Miss America speaks after criticizing the makeup of the competition (exclusive)

Cassie Donegan has just been crowned Miss America 2026, and she is proud of everything that participated in her victory.

The 28 -year -old represented New York in the national competition after winning the state title last July. On Sunday September 7, Donegan beat 52 other candidates from the 50 states on stage at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida.

Last year, the winner of Miss America, Abbie Stégard de l’Alabama, awarded her successor the crown, the belt and the title. Donegan also asked for a tuition scholarship of $ 50,000 as part of its victory award. Thanks to her training as an accomplished singer, Donegan also won a prize for her vocal gifts after the Miss America 2026 talent competition, adding an additional $ 3,000 at her price on tuition fees.

Most people celebrated the success of the competition queen, including some of her closest friends, whose emotional reactions to Donegan’s victory have become viral on Tiktok. However, some viewers less than supporters were quick not to have succeeded in his glamorous choices for nationals, including his makeup for the final round.

In the days following the competition and after a fanfare, Donegan tells people that she understands that negativity often meets people on higher and more exposed platforms. However, this does not mean that everyone in the public’s eyes must internalize hateful words.

“Often, you just have to choose what you allow yourself to digest,” she explains. “I think it’s something that has been a really useful tool, which really looks at those who raise me, love me and keep me high and choose to focus on the positivity that happens in the moment.”

But even with a crown on her head, a belt on her shoulder and an overwhelming support of everyone around her, Donegan recognizes that she is only human. Winning Miss America does not mean that she is suddenly away from severe judgment.

“I’m just a normal person. No, I don’t want to hear people say something negative, especially my appearance,” Donegan told people. “But I also respect that the Internet is a public space and that people have the right to their opinion to be able to share this, and no one will be the favorite of everyone all the time.”

She continues: “I’m just going to do my best to love everyone and worry about everyone, because in the end, if even one person felt touched in one way or another or that I go through me like Miss America, so I did my job. And that’s the most important thing.”

Donegan’s commitment to remain faithful to herself echoes the feelings she shared during the last cycles of Miss America, when each remaining competitor had to answer a quick question on stage. For its part of the questions and answers, Donegan discussed “authentic self -expressions” with regard to “professional standards”.

“I believe that being faithful to yourself 100% is the most important thing you can do, and if that includes your self-expression through piercings or tattoos, then 100%,” said the winner on stage. “I think nobody has the right to tell you what you can do with your own body. This is your ship, and you should be able to take it proudly in it.”

While the crowd encouraged him, Donegan continued to refer to his own sense of style: “myself, I walk in what my brothers and sisters like to call” chic grandmother “, and I think it’s great,” she explained with a brilliant smile.