Children and families spread out on blankets and towels at the Hunt Club Farm in Virginia Beach, listening to Miss America lead story time.

For residents at Morning Pointe Senior Living’s Hixson, East Hamilton, and Chattanooga communities, an ordinary summer afternoon became an unforgettable experience when Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan stopped by to spend time with them ahead of her appearance at the Morning Pointe Foundation’s 7th Annual Seniors Got Talent competition.

The voice teacher opens up to PEOPLE about the criticism she received about her appearance after singing at a recent baseball game

After performing at the MLB All-Star Game, Cassie Donegan was met with cruel comments about her appearance. The reigning Miss America speaks out about the ripple effect of body-shaming.

Miss America 2026 winner Cassie Donegan won’t let her critics get the best of her.

The beauty pageant titleholder, who took home the Miss America crown in September 2025, performed “God Bless America” at the July 14 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia — and was met with a lot of criticism regarding her appearance.

Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan became one of the most talked-about names during the 2026 MLB All-Star Game after her performance of “God Bless America” at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia drew strong reactions from fans watching in the stadium and at home.