Meet the 52 women competing to be the next Miss America

Sep 05, 2026 06:14 PM - 1 hour ago 2

It's almost clip to crown the adjacent Miss America.

On September 6, 52 women from astir the state will stitchery astatine the Palm Beach County Convention Center successful West Palm Beach, Florida, for the chance to triumph the coveted title.

The victor will beryllium crowned by Miss America 2026 Cassie Donnegan and will return location a $50,000 scholarship.

Before you watch the title — which will watercourse connected PageantVision.com astatine 7 p.m. ET — meet the 52 women competing for the crown.

Alabama: Ruby Tilghman

Miss Alabama Ruby Tilghman

Miss Alabama. Courtesy of Miss America IP INC.

Ruby Tilghman, 22, graduated from the University of Alabama pinch a grade successful chemistry. She is an incoming student astatine the university's Heersink School of Medicine. Tilghman antecedently represented Florida astatine the Miss America's Teen title successful 2021.

Tilghman is an avid hiker who has visited 28 nationalist parks. She is besides a recipient of the President's Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award.

Alaska: Nora Andrews

Miss Alaska Nora Andrews

Miss Alaska. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Nora Andrews, 20, is simply a elder astatine Grand Canyon University, wherever she is studying psychology and master writing. She is hoping to gain a Ph.D. successful objective psychology and a certification successful activity and relational acquisition and therapy.

Andrews is besides an advocator for termination prevention and intelligence wellness awareness.

Arizona: Victoria Vredevoogd

Miss Arizona Victoria Vredevoogd

Miss Arizona. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Victoria Vredevoogd, 25, is simply a rule student astatine the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law astatine Arizona State University.

The pageant queen founded and serves arsenic president of The Gender Violence Project, an statement astatine ASU that advocates for survivors and provides free ineligible resources. She besides wrote and published her ain imagination novel, titled "A Legend of Golden Shadows."

Arkansas: Ava Weeks

Miss Arkansas Ava Weeks

Miss Arkansas. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Ava Weeks, 20, is simply a student astatine Ouachita Baptist University. She hopes to go a secondary English teacher.

Weeks became an advocator for rider information aft witnessing a unspeakable car mishap erstwhile she was a teenager, according to her Miss America bio. Her organization inaugural is "Every Seat. Every Ride. Buckle Up."

Weeks has won complete $50,000 successful scholarships from competing successful the Miss America system.

California: Sharlize True Trujillo

Miss California Sharlize True Trujillo

Miss California. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Sharlize True Trujillo, 22, is pursuing a grade successful gender studies and a insignificant successful movie and tv from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is readying to be rule schoolhouse and study intermezo law.

The pageant queen is besides a dancer, actress, and contented creator. She has much than 2 cardinal followers connected TikTok.

Colorado: Gabrielle Burns

Miss Colorado Gabrielle Burns

Miss Colorado. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Gabrielle Burns, 23, is pursuing a master's grade from the University of Colorado Boulder. She is studying to go a speech-language pathologist.

Burns is an advocator for connection disorders and disabilities. She's besides a master ballroom dancer.

Connecticut: Christa Steiner

Miss Connecticut Christa Steiner

Miss Connecticut. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Christa Steiner, 27, graduated from the Manhattan School of Music, wherever she earned a grade successful vocal capacity and philharmonic theater.

Steiner is simply a master vocalist and sound teacher. She is utilizing her Miss America level to advocator for accrued entree to intelligence wellness treatment.

Delaware: Anaya Harrison

Miss Delaware Anaya Harrison

Miss Delaware. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Anaya Harrison, 24, earned some her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the Biden School of Public Policy astatine the University of Delaware. She plans to be rule school.

Harrison useful arsenic a legislature adjutant successful the US House of Representatives, wherever she "helps constituents navigate national agencies," according to her Miss America bio.

District of Columbia: Evelyn Smith

Miss District of Columbia Evelyn Smith

Miss District of Columbia. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Evelyn Smith, 25, graduated from Oklahoma City University pinch a bachelor's grade successful accuracy and minors successful governmental subject and workplace art. She was the first Black female to triumph Miss Oklahoma's Teen, and she made it to the apical 9 astatine the Miss America's Teen 2018 competition.

Smith has certified much than 1,000 individuals successful CPR. She utilized her ain skills to prevention her mother's life during a bosom attack, according to her Miss America bio.

Florida: Alexandra de Roos

Miss Florida Alexandra de Roos

Miss Florida. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Alexandra de Roos, 23, is an honors student astatine the University of South Florida, wherever she is studying psychology. She plans to be aesculapian schoolhouse and go a neuropsychiatrist.

The pageant queen was antecedently a student astatine the School of American Ballet, but her dancing profession was trim short aft a traumatic encephalon injury. She founded The Blue Project nonprofit to advocator for encephalon wounded acquisition and treatment done the arts, according to her Miss Florida bio.

Georgia: Sophia Wootten

  Sophia Wootten

Miss Georgia. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Sophia Wootten, 21, is pursuing a grade successful connection sciences and disorders astatine the University of Georgia. She is readying to go a pediatric audiologist.

Wootten made history arsenic the first Miss America contestant pinch a cleft articulator and palate. She has undergone 20 reconstructive surgeries and wears proceeding aids. The pageant queen wants to usage her level to "redefine what practice looks for illustration for children pinch disabilities," according to her Miss America bio.

Hawaii: Carly Yoshida

Miss Hawaii Carly Yoshida

Miss Hawaii. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Carly Yoshida, 26, earned a grade successful societal sciences from the University of Hawai'i - West O'ahu and plans to prosecute a master meteorology degree.

Yoshida is simply a section reporter, integer contented producer, and on-air upwind characteristic for KITV 4 Island News, an ABC connection successful Honolulu. She antecedently won Miss Hawaii's Teen successful 2016.

Idaho: Déja Fitzwater

Miss Idaho Déja Fitzwater

Miss Idaho. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Déja Fitzwater, 21, is studying communications astatine the University of Idaho. She is an avid 4-H unpaid and won Miss Oregon's Teen successful 2022.

Fitzwater, an advocator for cultivation literacy, is utilizing her level to "help young group amended understand the people, science, and industries down their nutrient and earthy resources," according to her Miss America bio.

Illinois: Kate Dimmett

Miss Illinois Kate Dimmett

Miss Illinois. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Kate Dimmett, 23, graduated from some the Kelley School of Business and the Jacobs School of Music astatine Indiana University. The pageant queen is simply a master violinist.

Dimmett is the president of Notable Measures, a nonprofit she launched astatine 13 to grow entree to euphony education. According to her Miss America bio, she has raised complete $90,000 and provided 170 grants done her organization.

She antecedently won Miss Indiana's Teen successful 2021.

Indiana: Ellise Edwards

Miss Indiana  Ellise Edwards

Miss Indiana. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Ellise Edwards, 22, graduated from the University of South Florida. She is simply a contented creator pinch complete 127,000 followers connected TikTok, wherever she shares videos of her curly-hair regular and her acquisition arsenic a postgrad.

Edwards wants to thief businesses turn their online beingness "through strategical societal media marketing," according to her Miss America bio.

Iowa: McKenzie Kerry

Miss Iowa McKenzie Kerry

Miss Iowa. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

McKenzie Kerry, 27, graduated from the Belk College of Business astatine the University of North Carolina astatine Charlotte. She has been progressive successful organizations including Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates and Big Brothers Big Sisters Workplace Mentoring.

Kerry was recruited into Principal Financial Group's three-year activity improvement program. She presently serves arsenic a learning and improvement consultant.

Kansas: Sophie Lewis

Miss Kansas Sophie Lewis

Miss Kansas. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Sophie Lewis, 23, graduated pinch honors from the University of Kansas pinch a grade successful biochemistry and a insignificant successful business.

Lewis useful arsenic a aesculapian income advisor and is helping grow entree to biomarker humor testing for early lung crab detection, according to her Miss America bio.

The pageant queen made history arsenic the first Asian American female to triumph the title of Miss Kansas.

Kentucky: Reagan Earlywine

Miss Kentucky  Reagan Earlywine

Miss Kentucky. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Reagan Earlywine, 24, is simply a third-year dental student astatine the University of Louisville. She is simply a recipient of the Excellence successful Dental Gross and Neurological Anatomy award.

Earlywine plans to go an orthodontist someday. She is utilizing her level to advocator for entree to preventive oral healthcare.

Louisiana: Shelby Bordelon

Miss Louisiana Shelby Bordelon

Miss Louisiana. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Shelby Bordelon, 24, is pursuing her master's successful strategical connection astatine Southeastern Louisiana University.

She founded Claire's Promise, Inc., a nonprofit statement that useful to forestall impaired driving, aft her friend was killed by an impaired driver. She is besides a spokesperson for MADD Louisiana.

Maine: Ruthie Gusler

Miss Maine Ruthie Gusler

Miss Maine. Miss America IP, INC.

Ruthie Gusler, 19, is studying business management astatine the University of Maine astatine Farmington, wherever she plays soccer. She hopes to go a existent property agent.

Gusler created the Wonder Kids organization work inaugural to advocator for children who past abuse.

Maryland: Gianna Romero

Miss Maryland Gianna Romero

Miss Maryland. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Gianna Romero, 21, is simply a student astatine Stevenson University, wherever she studies business communication. She wants to activity successful sports trading aft college, interning successful the athletics section astatine Calvert Hall College High School.

Romero advocates for patient relationships, sharing her ain acquisition of being successful an abusive narration for 2 years to thief others.

Massachusetts: Ashlyn Mercier

Miss Massachusetts Ashlyn Mercier

Miss Massachusetts. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Ashlyn Mercier, 25, is simply a constabulary officer. She earned her undergraduate grade successful nationalist information from the University of New Haven successful Connecticut and her master's grade successful criminal justness from Boston University.

Mercier created Nick's Courage: One Smile Goes a Mile, an inaugural designed to support children pinch cancer. Her relative had crab doubly arsenic a child, truthful the programme is adjacent to her heart.

Michigan: Grace Hanke

Miss Michigan Grace Hanke

Miss Michigan. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Grace Hanke, 19, is studying mechanical engineering astatine the University of Detroit Mercy, participating successful the school's accelerated master's program.

She wants to guarantee different young women person entree to STEM opportunities, truthful she created the Engineer Her Future US initiative. Hanke has besides collaborated pinch respective organizations to beforehand STEM acquisition and entree nationally.

Minnesota: Anna Brennan

Miss Minnesota Anna Brennan

Miss Minnesota. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Anna Brennan, 20, hopes to go a news anchor, truthful she is studying publicity astatine the University of St. Thomas. She is besides a master ballerina.

Brennan created MediaWELL, an inaugural that intends to supply media literacy acquisition to group of each ages.

Mississippi: Jane Granberry

Miss Mississippi Jane Granberry

Miss Mississippi. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Jane Granberry, 23, is simply a student successful the MBA programme astatine the University of Mississippi. She utilized her integrated trading and communications grade from the schoolhouse arsenic an influencer trading and PR coordinator astatine Tarte Cosmetics.

She launched Literacy Without Limits, which provides literacy acquisition and devices to group successful Mississippi. She was first runner-up successful the Miss Mississippi pageant successful 2024 and 2025 earlier being crowned queen.

Missouri: Tabitha Crain

Miss Missouri Tabitha Crain

Miss Missouri. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Tabitha Crain, 24, is simply a rule student astatine the University of Missouri. She wants to usage her grade to advocator for survivors of home violence. According to her Miss America bio, she has raised complete $500,000 to support survivors of home and intersexual abuse.

Crain is passionate astir fitness, arsenic she is simply a erstwhile cheerleader and gymnast. She teaches rotation classes successful her free time.

Montana: Adella Harris

Miss Montana Adella Harris

Miss Montana. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Adella Harris, 19, studies governmental subject astatine Montana State University, wherever she is an honors student. She wants to spell to rule schoolhouse aft assemblage and hopes to tally for agency someday.

Harris created the Made for More initiative, encouraging children to pursuit their dreams.

Nebraska: Lexi Nolda

Miss Nebraska Lexi Nolda

Miss Nebraska. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Lexi Nolda, 22, earned a bachelor's grade successful nutrition and wellness sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After tegument crab affected members of her family, Nolda hopes to someday go a dermatology caregiver practitioner.

Nolda advocates for tegument crab prevention, and she hopes to grow that activity if she is crowned Miss America.

Nevada: Mariah Larronde

Miss Nevada Mariah Larronde

Miss Nevada. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Mariah Larronde, 27, sewage her bachelor's grade successful integer audiences and media study astatine Arizona State University. She plans to prosecute a master's successful information subject while moving toward her extremity of becoming an actress.

Larronde wants to support children who suffer a genitor aliases person a genitor struggling pinch an illness, truthful she created the Hidden Caregiver Network.

New Hampshire: Lauren Plank

Miss New Hampshire Lauren Plank

Miss New Hampshire. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Lauren Plank, 21, is simply a student successful an accelerated master's programme astatine the University of New Hampshire. Her extremity is to go an simple schoolhouse teacher.

She believes successful the powerfulness of volunteering, truthful she created a programme to promote children to get progressive pinch work work.

New Jersey: Kylie Gene Wright

Miss New Jersey Kylie Gene Wright

Miss New Jersey. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Kylie Gene Wright, 23, is studying business administration. She besides useful astatine AmeriKick Karate Studio, wherever she uses her second-degree achromatic loop to thatch classes.

Wright is an advocator for survivors of home and intersexual abuse, and she serves arsenic the East Coast Chapter President of T.A.K.E. Defense, a domiciled successful which she has raised complete $10,000, according to her Miss America bio.

New Mexico: Katarina Blakeslee

Miss New Mexico Katarina Blakeslee

Miss New Mexico. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Katarina Blakeslee, 26, sewage her bachelor's degrees successful nationalist wellness and theatre capacity from Tulane University and holds an MFA successful screenwriting from the University of Southern California. She has worked connected films and TV shows for studios for illustration A24 and Netflix.

Blakeslee is pursuing a Master of Anesthesia programme astatine the University of New Mexico and useful successful her state's only Level One Trauma Center.

She is besides passionate astir literacy defense and wrote the children's book "Valiant and the Bubble."

New York: Madison Oh

Miss New York Madison Oh

Miss New York. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Madison Oh, 21, studies English, dance, and business guidance astatine Columbia University. She would emotion to creation connected Broadway someday.

She advocates for the Minds Matter: Education Empowers initiative, which supports students applying to assemblage and seeking profession opportunities.

North Carolina: Lauryn Mallard

Miss North Carolina Lauryn Mallard

Miss North Carolina. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Lauryn Mallard, 26, has a bachelor's grade successful nutritional subject from the University of North Carolina astatine Greensboro and an MBA successful healthcare guidance from High Point University. She wants to go a expert assistant.

Mallard has worked pinch the Make-A-Wish Foundation for almost 20 years, raising money for pediatric crab attraction and research.

North Dakota: Emma Tong

Miss North Dakota  Emma Tong

Miss North Dakota. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Emma Tong, 23, studied biology astatine the University of Alabama and will be the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences to go a doctor. She wants to beryllium a radiation oncologist.

She was antecedently named Miss North Dakota's Outstanding Teen 2021.

Ohio: Lexie Miller

Miss Ohio Lexie Miller

Miss Ohio. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Lexie Miller, 23, is simply a cardiovascular ICU caregiver who graduated from the University of Akron.

Her profession was inspired by her parents, who activity arsenic a first responder and a healthcare professional. Miller hopes to raise consciousness for cardiovascular health.

Oklahoma: Jaselyn Rossman

Miss Oklahoma Jaselyn Rossman

Miss Oklahoma. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Jaselyn Rossman, 22, has a bachelor's grade successful accounting pinch a insignificant successful finance from Oklahoma State University — but she's not stopping there. She plans to prosecute a master's grade successful the field.

She's besides passionate astir creating activity opportunities for group pinch disabilities and has worked pinch Special Olympics and The Bridges organization.

In her free time, she volunteers arsenic a presenter for Oklahoma Cares for Children and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Control.

Oregon: Allyssa Defillipo

Miss Oregon Allyssa Defillipo

Miss Oregon. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Allyssa Defillipo, 26, has dreams of becoming a holistic nutritionist. She useful arsenic some a head of a chiropractic and wellness business and arsenic a women's nutrition and fittingness coach.

She was inspired by her puerility successful a low-income location to grow nutrition acquisition and entree to patient foods. Defillipo has besides written a children's book.

Pennsylvania: Stephanie Skinner

  Stephanie Skinner

Miss Pennsylvania. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Stephanie Skinner, 21, is an advocator for children who person nontraditional upbringings. She herself was raised by a azygous mother who served arsenic a US Army Major.

Some of Skinner's caller accomplishments see graduating from the Wharton School astatine the University of Pennsylvania and performing astatine the FIFA World Cup Fourth of July ceremony.

Puerto Rico: Annika Schneider

Miss Puerto Rico Annika Schneider

Miss Puerto Rico. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Annika Schneider, 21, is simply a dancer, cheerleader, and postgraduate of Pfeiffer University. She has a bachelor's grade successful business guidance and leadership.

She was the first Hispanic female to beryllium crowned Miss North Carolina Teen, and now, arsenic Miss Puerto Rico, she intends to advocator for the benefits of reading.

Rhode Island: Mia Daley

Miss Rhode Island Mia Daley

Miss Rhode Island. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Mia Daley, 19, is an arts student astatine Salve Regina University. She dreams of performing connected Broadway and is passionate astir storytelling onstage.

She's besides an advocator for improving intelligence wellness done dance. She believes it has the powerfulness to heal and service arsenic a instrumentality for self-expression.

South Carolina: Lindsay Jones

Miss South Carolina Lindsay Jones

Miss South Carolina. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Lindsay Jones, 26, useful arsenic a nationalist income head for a world-renowned instrumentality company, wherever she leads a multimillion-dollar territory, according to her Miss America bio. She has an MBA and is now pursuing a Ph.D. successful business.

In her free time, Jones useful pinch Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and serves connected its board.

South Dakota: Kianna Healy

Miss South Dakota Kianna Healy

Miss South Dakota. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Kianna Healy, 23, is simply a performer. She first took the shape astatine property 7 and has since participated successful vocal and theatre productions crossed the country.

She graduated from Pace University pinch degrees successful movie and arts and intermezo management. Healy is besides passionate astir animal welfare.

Tennessee: Makalyn Heaslett

Miss Tennessee Makalyn Heaslett

Miss Tennessee. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Makalyn Heaslett, 27, has brought business to the sports world. She graduated from Auburn University, antecedently worked for the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox, and is now an relationship executive for the Tennessee Titans.

Heaslett is besides pursuing a master's grade successful athletics management astatine Belmont University.

As a volunteer, she useful pinch Girls Inc. to supply mentorship and activity to young girls. She's helped raise much than $23,000 for its various organizations, according to her Miss America bio.

Texas: Regan Hutsell

Miss Texas Regan Hutsell

Miss Texas. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Regan Hutsell, 25, is simply a erstwhile Radio City Rockette and ballerina who now intends to go a beingness therapist for dancers.

She's moving toward her bachelor's grade successful wellness sciences and is an advocator for self-confidence and intelligence health.

Utah: Erika Dalton

Miss Utah Erika Dalton

Miss Utah. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Erika Dalton, 26, is the first Japanese American to beryllium crowned Miss Utah.

She's besides a Juilliard danasiwa recipient, a master violinist who's performed astatine Carnegie Hall, and a University of Michigan postgraduate pinch degrees successful violin capacity and business.

Dalton besides serves arsenic a state-certified situation advocator and unpaid for the Sexual Assault Hotline.

Vermont: Hannah Roque

Miss Vermont Hannah Roque

Miss Vermont. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Hannah Roque, 26, has a heavy history pinch Miss America. Her mom was Miss Vermont 1996.

Roque useful successful higher acquisition and has a bachelor's grade successful English and secondary education. She's besides an advocator for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement.

Virginia: Maddie Marchant

Miss Virginia Maddie Marchant

Miss Virginia. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Maddie Marchant, 22, is simply a media and connection student astatine East Tennessee State University. She plans to go a journalist.

She's besides the laminitis of the Buddy Bunch Club, which provides group pinch disabilities the chance to study social, academic, and master skills.

Washington: Natalie Worthy

Miss Washington Natalie Worthy

Miss Washington. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Natalie Worthy, 23, graduated from the University of Puget Sound pinch a euphony grade and is now moving toward a master's grade successful arts argumentation and management astatine Ohio State University.

She founded Amplify the Arts, a nonprofit organization, to merge her passions for vocal instruction and performing pinch her committedness to helping others.

West Virginia: Elizabeth Romanek

Miss West Virginia Elizabeth Romanek

Miss West Virginia. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Elizabeth Romanek, 24, was a competitory dancer and D1 athlete, truthful she's passionate astir workout and movement.

She is an ambassador of the West Virginia Physical Activity Plan. Romanek is besides a master's student astatine Bethany College and the adjunct head of admittance and recruitment events astatine the school.

Wisconsin: Jordenne Butler

Miss Wisconsin Jordenne Butler

Miss Wisconsin. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Jordenne Butler, 27, was inspired by her father's acquisition pinch shape 4 pharynx and cervix crab to constitute "Bentley Bounces Back," a children's book.

She's besides an advocator for resilience acquisition and support of kids who person knowledgeable adverse puerility experiences. Butler has a bachelor's grade successful trading and a insignificant successful imaginative media from Viterbo University.

Wyoming: Alyssa Medina

Miss Wyoming Alyssa Medina

Miss Wyoming. Courtesy of Miss America IP, INC.

Alyssa Medina, 22, is simply a sixth-grade coach who earned her degrees successful simple and typical acquisition from the University of Wyoming.

She has a sister, Briana, who's inspired Medina to support and bring joyousness to children who person disabilities.

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