Miss South Dakota’s Teen & Miss South Dakota’s Teen & Miss South Dakota’s Teen
This is an iconic moment.
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American Heart Association
Cassie Donegan
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Officially HER Magazine is a pr int publication distr ibuted to over 400+ specialty retail mar kets nationwide with a digital audience of 3 8 million+
Cassie Donegan
Miss America 2026
Tess Ferm
Miss America’s Teen 2026
Cover Design
Mack Hopper
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Carlos Velez
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Victoria Duke Beauty
Miss America is re-entering the conversation, or as we say ‘entering the chat’ redefined as a global empowerment platform for women Across borders, industries, and communities, the Miss America Opportunity now operates as a global sisterhood, while leading as a global ambassador for women’s achievement, visibility, and leadership in action What’s unfolding is bigger than a program It’s an opportunity, a movement with reach, velocity, and of significant consequence. Celebrating the iconic four points, now including the foundation of Sisterhood: Style, Service, Scholarship and Success
Culture responds and embraces authentic style. Miss America style shows up where style, influence and iconic moments are created New York Fashion Week, elite sporting arenas, red carpet moments, iconic philanthropic institutions claiming space with confidence and authority These moments aren’t appearances; they’re proof points. Women who lead with purpose belong everywhere decisions are made and futures are shaped
The Miss America service initiative steps onto the world stage this year as an ongoing Global Ambassador for the United Service Organizations (USO) in addition to her role as a Global Ambassador for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Initiative, placing women at the center of global service initiatives, diplomacy, and influence and impact on women’s health initiatives These partnerships do more than just amplify impact; it redefines who represents leadership on an international scale.
At the core, the scholarship mission scales Education transforms into long-range power through scholarship pathways, including a new four-year program of study with Mississippi State University creating
leaders who don’t just succeed, but return to their communities equipped to elevate others.
Momentum accelerates through success, illustrated by new partnerships tied to the Daytona and Rolex racing tradition at Daytona International Speedway aligning Miss America with success, excellence, performance, and global visibility. This is what happens when a women-led institution meets brands that understand legacy is built by those willing to move fast and think big
As our great nation celebrates America’s 250th Anniversary, Miss America is a defining force of this era celebrating progress, and honoring legacy, while launching the next wave of female empowerment and leadership Global partnerships expand New platforms emerge. The mission sharpens: empowering women to lead with purpose everywhere leadership matters
This is not a moment to simply applaud progress. This is your moment to join the movement, an invitation for you to step into your power through the local, state, national and global stages of the Miss America opportunity Join us, either as a participant, volunteer, or in leadership of new local programs, state initiatives, or within the expansion of the national events. This moment marks the launching of the new Miss America Opportunity
Seize the moment,
Robin Fleming Editor-in-Chief
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ican Heart Association’s Go Red ning of Dining, a “Show Us Your State Delegates and a Special Gold Star Families
From the classroom to the boardroomearly arts education builds leaders of tomorrow
As Miss Amer ica 2026, Cassie Donegan uses her national platfor m to champion ar ts education advocating for creativity to be woven into lear ning from the ear liest age. Whether speaking in classrooms or on Capitol Hill, her message is clear : Ear ly ar ts education changes lives
For Cassie, the ar ts aren’t just a hobby they’re a lifeline. At 12, music and perfor mance carr ied her through her family’s financial hardship and ignited a mission to ensure ever y young person has access to the transfor mative power of the ar ts
Today, she travels the countr y shar ing that stor y and inspir ing communities with her belief that from the classroom to the boardroom, the ar ts build the leaders of tomorrow a tr uth reinforced by research showing that students engaged in the ar ts score higher academically, graduate at greater rates, and develop the creativity and confidence needed for lifelong success
• National Ambassador for Go Red for Women
• COO of Childcare Services Organization
• Actor's Equity Association Member with Broadway ambitions
• Dolly Parton Impressionist
FROM THE LUNCH ROOM TO THE LEGISLATURE, FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS SAVES LIVES.
When Tess Fer m was five, one cookie almost changed ever ything. It contained tree nuts, and she had a lifethreatening reaction. That scar y moment spar ked her mission: making sure no one else has to find out about food allergies the hard way. To tur n her mission into action, Tess created From Fear to Freedom: Food Allergy Awareness.
Since then, she’s:
• Reached more than 8,000 students through school assemblies
• Helped secure official proclamations for Food Allergy Awareness Week
• Ser ved on FARE’s National Teen Advisor y Group
• Advocated for the FASTER Act, expanding food labeling protections for 1.5 million Amer icans
• Par tnered with nonprofits and brands to give families, teachers, and students life-saving tools
As Miss Amer ica’s Teen, Tess is taking her wor k nationwide. She plans to:
• Push for proclamations in more states
• Team up with mission-dr iven organizations
• Be a national voice for food allergy advocacy
Her vision is simple: a wor ld where kids, parents, and teachers feel confident making safe choices Because food allergy awareness doesn’t just change lives it saves them
• Loves to sing “The Wizard and I” from Wicked
• Spot-on Jennifer Coolidge impersonation from Legally Blonde
• Go-to snack is a MadeGood Bar
• Dance enthusiast big fan of Dancing with the Stars
