Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan Admits She Cries 'Every Day' in Her Role as a National Pageant Winner (Exclusive)
Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan Admits She Cries 'Every Day' in Her Role as a National Pageant Winner (Exclusive)
Zoey LyttleWed, April 8, 2026 at 8:14 PM UTC
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Cassie Donegan being crowned Miss America 2025 in Orlando, Fla. on Sept. 7, 2025.Credit: Miss America Organization -
Cassie Donegan has held the title of Miss America 2026 for just over half a year, and she's still soaking up every moment of her reign
The singer and actress, 28, was crowned in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 7, 2025, months after she won her qualifying state pageant in New York
Donegan tells PEOPLE that some of her favorite moments from the first part of her reign have allowed her to tap her love of song and performing, like when she sang the national anthem at the America 250 Florida Duel race at Daytona
Cassie Donegan is just over the halfway mark of her reign as Miss America, but she's still far from losing steam.
The national titleholder was crowned on Sept. 7, 2025, at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Fla., a few months after she won the New York state pageant. Donegan, 28, was awarded a crown, sash, $50,000 in tuition scholarship and a year of incredible opportunities.
Historically, Miss America winners spend their year booking speaking engagements, making appearances at high-profile events and fulfilling philanthropic commitments. Donegan is doing all that and more. The actress and singer tells PEOPLE that tapping her passion for performing has produced some of the greatest highlights of her reign.
Cassie Donegan on Dec. 13, 2025 in Baltimore.Credit: Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty
For example, on Feb. 12, she performed the national anthem at the America 250 Florida Duel at Daytona, an experience she remembers being "really, really cool," especially being a NASCAR fan herself. "That was pretty out of this world, not going to lie," says Donegan.
She also nods to her Super Bowl weekend in San Francisco, where she also brought her gift of song to a party. "I sang spontaneously on the spot with the band," she recalls, adding that being Miss America is "different every day, so that's also another really cool element about it all."
In addition to her ability to bring in her love of performing, Donegan credits her very intentional mindset as another reason her reign has been so enjoyable. She says she went into the year with very few expectations, riding simply on her belief that it would be an incredible experience.
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"I decided from the beginning it was going to be an amazing year because I wanted it to be an amazing year, and I think you roll with the punches, you know what I mean?" the beauty queen tells PEOPLE.
Cassie Donegan wearing her Miss New York sash.Credit: Cassie Donegan/Instagram
"Being in the entertainment industry, that's something I'm already used to. Live theater is so many variables you cannot control," she continues. "I don't really think anything has shocked me or surprised me."
It helps that, through it all, Donegan's reign is powered by the support of her friends, family, those aiding her from the Miss America organization and the titleholders who came before her. While she's the one wearing the crown and sash, Donegan maintains that her reign is "the definition" and embodiment of the phrase "it takes a village."
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"The amount of consistent love and support and cheering on and just checking in that I've gotten in such a busy time in my life," she shares. "I knew that I was loved, but seeing that amount of tangible love has been... I cry every day in a good way as Miss America, just to be so honest."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
