The 99th Miss America competition officially wrapped up on Sunday night, September 6, 2026, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. By the end of the evening, Regan Hutsell—competing as Miss Texas—stood at center stage to accept the iconic crown from her predecessor, Cassie Donegan of New York.
Hutsell’s victory marks a major personal milestone, making her the 99th woman in history to hold the historic national title. Alongside the crown and sash, she earned a $50,000 tuition scholarship and immediately stepped into her role for a yearlong national tour across the United States.
The live final competition streamed globally across the official Miss America YouTube channel and PageantVision.com, bringing together fifty-one state and district delegates who spent the week competing in talent, physical fitness, evening gown, and live interview rounds.
Who Is Regan Hutsell?
Regan Hutsell arrived at the national pageant as Miss Texas 2026, bringing a rare blend of professional stage experience, classical athletic training, and a clear dedication to health advocacy. Raised in Houston, Texas, she has spent much of her life training at the highest levels of competitive dance and academic study.
According to her educational background, Hutsell is currently pursuing a undergraduate degree in health sciences through Liberty University Online. Her long-term career ambition is to become a licensed physical therapist, specializing in sports recovery, performance medicine, and dancer rehabilitation.
Her artistic resume is equally impressive:
- Birmingham Royal Ballet: She previously lived and worked in the United Kingdom as a professional company artist with the prestigious Birmingham Royal Ballet.
- Radio City Rockettes: She performed on one of the most famous stages in American entertainment as a member of the Radio City Rockettes in New York City.
That rigorous physical training served her exceptionally well throughout the multi-day competition in Florida, giving her a polished stage presence that impressed both the live audience and the selection committee.
How the Final Night Unfolded
The final event brought together family members, state directors, and pageant enthusiasts inside the main auditorium in West Palm Beach. The stage show was co-hosted by sports journalist Jennifer Hale and singer-songwriter Billy Gilman, who kept the momentum moving cleanly through each elimination round.
The evening began with all fifty-one delegates taking the stage for the opening production number before the preliminary scores were calculated to reveal the Top 11 semi-finalists.
Pageant Competition Flow
├── 51 State & District Delegates
├── Top 11 Semi-Finalists (Talent & Fitness)
├── Top 5 Finalists (Onstage Question & Final Look)
└── Crowning of Miss AmericaAfter performing in their respective talent disciplines and walking in the fitness and evening gown segments, the judges narrowed the field down to five final delegates. Each of the top five finalists faced a live onstage interview question covering public policy, healthcare access, leadership, and personal platform goals.
Full Results: Winners and Scholarship Breakdown
The Miss America Organization remains one of the largest scholarship providers for young women in the United States, awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars in academic assistance across local, state, and national levels every year.
The Top 5 Finalists
| Position | Delegate | State Represented | Scholarship Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Regan Hutsell | Texas | $50,000 |
| 1st Runner-Up | Shelby Bordelon | Louisiana | $10,000 |
| 2nd Runner-Up | Kate Dimmett | Illinois | $8,000 |
| 3rd Runner-Up | Sharlize True Trujillo | California | $6,000 |
| 4th Runner-Up | Evelyn Smith | District of Columbia | $5,000 |
Top 11 Semi-Finalists
In addition to the top five finalists, six other delegates earned top honors by making the initial cut into the semi-finals:
- Carly Yoshida (Miss Hawaii)
- McKenzie Kerry (Miss Iowa)
- Jane Granberry (Miss Mississippi)
- Madison Oh (Miss New York)
- Lindsay Jones (Miss South Carolina)
- Erika Dalton (Miss Utah)
The Selection Committee
To select the 99th titleholder, the organization assembled a diverse, seven-member judging panel featuring former titleholders, healthcare experts, fashion leaders, and television personalities:
- Kate Shindle: Actress, broadway performer, and Miss America 1998.
- Dr. Regina Benjamin: American physician and the 18th Surgeon General of the United States.
- Vicki Vlahos: Designer and founder of the international fashion house Portia & Scarlett.
- Hal Rubenstein: Author, fashion journalist, and founding editor of InStyle Magazine.
- Ubah Hassan: International model, philanthropist, and star of The Real Housewives of New York City.
- Ellen Latham: Exercise physiologist and creator/co-founder of Orangetheory Fitness.
The panel evaluated the contestants across multiple days of private panel interviews, preliminary performance nights, and the final live broadcast show.
What Happens During a Reign as Miss America?
Winning Miss America is much more than winning a crown and posing for photos. Immediately after the final curtain falls on Sunday night, the winner begins a demanding, fast-paced job that spans an entire twelve-month period.
National Travel and Community Outreach
As Miss America, Hutsell will travel up to 20,000 miles every month across the country. Her daily schedule will typically include:
- School Visits: Speaking to students about goal setting, physical wellness, and continuing higher education.
- Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals: Visiting pediatric care centers to raise awareness and support fundraising efforts for young patients and their families.
- Media Appearances: Representing the organization on morning talk shows, news networks, and industry podcasts.
- Corporate Sponsor Events: Meeting with corporate partners who provide financial backing and scholarship grants for the pageant system.
Advocacy in Healthcare and Dance Medicine
Given her personal background as a dancer and health sciences major, Hutsell’s national platform will focus heavily on health education, physical rehabilitation accessibility, and injury prevention for young athletes and performers. She plans to use her platform to encourage better wellness habits and help people gain access to proper physical therapy care regardless of their background.
Looking Forward: The Path to the 100th Anniversary
Hutsell’s victory marks the official beginning of the 99th reign in the organization’s history, setting the stage for a major milestone next year. As the program approaches its historic 100th anniversary edition, the organization continues to adapt its messaging to highlight educational achievements, career development, and leadership opportunities for women.l therapy uate program when her reign concludes.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won Miss America?
Regan Hutsell, representing Texas, was crowned Miss America at the final event held in West Palm Beach, Florida.
2. How much scholarship money did the winner receive?
The newly crowned Miss America received a $50,000 tuition scholarship to help fund her continuing college and professional education.
3. What is Regan Hutsell’s professional background?
She is a former professional ballet dancer with the Birmingham Royal Ballet and a former Radio City Rockette. She is currently studying health sciences online through Liberty University.
4. Who was the first runner-up in the competition?
Shelby Bordelon, competing as Miss Louisiana, was named first runner-up and earned a $10,000 scholarship.
5. Where was the competition held and where did it stream?
The final night took place at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, and streamed live on PageantVision.com and YouTube.