​2026 Contestants

The young women who compete in the Miss America system are intelligent, articulate, highly motivated, caring, talented, ambitious, and hard working. They are passionate about their community service initiatives and are major contributors to public ​service. They exemplify leadership skills, strength of character and spirit...they touch lives.

CONTESTANT #1

Alana Kowalski


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​​​​Age: 17
Hometown: New Boston
​School:
Schoolcraft College
​Paul Mitchell The School
Service Initiative:
Igniting Your SPARK: Reclaiming Confidence in Today's Youth
​Talent:
Vocal Performance / "At Last"
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CONTESTANT #2

Iyla O'Connor

3rd Runner-Up
OSQ Award (tie), Miss Congeniality Award (tie), Community Service Award

​​​​Age: 27
Hometown: Grosse Pointe Park
​School:
Western Michigan University
Service Initiative:
Bloom Where You Are Planted: Sowing Seeds of Stewardship
​Talent:
Vocal Performance /
"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"​

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CONTESTANT #3

Sydney Jaworski

Semi-Finalist Talent Award
 
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​​​​Age: 21
Hometown: Farmington
​School:
Elevate Salon Institute
Service Initiative:
Wigs for Kids: Crowned in Confidence
​Talent:
Lyrical Dance / "Wait For You"
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CONTESTANT #4

Alyssa Loucks

4th Runner-Up
OSQ Award (tie)
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​​​​Age: 25
Hometown: Livonia
​School:
University of Michigan — Graduate
Service Initiative:
Lifelong Literacy:
​Developing a Love of Reading Through Family Engagement
​Talent:
Spoken Word Poetry​ /
"Your Scholar"
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CONTESTANT #5

Chastity Savage

Semi-Finalist Interview Award, People's Choice Award, Miss Congeniality (tie), Legacy Award

​​​​Age: 23
Hometown: Detroit
​School:
Wayne State University
Service Initiative:
Fashion Fatigue: Reducing Textile Waste Through Education & Sustainable Practices
​Talent:
Liturgical Flag Dance /
"Who Am I?"
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CONTESTANT #6

Khalela Dennis


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​​​​Age: 25
Hometown: Redford
​School:
Southern New Hampshire University
Service Initiative:
Grace in Motion: Empowering Young Girls Through Confidence, Character & Creative Expression
​Talent:
Roller Skating /
"What Was I Made For?"
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CONTESTANT #7

Callie Calvin


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​​​​Age:  21
Hometown:  Monroe
​School:
Madonna University
Service Initiative:
Kind HEARTed: Making Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Known to Everyone
​Talent:
HER Story
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CONTESTANT #8

Madison Nero

Miss Wayne County 2026
OSQ Award (tie), Overall Interview, Strong Together Award

​​​​Age: 22
Hometown: Canton
​School:
Michigan State University — Graduate
Service Initiative:
Ever After: Helping People Believe in What's Possible Beyond Adversity
​Talent:
Vocal Performance / "In My Dreams"
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CONTESTANT #9

Rose Connors

2nd Runner-Up
Talent Award
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​​​​Age: 18
Hometown: Northville
​School:
University of Michigan
Service Initiative:
Foster Care: From Placement to Endless Possibilities
​Talent:
Dance /
​"River Deep, Mountain High"
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CONTESTANT #10

Alexis Germany


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​​​​Age: 19
Hometown: Detroit
​School:
Jackson College
Service Initiative:
365 Acts of Community
​Talent:
Samba /
"Salgueiro de Corpo Fechado"
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CONTESTANT #11

Melissa Sexton

1st Runner-Up
OSQ Award (tie)
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​​​​Age: 25
Hometown: Livonia
​School:
Michigan State University — Graduate
John Hopkins University — Graduate
Service Initiative:
The Zebra Project:
Rare & Invisible Disease Awareness
​Talent:
Color Guard / "My Way"
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