Miss Alabama 2026: Here are Wednesday’s winners for talent, evening gown

The race to be crowned Miss Alabama 2026 is officially underway in Birmingham. Wednesday night marked the opening of the preliminary rounds at Samford University’s Wright Center, with three standout contestants earning top honors in talent and evening wear.

Talent and Evening Wear Preliminary Results

The talent competition saw a dead heat for the top score, with Mikella Anderson (Miss Lake Guntersville) and Chloe Yates (Miss Gardendale Magnolia) sharing the spotlight. Anderson, a 22-year-old Auburn University student from Prattville, delivered an impressive contemporary dance routine en pointe to “God Bless America” as part of her platform, Color for a Cure: A Beautiful End to Diabetes. Yates, also 22 and an interior design student at the University of Alabama, wowed the judges with a gymnastics routine set to “Welcome to the Moulin Rouge” to support her initiative, Special Olympics – Deleting the “Dis” in Disabled.

In the evening wear segment, Ruby Tilghman, representing Miss Birmingham, secured the highest score. Tilghman, 22, is a chemistry student at the University of Alabama who advocates for her community service initiative, 57 Miles: Answering the Needs of Your Community.

The Road to the Crown

A field of 45 women is competing for the state title and a path to the Miss America pageant. You can learn more about all the participants in this complete guide to the 45 contestants vying for the crown.

Throughout this week, participants are being evaluated across talent, evening wear, health and fitness, and on-stage interviews. These sessions are critical for determining who will advance to Saturday’s finale. Reigning Miss Alabama 2025 Emma Terry is set to crown her successor at the conclusion of the event.

How to Get Involved

The public still has a voice in the outcome through the People’s Choice Contest. Supporters can vote online for their favorite contestant, with each vote costing $1. The winner of this contest earns an automatic spot in the top 13 finalists on Saturday.

The preliminary rounds continue through Friday, June 5, at 7 p.m. at Samford University’s Wright Center, followed by the finale on Saturday, June 6. For ticketing information, visit the official ticket portal or check the Miss Alabama website for more details.

Event Notes

Wednesday’s kickoff featured performances by former Miss Alabama titleholders and finalists, including Charity Bowden and Anna Laura Strider, along with Miss Alabama’s Teen 2026, Grier Feldman. The evening was emceed by Hayley Barber DeShazo, Miss Alabama 2016. Judges for the week include Yolande Dolly Fox, Ashley Halfman, Dr. Caroline Reich, Michelle Parham Rudolph, and David Weincek.