[DALLAS, TX] October 10, 2026 — “Everything is bigger in Texas,” and Miss America Regan Hutsell’s homecoming was no exception. The Lone Star State welcomed its newest hometown icon with a weekend of celebration honoring her crowning as the 99th Miss America and a milestone more than half a century in the making. Regan is the fourth Miss Texas to earn the national title, joining a distinguished legacy of Texas women who have represented the state on the Miss America stage.
The celebration began at the State Fair of Texas, where Regan was joined by state ambassadors who traveled from across the country to welcome her home. Together, they participated in the fair’s nightly Starlight Parade and greeted Texans from across the state, bringing the Miss America sisterhood into one of Texas’s most beloved traditions.
The festivities continued with the Miss Texas Revue, Stars of Texas, where Regan returned to the stage with her award-winning talent, showcasing the precision and artistry shaped by her experience as a Radio City Rockette and professional ballerina with the Birmingham Royal Ballet. State ambassadors also performed alongside Miss Texas’ Teen Zoe Zogleman and the Texas Lone Stars, the state chapter of the Miss America’s Little Sisters program.
The evening marked another significant moment for the Texas program as Regan crowned Stephanie Wendt as the new Miss Texas. Named first runner-up to Hutsell at the Miss Texas Competition, Stephanie now steps into the role with an impressive pageant background of her own. She previously held the title of Miss Texas’ Outstanding Teen in 2017 and placed third runner-up at Miss America’s Teen. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Communications, with minors in Government and Business Administration, and a Master of Science in Marketing from The University of Texas at Austin. She works as a communications consultant and is as a NHL cheerleader.
The weekend culminated in the Written in the Stars Gala, an evening celebrating Regan’s achievement as the 99th Miss America and Texas’s enduring place in the organization’s history. Among the distinguished guests was Forever Miss America Shirley Cothran Barret, crowned Miss America in 1975 and the most recent Miss Texas to earn the national title before Regan. During her year of service, Shirley traveled an extraordinary 250,000 miles, demonstrating the reach and responsibility that come with the crown.
From the State Fair to the Miss Texas stage, Miss America Regan Hutsell’s homecoming brought together generations of titleholders, state ambassadors and supporters to celebrate a legacy that continues to grow. As she begins her year of service, Regan carries that legacy forward, representing Texas and the Miss America organization in communities across the country.
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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.