Miss America and All State Ambassadors to Join Salute to Independence Parade Honoring America’s 250th Anniversary

[PHILADELPHIA, PA] February 5, 2025 — The Miss America Organization is proud to announce that Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan and all 52 State Ambassadors will participate in the Salute to Independence Parade—the nation’s largest professionally produced Semiquincentennial celebration parade. The historic event will take place July 3, 2026, in Philadelphia, commemorating 250 years of American independence in the city where the nation was born.

 

Presented as part of Welcome America Inc.’s festival, a 16-day Fourth of July celebration, the parade will feature 250 dynamic elements representing all 50 states and U.S. territories. Highlights include 50 marching bands, 13 floats, military units, special performers, and historical tributes, all traveling through Philadelphia’s iconic streets. Each Miss America State Ambassador will proudly represent her home state through custom, thematic elements celebrating American history, culture, and creativity.

 

All Ambassadors will ride in convertibles wearing show-stopping evening gowns —and unforgettable shoes—in celebration of Miss America’s beloved “Show Us Your Shoes” tradition. The tradition dates back to the 1970s, when Miss America parade spectators noticed delegates wearing slippers—or no shoes at all—and famously called out, “Show us your shoes!” Delegates lifted their feet in response, sparking a joyful moment that became one of the organization’s most iconic and enduring traditions.

The celebration continues this fall at the Miss America Competition, when the State Ambassadors return to the runway at the Miss America Gala, held during national competition week. The shoes will be on display to the public throughout the week at the Miss America EXPO, offering fans a closer look at the creativity behind each design.

 

Costumes have long been woven into Miss America’s history, dating back to the earliest parades held alongside the competition. In 1952, Marilyn Monroe became the first female grand marshal of the Miss America parade, and by the 1970s, delegates began pairing elaborate costumes with creative footwear, cementing a tradition that blends artistry, American pride, and celebration.

As the oldest pageant in the country and home to the longest-running costume show in pageant history, Miss America proudly enters America’s 250th year by honoring tradition, celebrating creativity, and continuing to inspire generations—on the streets of Philadelphia and beyond.

 

Stay tuned for more exciting announcements as Miss America, an enduring American icon, continues to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.