FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[WEST PALM BEACH, FL] August 31, 2026 —The Miss America Organization is proud to announce the Top 10 finalists for both the Miss America and Miss America’s Teen Quality of Life Awards, prestigious annual honors recognizing delegates whose extraordinary service and commitment have made a meaningful impact in their communities.
MISS AMERICA QUALITY OF LIFE FINALISTS
Miss Oregon Allyssa Defillipo
Miss Alabama Ruby Tilghman
Miss Pennsylvania Stephanie Skinner
Miss Arizona Victoria Vredevoogd
Miss Tennessee Makalyn Heaslett
Miss Illinois Kate Dimmett
Miss Florida Alexandra de Roos
Miss Missouri Tabitha Crain
Miss Georgia Sophia Wootten
Miss South Carolina Lindsay Jones
MISS AMERICA’S TEEN QUALITY OF LIFE FINALISTS
Miss Nebraska’s Teen Ella-Kathryn Anderson
Miss Maryland’s Teen Aryani Odie
Miss Wisconsin’s Teen Meredith Rosemurgy
Miss New Jersey’s Teen Natalie Troyer-Kulstad
Miss Arkansas’ Teen Presley Bennett
Miss South Carolina’s Teen Logan Wells
Miss Indiana’s Teen Lily Bauer
Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen Anna Rinnier
Miss Mississippi’s Teen Madalyn Sullivan
Miss Colorado’s Teen Michelle Mann
This year, the Miss America Quality of Life Award winner receives $10,000 and the Miss America’s Teen Quality of Life Award winner receives $3,000, with additional scholarships awarded to the first and second runners-up in both divisions.
Applicants for this award were reviewed by a distinguished panel of academic professionals representing three of the Miss America Organization’s university partners: Samford University, Hood College, and Troy University.
Miss America Preliminary Quality of Life Award Judges
– Leslie Anne Scrushy, Associate Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications at Troy University, who served as Head Judge
– Sonia Amir-Bowie, Assistant Director of Graduate Student Success at Hood College
– Jason E. Black, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Samford University
Miss America’s Teen Preliminary Quality of Life Award Judges
– Joseph H. “Jody” Hunt, General Counsel and Vice President for Government Affairs at Samford University, who served as Head Judge
– Alicia Gunter Bookout, Interim Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs at Troy University
– Dr. Anita Jose, Professor of Management and DBA Coordinator at Hood College
Our Top 10 finalists in both divisions will advance to the final round of interviews, where they will meet with an extraordinary panel of servant-hearted philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, and entrepreneurs.
Miss America and Miss America’s Teen Quality of Life Award Final Panel
– Anka Palitz, a former Revlon vice president and longtime Palm Beach philanthropist who has spent more than three decades championing the performing arts. She has served on the board of American Ballet Theatre, founded the Heart & Soul Gala and recently made a historic $1 million gift to Ballet Palm Beach.
– Ben Starling III, founder of Southern Philanthropy and a respected Palm Beach fundraising consultant who has helped secure transformational gifts for organizations including The Scripps Research Institute and the Museum of the Bible. He is also a former president of the Palm Beach Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
– Stanton Collemer, a respected nonprofit executive with more than four decades of leadership in Palm Beach County. A founding staff member of Palm Healthcare Foundation, he now serves as CEO of Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope, where he supports local cancer patients and their families and created the organization’s signature Shop the Day Away Luncheon and Dance the Night Away Gala.
– Kourtney Leigh, founder and CEO of TINGE, a body beauty brand redefining self-care beyond the face. She is among the two percent of female founders to raise more than $1 million in venture funding and was selected as both a 2026 Tory Burch Foundation Fellow and Forbes Global fellow.
– Johnna Pomasan, a business leader who has spent 38 years helping build the veteran-owned Ace Electronics Defense Systems alongside her husband. Her philanthropic work proudly supports veterans, military families, and Palm Beach County organizations, including 211 Helpline, the Center for Family Services, and Fort Freedom.
The Quality of Life Award winners will be announced during the final shows of competition for each division: Saturday, September 5 for Miss America’s Teen and Sunday, September 6 for Miss America
A respected leader in live television and event production, Gentry brings nearly five decades of experience to Miss America. He currently produces broadcasts for ESPN+ and ShowCase Video and serves as producer of the Miss Louisiana, Miss Arkansas, and Miss Texas competitions and statewide telecasts.
Gentry began his pageant career with Miss Louisiana in 1976 as Technical Director before becoming producer of its televised competition when it returned to television in 1999. He also produced the televised Miss Florida and Miss Florida’s Outstanding Teen competitions from 2002–2018, as well as the televised Miss Arkansas competition in 2019.
Beyond pageantry, Gentry has produced and directed acclaimed performances for dance companies and theatrical productions across the country, including Ballet Mississippi, the Louisiana Delta Ballet Company, the Twin City Ballet Company, and numerous special performing arts events. In recognition of his outstanding work in production, stage, and lighting design, he was named the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council’s Artist of the Year in 2011.
A graduate of the University of Louisiana Monroe, Gentry resides in West Monroe, Louisiana, with his wife, Marie.
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About Miss America’s Scholarship Foundation Inc. (MASF):
Miss America is the nation’s leading empowerment and service platform for young women, supporting their personal and professional growth while inspiring them to serve as positive role models in their communities. Since 1921, Miss America has been dedicated to its mission of
“Empowering Women to Lead,” engaging thousands of young women nationwide, ages 14-28, as local and state brand ambassadors committed to community service.
Through the Miss America’s Scholarship Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3), the program awards the largest amount of scholarships to women in America.