Miss New York Cassie Donegan Wins Miss America 2026, Earns $50,000 Scholarship

Cassie Donegan, a 27-year-old singer and actress from New York, was crowned Miss America 2026 on September 7 at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida, after two nights of competition featuring 52 contestants from every state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico. She is the 98th Miss America and the eighth from New York to win the title, succeeding Miss America 2025 Abbie Stockard of Alabama. Donegan received a $50,000 tuition scholarship as part of her victory, with her total scholarship earnings through the program exceeding $70,000, which have supported her undergraduate and master's education. Known for her vocal talent, she won the talent award for performing "A Darker Shade of Blue" from the musical Some Like It Hot and is committed to arts and education advocacy through her initiative "Promoting Arts Education in Our School Systems." Beyond pageantry, Donegan serves as COO of a women-led childcare company and has a professional background in musical theater, emphasizing her platform to champion gender equality and authentic self-expression. Her responses during the interview portion, including her views on body autonomy and gender equality, were met with enthusiasm, underscoring her role as a confident and outspoken representative throughout her yearlong reign.