Miss Alabama 2026: Here are Friday’s preliminary winners in talent, evening gown

The excitement is palpable at the Miss Alabama pageant, where contestants have officially wrapped up three days of preliminary competitions ahead of Saturday's grand finale.

Friday was a banner night for four standout contestants, who took home top honors in talent and evening gown events held at Samford University’s Wright Center.

Talent and Elegance

The talent competition saw an impressive three-way tie for the highest score. The talented trio includes Elaina Burt, Miss Jefferson County; Caroline Coleman, Miss Tennessee Valley; and Ruby Tilghman, Miss Birmingham.

• Elaina Burt, 20, showcased her skills with a classical ballet routine en pointe to “Oklahoma Medley.” A Hoover native and University of Alabama student, she is pursuing public relations and pre-law while advocating for her platform, Charlie’s Chance: Overcoming Epilepsy Together.
• Caroline Coleman, 23, impressed the judges with a performance of the classical aria “Tu? Tu? Piccolo Iddio!” from “Madame Butterfly.” Coleman hails from Muscle Shoals and studies psychology at the University of North Alabama. Her community initiative is Character Counts: Becoming the Best Version of You!
• Ruby Tilghman, 22, delivered a moving rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream” from “Les Miserables.” Tilghman, a University of Alabama chemistry major originally from Panama City, Florida, promotes her initiative, 57 Miles: Answering the Needs of Your Community.

In the evening gown competition, Madison Belk, Miss Jubilee, claimed the top spot. The 22-year-old Loxley native holds a degree in political science and global security from the University of Mississippi and focuses her advocacy on The P.E.A.C.E. Project.

Road to the Crown

A total of 45 women are competing this week for the state title and essential scholarship funds, with the eventual winner moving on to represent the state at the Miss America pageant. You can learn more about the candidates in this full breakdown of the 2026 field.

Preliminary results help determine the semifinalists for Saturday night’s finale. The new titleholder will be crowned by current Miss Alabama 2025, Emma Terry.

Get Involved

Fans can still influence the results through the People’s Choice Contest. Public voting is open online with each vote costing $1. The contestant who collects the most votes will secure a guaranteed spot among the top 13 finalists on Saturday.

Tickets for the remaining events are available for purchase online. For additional details, visit the official Miss Alabama website or contact 205-871-6276.