Miss Alabama 2026: Ruby Tilghman, Miss Birmingham, wins the crown

Ruby Tilghman has been crowned the new Miss Alabama.

The 22-year-old talent was honored Saturday night at Samford University’s Wright Center in Birmingham. Representing Miss Birmingham, Tilghman outperformed 44 other contestants to secure the 2026 state title. She is now set to represent the Yellowhammer State at the national Miss America competition.

A New Reign Begins

Tilghman succeeds Emma Terry, who served as the 2025 winner. During Saturday's ceremony, Terry passed the torch to her successor with a bouquet of roses.

Reflecting on the whirlwind victory, Tilghman shared her disbelief backstage. "As soon as they announced my name, I had this thought of, 'Wow! It’s real,'" she said. "It really is such a human experience to dream about something for so long, and then to finally get there."

Academic Roots and Community Commitment

Originally from Panama City, Florida, Tilghman is a graduate of the University of Alabama, holding a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in social innovation and leadership. Looking ahead, she plans to pursue medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Heersink School of Medicine.

Her tenure as Miss Alabama will focus on service, including her community initiative, 57 Miles: Answering the Needs of Your Community. Her year of service begins immediately, consisting of public appearances, charity work, and advocacy.

Road to the Crown

Tilghman’s path to the title was marked by stellar performances throughout the week. She earned top honors in the evening gown preliminary on Wednesday and the talent preliminary on Friday. For the final stage, she delivered a moving rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Miserables.

The competition finals featured a scoring structure that weighted preliminary performance at 30 percent, with final rounds covering talent, evening gown, health and fitness, and an on-stage question. Notably, the pageant has evolved in recent years, as it no longer includes a swimsuit competition, having eliminated it in 2019.

Public involvement also played a key role this year, with the People's Choice Contest allowing supporters to vote online to help candidates secure a spot among the semifinalists.

Scholarship Impact

Beyond the title, the pageant remains a major engine for education funding. This year, the organization awarded a total of $152,775 in cash scholarships. Tilghman walked away with a $15,000 award, while runners-up Julia Schumacher, Jayla Duncan, Elaina Burt, and Alana Price also received significant scholarship support.