By Kathleen Ortiz, Houston Chronicle
September 11, 2026
When Regan Hutsell was crowned as the 99th Miss America on Sunday, she was the first Miss Texas to be crowned Miss America in more than 50 years and the fourth Miss Texas to ever win the title.
Hutsell, who is from Houston, is the 10th Black woman to win Miss America and the first to win while wearing her natural hair, according to a news release. Sheila Milner, director of the Miss Houston organization, said Hutsell is the sixth Black woman to be crowned Miss Texas, and the third from Houston.
“There will be other little girls and young women that look like her that will now have that same courage and hope to be able to say ‘Well if she could do it, I can do it,'” Milner said.
Milner, who has worked with Hutsell since August 2025, described Hutsell as “pure light.”
By winning the competition, Hutsell earned $50,000 to go toward her education. She has earned nearly $90,000 in scholarships throughout the Miss America process. She is currently an online student at Liberty University studying Health Sciences, with aspirations to become a physical therapist.
“Miss America has always represented hope and inspiration,” Hutsell said in a statement. “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.”
Hutsell studied at Feijoo Ballet School in Dickinson, Texas, before becoming a Radio City Rockette at 18. After her time as a Rockette, Hutsell danced briefly with the Houston Contemporary Dance Company, Bay Area Houston Ballet Theatre and Ballet Rhode Island. In 2021, she joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet where she stayed until 2024.
As her talent for Miss America, Hutsell performed a jazz dance and won the preliminary talent and fitness awards.
Hutsell’s community service initiative is “Your Body Is Your Home,” through which she encourages others to create healthy self worth and positive inner dialogue, while recognizing that value is not defined by appearance. Hutsell started this initiative due to her own experience with an eating disorder.
“Now with it being Miss America, she has a whole nation to be able to inspire and be able tell her story and share her story,” Milner said. “I am so proud of her for taking that journey, because in the beginning it’s kind of hard to be able to put yourself out there and say ‘Well, I really want to talk about this.'”
The competition in West Palm Beach, Florida, was between representatives from the 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. First runner-up to Hutsell was Shelby Bordelon of Louisiana and second runner-up was Kate Dimmett of Illinois.
“I think with her wearing the crown now as Miss America, she is going to show her genuine heart and her spirit,” Milner said. “And people will see her light and she will definitely spread positivity and bring encouragement to others.”
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