Miss Alabama 2026: 4 women take preliminary wins on Thursday in talent, evening gown
Alana Price and Hannah Adams tied in the talent preliminary on Thursday. Hailey Adams and Mikella Anderson tied for evening gown.
Ethan Parker 
The Miss Alabama 2026 competition is in full swing at Samford University’s Wright Center. With two nights of high-stakes preliminaries now in the books, the field of 45 contestants is narrowing ahead of the highly anticipated Saturday finale.
Thursday’s Standouts
Thursday night saw four talented competitors separate themselves from the pack. In the talent competition, Alana Price, Miss Samford University, and Hannah Adams, Miss Shelby County, finished in a deadlock for the top spot. Price, 21, captivated the audience with a piano performance of “Malaguena,” while Adams, 22, showcased her skills with an en pointe jazz ballet routine set to “Get Lost.”
The evening gown competition was equally competitive, resulting in a tie between Hailey Adams, Miss University of Alabama, and Mikella Anderson, Miss Lake Guntersville. Hailey Adams, who is the sister of Hannah Adams, currently studies public relations, while Anderson is pursuing business management at Auburn University.
Road to the Crown
A total of 45 women are competing this week, all vying for the state title, scholarship prizes, and a coveted opportunity to advance to the Miss America stage. Current titleholder Emma Terry will crown her successor at the conclusion of Saturday’s event.
Fans looking to influence the outcome can participate in the People’s Choice voting, where each $1 vote helps a contestant move closer to a guaranteed spot among the top 13 finalists. Votes can be cast online here.
Recapping the Preliminary Week
The preliminary rounds, which span Wednesday through Friday, feature segments in talent, evening wear, health and fitness, and interviews. Wednesday’s preliminary results featured co-winners Mikella Anderson and Chloe Yates in talent, while Ruby Tilghman secured the top evening gown score.
Thursday’s program also featured performances by former Miss Alabama contestants Charity Bowden and Anna Laura Strider, as well as an appearance by Miss Alabama’s Teen 2026, Grier Feldman.
Event Details
The competition concludes with the finals on Saturday, June 6, at 7 p.m. Tickets for the remaining events are available here. For additional information, visit the official Miss Alabama website or call 205-871-6276.
