The crowning of Miss America capped nine days of activities in West Palm Beach, as the pageants came to South Florida for the first time.
By Arianna Otero, The Palm Beach Post
September 6, 2026
WEST PALM BEACH — Miss Texas is now Miss America.
Regan Hutsell won the 2027 crown on Sept. 6 during a ceremony at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, capping a week of competition featuring contestants from all of the 50 states plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Hutsell, one of five finalists for the award, had electrified the crowd at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in the talent portion on Sept. 3 with a jazz dance routine. She received her crown on Sunday night from Cassie Donegan, the 2026 Miss America.
Miss Florida, Alexandra de Roos, won the pageant’s Quality of Life Award, in part for her work as an advocate for people who have sustained brain injuries. The Winter Haven woman attends the University of South Florida and is planning a career in medicine as a neuropsychiatrist. The award comes with a $10,000 scholarship.
The crowning came one night after Elle Anderson of Utah won Miss America’s Teen, receiving her crown at the Kravis Center. That contest is for young women ages 13 to 18. Miss America is for women ages 18 to 28.
WEST PALM BEACH
Miss America in West Palm: Regan Hutsell, Miss Texas, takes 2027 crown
The crowning of Miss America capped nine days of activities in West Palm Beach, as the pageants came to South Florida for the first time.
Arianna OteroPalm Beach Post
Sept. 6, 2026Updated Sept. 7, 2026, 1:51 p.m. ET
WEST PALM BEACH — Miss Texas is now Miss America.
Regan Hutsell won the 2027 crown on Sept. 6 during a ceremony at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, capping a week of competition featuring contestants from all of the 50 states plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Hutsell, one of five finalists for the award, had electrified the crowd at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in the talent portion on Sept. 3 with a jazz dance routine. She received her crown on Sunday night from Cassie Donegan, the 2026 Miss America.
Miss Florida, Alexandra de Roos, won the pageant’s Quality of Life Award, in part for her work as an advocate for people who have sustained brain injuries. The Winter Haven woman attends the University of South Florida and is planning a career in medicine as a neuropsychiatrist. The award comes with a $10,000 scholarship.
The crowning came one night after Elle Anderson of Utah won Miss America’s Teen, receiving her crown at the Kravis Center. That contest is for young women ages 13 to 18. Miss America is for women ages 18 to 28.
The two pageants this year took place in South Florida for the first time, and will be staged in West Palm Beach through 2028.
Miss America called Atlantic City its home for decades before moving to locations such as Las Vegas and Florida. Last year, it took place at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando.
Each contestant took part in fitness, evening gown and talent events at the Kravis Center, as well as walking the traditional red carpet on Sept. 4 at the convention center.
The winner receives $50,000 in scholarships and makes appearances on behalf of Miss America in the upcoming year.
Now 25 years old, Hutsell began dancing about 20 years ago in her hometown of Houston. She became a Radio City Rockette at 18 and went on to join the Birmingham Royal Ballet, one of the United Kingdom’s top ballet companies.
Her dance career helped to shape and inform her pageant community service initiative, “Your Body is Your Home.” She has spoken about her history with an eating disorder and the pressures of body image for performers.
With the addition of the $50,000 grand prize award, Hutsell has received more than $90,000 in scholarships from Miss America. Her earnings will go toward a bachelor’s degree in health sciences and her goal of becoming a physical therapist. She has been a student at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Hutsell also made history as the first woman of color to win the Miss America crown while wearing her natural hair.
After a dance number featuring all the contestants kicked off Sunday night’s festivities, Miss America announced the 11 semifinalists who would compete for the crown. Along with Hutsell, they included:
Miss California, Sharlize True Trujillo.
Miss District of Columbia, Evelyn Smith.
Miss Hawaii, Carly Yoshida.
Miss Illinois, Kate Dimmett.
Miss Iowa, McKenzie Kerry.
Miss Louisiana, Shelby Bordelon.
Miss Mississippi, Jane Granberry.
Miss New York, Madison Oh.
Miss South Carolina, Lindsay Jones.
Miss Utah, Erika Dalton.
Then the semifinalists essentially repeated the pageant in speed time, doing fast turns through fitness and talent before improvising for the judges 30-second responses to what a particular word — such as freedom, innovation or unity — means to them.
Hutsell’s word was “courage.” She spoke about the courage she has needed to persevere in life and to compete in pageants like Miss America.
Then past Miss America winners took the stage just before the field was trimmed to the final five: Miss California, Miss District of Columbia, Miss Illinois, Miss Louisiana and Hutsell as Miss Texas. Clad again in their evening gowns, the final five were given a final chance to speak and answer questions from the judges before the winner was announced.
The remaining contestants then took the stage in their evening gowns for the crowning ceremony, led by Donegan. Billy Gilman, the country singer who was one of the co-hosts, sang to all 52 of them before the big moment happened.
In prepared remarks released after her victory, Hutsell said she hopes to embody the “hope and inspiration” that Miss America has represented to women.
“I am incredibly honored to represent an organization that empowers women through scholarships, service and opportunity,” she said.
“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.”
Read the article here: https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/westpb/2026/09/06/miss-america-in-west-palm-regan-hutsell-miss-texas-takes-2027-crown/91616617007/