Texas takes the Miss America crown as Regan Hutsell wins in West Palm Beach
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Regan Hutsell of Texas was crowned Miss America 2027 in West Palm Beach, becoming the 99th woman to hold the title.
Texas has a new claim on one of the country’s oldest pageant titles.
Regan Hutsell was named Miss America 2027 on Sunday, Sept. 6, at the national competition in West Palm Beach, Florida, becoming the 99th woman to wear the crown and sash.
PEOPLE reported that delegates from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands competed for the title, with Hutsell also taking home scholarship money as part of her prize.
Miss Louisiana, Shelby Bordelon, finished as first runner-up, followed by Miss Illinois, Kate Dimmett, in second.
Outgoing titleholder Cassie Donegan, 28, placed the crown on her successor, following the tradition that closes out each reigning year. Donegan won last September after taking the New York state title months earlier, and spent the following twelve months traveling for speaking engagements, philanthropic work and performances, including singing the national anthem at the Daytona 500.
Hutsell now inherits that schedule, along with the platform that comes with it, as the organization moves toward its 100th titleholder next year. A former Radio City Rockette and dancer with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Hutsell is no stranger to hard work or keeping up with a fast pace. Within hours of her win, Hutsell flew to New York for her first appearance on “Good Morning America.” She spoke about squeezing a few hours of rest in after her “surreal moment” win and expressed her gratitude.
“As Miss America, I look forward to giving as much hope to as many people as possible, to encourage and inspire people that they can go for their dreams, that they can dare to do big things ans actually achieve them.”