to medicine. Driven by integrity and a commitment to public service, she is not only advancing healthcare but also redefining the expectations placed on women in science. Camille’s journey is a testament to the impact of combining passion, purpose, and advocacy to inspire the next generation.

What inspired you to pursue your current career or passion?

In my earliest of memories, my interests always revolved around science in one way or another even though I was too young to understand the science behind them. From cooking and baking to exploring nature – I didn’t realize that science was at the core of the activities I craved. I was not one of those kids who had a set dream of “what I wanted to be when I grew up” but through my educational journey realized that I loved pharmacotherapy and wanted to pursue a career as a medication expert. While obtaining dual degrees in biochemistry and systems biology at Virginia Tech I completed internships in the pharmaceutical industry which pushed me to pursue my Doctor of Pharmacy degree, and now I use my clinical education to communicate scientific information as a part of a Medical A6airs team.

Can you share a defining moment in your life that shaped your path?

Winning Miss Virginia in 2019 was a life changing experience. Although I later had the opportunity to compete for and ultimately become Miss America 2020 – winning Miss Virginia was the experience which shifted my life most. Gaining this role not only provided me national exposure through media coverage of my non-traditional science focused talent demonstration, but also required me to step away from my education to dedicate my full- time to serving Virginia. As an academically motivated individual, this was challenging, but ultimately this opportunity provided some of my most defining personal and professional experiences.

What challenges have you faced in your journey, and how did you overcome them?

Shifting from full-time student to serving as a public figure as Miss Virginia and Miss America was extremely challenging. Although I had the communication and problem- solving skills to succeed in these roles, I wasn’t prepared for the level of public criticism I would encounter. I was used to being “judged” quantitively through examinations and evaluated on defined expectations – and suddenly I felt that every move I made was being scrutinized. I have a deep care for the individuals I meet, and a strong desire to please. This is something that drew me to a career in healthcare…I love helping people and making them feel BETTER. I pride myself on connecting with others and leaving them with a positive experience – so when (inevitably) I received criticism (as any public figure does) these moments were hard. Through this experience I learned to rely only on trusted mentors for feedback, and disregard messages which were thoughtless or hurtful. This experience made me better understand the toxicity associated with a public lifestyle and social media, and shaped my priorities moving into the future.

How do you define success for yourself?

For me success in every experience is learning something I did not know before. Both in my wins and losses, I believe the most important thing I can take away from any experience are new skills, or identification weak points I can improve upon. I feel strongly that success can’t be measured without a goal. Maybe it’s the scientist and clinician in me, but I think the key to success is setting realistic, measurable, and specific goals. Even if I am not able to achieve these goals to the fullest extent, or my priorities have changed, the goal setting process has been an important professional practice to allow me to measure my own success.

What values guide you in your personal and professional decisions?

Integrity, innovation and passion are the most important values which drive me. I want to be (and work with) individuals who are creative and passionate about solving problems, but operate with a high level of honesty and integrity.

What does leadership mean to you, and how do you embody it in your work?

As both a learner and a leader, leading by example has always been the core to my personal leadership style. I learn best by watching others, and I think that this promotes an environment of accountability in what we ask from others. If you want your team to continue to learn, then demonstrate how you are learning. Want others to think outside of the box? Then bring creative ideas. Want to promote a positive mindset? Increase complements and minimize complaints. I believe that showing rather than telling is always a stronger factor in influencing the people around you.

What is your vision for the future of your industry or community?

I feel like I have lived in two separate worlds in the past decade – both of which I have vision for…
Both during my time serving as Miss America and after – my vision for the “pageant” industry has been to highlight the exceptional professional achievements of young women in America. In a world where we are so often judged by our appearance, my vision is that “pageants” transition into sabbatical/fellowship-like professional development opportunities for women and provide significant levels of scholarships to support higher education. There are plenty of places that celebrate women for their beauty – we need more places to celebrate the powerful contributions of American women.

For the pharmaceutical industry…my vision is that companies work to continue to
address unmet needs in medicine with a core focus on the patients they are serving. I am inspired by innovation and have the opportunity to work for an organization which not only prioritizes this but also has a key focus on the patients we serve. Being able to innovate is core to progress in medicine but must also be coupled with consideration for patient experiences and resources. Thinking about favorable side e6ect profiles, as well as ease of use and a6ordability are factors which I think are more important than ever as healthcare and living costs increase.

Can you share a bit about your passion for science/STEM and your passion projects related to these areas?

My passions for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) are not only pillars in my educational and professional life but now extend into my own business. After travelling the United States as Miss America, I saw a need for more female-centered science programming for students, so I created Her Royal ScientistTM. This program provides fresh and engaging STEM education and activities for students while simultaneously imprinting for young women that “if I can see it, I can be it”, while normalizing for young men the image of powerful females in science roles. I have used this program to not only speak to student groups to share my story and perform science demonstrations, but also to create the Her Royal ScientistTM Kit with COSI, the #1 science center in the country.

Photography by Alison Dunlap