WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Regan Hutsell, Miss Texas, has been crowned the 99th Miss America. Following two nights of preliminary competitions featuring 52 delegates of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Hutsell became the fourth Miss Texas to capture the Miss America title in 105 years.
At just 18 years old, Regan began her professional dance career as a Radio City Rockette, later performing internationally with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, where she traveled throughout Europe sharing her talent on some of the world’s most prestigious stages. Her distinguished dance career cultivated the discipline, resilience, and work ethic that continue to define her leadership today.
Behind the spotlight, Regan’s journey has also been one of extraordinary personal triumph. While performing professionally, she overcame an eating disorder and the pressures of perfectionism and body image that often accompany elite performance. Those experiences became the inspiration for her Community Service Initiative, Your Body Is Your Home, through which she encourages individuals to cultivate healthy self-worth, build positive inner dialogue, and understand that their value is never defined by appearance.
Regan also makes history as the first woman of color to win the Miss America crown while wearing her natural hair.
During the preliminary competition, Regan earned preliminary awards in both fitness and talent, with her talent award recognizing her jazz dance performance to “Le Jazz Hot.”
Through the Miss America Opportunity, Hutsell has earned nearly $90,000 in scholarships, helping fund her education as she pursues her Bachelor’s of Science in Health Sciences, with aspirations to become a Physical Therapist.
“Miss America has always represented hope and inspiration,” said Hutsell. “I am incredibly honored to represent an organization that empowers women through scholarships, service, and opportunity. I look forward to encouraging individuals of all generations to walk boldly in their purpose, pursue their wildest dreams, and never give up on themselves.”
The final night of competition, hosted by Jennifer Hale and Billy Gilman, featured a celebrity judging panel including Kate Shindle, Dr. Regina Benjamin, Vicki Vlahos, Hal Rubenstein, Ubah Hassan, and Ellen Latham. The event took place at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Regan earned the crown—a one-of-a-kind Miss America crown featuring red and blue stones in honor of America’s semiquincentennial—after advancing through multiple rounds of competition and placing in the Top 5 finalists alongside Shelby Bordelon (1st Runner-Up, LA), Kate Dimmett (2nd Runner-Up, IL), Sharlize True Trujillo (3rd Runner-Up, CA), and Evelyn Smith (4th Runner-Up, DC). Semi-finalists included Carly Yoshida (HI), Erika Dalton (UT), Madison Oh (NY), Lindsay Jones (SC), McKenzie Kerry (IA), and Jane Granberry (MS).
Each year, the Miss America Opportunity awards over $5 million in tuition scholarships and provides an additional $35 million in-kind scholarships through its national, state, and local programs.
As Miss America, Regan will embody the organization’s mission of “Empowering Women to Lead with Purpose,” dedicating her year of service to inspiring others to embrace their purpose, lead with conviction, and create meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.
About Miss America
Miss America’s mission is Empowering Women to Lead with Purpose as the nation’s premier empowerment platform for young women. Founded in 1921, the iconic Miss America program is also America’s largest provider of tuition-only scholarship awards for women, administered by the Miss America’s Scholarship Foundation Inc. a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
CONTACT: Miss America Press
press@missamerica.org
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SOURCE Miss America Organization
