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

The race to crown the next Miss Alabama is officially underway. The 2026 competition kicked off Wednesday evening in Birmingham, with three contestants standing out during the opening preliminary round.

Talent and Evening Wear Leaders

The talent competition saw a dead heat for the top score, with Mikella Anderson (Miss Lake Guntersville) and Chloe Yates (Miss Gardendale Magnolia) tying for first place.

Anderson, a 22-year-old Auburn University student from Prattville, showcased a contemporary dance routine en pointe to “God Bless America.” Her service initiative is titled Color for a Cure: A Beautiful End to Diabetes. Meanwhile, Yates, a 22-year-old interior design major at the University of Alabama, performed a gymnastics routine set to “Welcome to the Moulin Rouge.” Yates represents Louisville, Ky., and advocates for her initiative, Special Olympics – Deleting the “Dis” in Disabled.

In the evening wear segment, Ruby Tilghman, Miss Birmingham, secured the top spot. The 22-year-old University of Alabama chemistry student hails from Panama City, Fla., and focuses on her service initiative, 57 Miles: Answering the Needs of Your Community.

Competition Details

A field of 45 women is currently competing for the state title and the opportunity to advance to the Miss America pageant. You can learn more about the candidates in this full breakdown of the 45 women competing for the crown.

The festivities, held at Samford University’s Wright Center, continue through Friday with segments in fitness, on-stage interviews, and community service showcases. These preliminaries are critical for determining which contestants will move on to the finale this Saturday, where current titleholder Emma Terry will pass on her crown.

Fans can also participate via the People’s Choice Contest. Online voting is available here, with each $1 vote helping to secure a spot for a contestant among the top 13 finalists.

Event Schedule and Tickets

The competition runs from June 3-6 at the Wright Center, located at 872 Montague Drive in Birmingham. Nightly preliminaries take place Wednesday through Friday at 7 p.m., with the finale set for Saturday, June 6, at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available online, ranging from $53.75 to $80.13 for single tickets depending on the date, with full season packages priced between $167.53 and $188.63. For additional details, visit the Miss Alabama website or call 205-871-6276.