Ava Lane Watson

Ava Lane Watson, a native of Louisiana, was born in Covington in 2007 to April and Craig Watson. Currently enrolled at The Willow High School in New Orleans, Ava is an active participant in school activities, serving as a member of the yearbook staff and contributing articles to the school newspaper. She’s also dedicated to making a difference in her community, having served on the Mayor’s Youth Council for the City of New Orleans, where she addressed important youth mental health issues.

Outside of her academic pursuits, Ava is passionate about aviation, actively learning to fly in a Grumman Tiger airplane. She’s a proud member of the NOLA 99s, an international organization supporting women pilots, as well as the Experimental Aircraft Association and Women in Aviation International. Aviation runs in her family, with her grandfather being a lead engineer on the Grumman F-14 Tomcat for the Navy, her other grandfather being a private pilot, and her mother also sharing a love for flying.

When not at the airport, Ava spends her free time on other runways modeling.  Inspired by her love for the runway, she challenged herself to enter the pageant world in 2023 and in only her second pageant to became Miss Louisiana Teen USA 2024. Additionally, she enjoys beach outings, swimming, traveling, thrift shopping, movie nights, and quality time with friends. She’s also committed to maintaining her fitness.

Within her family’s business, Ava serves as an art instructor, finding joy in teaching others how to unleash their creativity. Looking ahead, she aims to dedicate her upcoming year to serving her community, focusing on introducing aviation career opportunities to young girls, fundraising for children’s hospitals, and raising awareness about mental health resources for teenagers.