[WASHINGTON, D.C.] March 11, 2026 — Miss America’s Teen 2026 Tess Ferm had the honor of attending and delivering a keynote address at the 2026 National Conference on Women’s Health in Washington, D.C., joining leaders and advocates focused on advancing women’s health and wellness.
Tess spoke about her Community Service Initiative, From Fear to Freedom: Food Allergy Awareness and Education, which was inspired by her own experience living with anaphylactic allergies. Through her initiative, Tess works to promote greater awareness and education around food allergies while helping communities become safer and better informed.
In addition to her work in food allergy advocacy, Tess serves as an intern with the American Heart Association, where she supports Go Red for Women, the organization’s national movement to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke in women—the leading cause of death among women.
Tess also recently joined the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT) as a national spokesperson, stepping into a new advocacy role focused on education, awareness, and lifesaving outreach. In this role, she will work alongside FAACT’s leadership team and Medical Advisory Board to expand national awareness of food allergies and strengthen community education efforts across the country.
Miss America’s Teen’s participation in the National Conference on Women’s Health provided an opportunity to share these efforts on a national stage, highlighting the importance of education, advocacy, and community awareness in protecting and improving women’s health.
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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, distributing all scholarships through the Miss America’s Scholarship Foundation Inc. a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.