Fifty-two women from across the United States and Puerto Rico are in Orlando next week to compete for the title of Miss America 2026. Among them is Miss Virginia, Madison Whitbeck, a Leesburg native who captured her state crown just three months ago in Roanoke.
“I won the Preliminary Talent/ HER Story Award, Preliminary Onstage Interview Award, Overall Interview Award, and then ultimately Miss Virginia 2025,” Whitbeck recalled. “The feeling of all the suspense in the buildup that week, and just everything that I’ve worked so hard for coming into fruition, was just absolutely the best thing ever to have the crown placed on my head and feel all of the emotions.”
Whitbeck has spent the last six weeks preparing for the national competition, training alongside Miss Virginia Teen Aryana Guest, who will compete for Miss America Teen. “I really wanted to prioritize keeping myself as the complete package,” Whitbeck said to 29 News. “That means interview prep, going to appearances, building those stories that really build your interview, my talent. I’m a singer. So it was, you know, hours in the car, in the studio, in the shower, wherever, singing.”
Her favorite part of the competition so far has been the one-on-one interviews with judges. “That’s really the part of the competition where you get to spend the most time with them and really let them get to know you and who you are as a candidate for the job of Miss America. And I feel like I’ve prepared so hard for that specifically,” she said. (RELATED: $65K-a-Year AI School Expands to Virginia with ‘2-Hour Learning Day’)
The winner of Miss America 2026 will earn a $50,000 scholarship. Whitbeck says she feels honored to represent Virginia, carrying the pride and support of her community. “I never grew up as a pageant girl, but the second I stepped into this organization and really experienced it for what it was, my entire family and friends, and village rallied behind me,” she said.
Preliminary competitions begin Wednesday, September 3, with the new Miss America set to be crowned Sunday, September 7. (RELATED: “Dangerous and Reckless”: Spanberger Faces Backlash Over Sanctuary State Pledge)