ORLANDO, Fla. — The newly-crowned Miss America's Teen is a South Carolina native.

Tess Ferm learned of her new title as her name was announced in the final moments of the Miss America's Teen 2026 pageant in Orlando, Florida. According to the Miss America Organization, the Porter-Gaud graduate and rising freshman at Furman University will receive $30,000 in scholarships and serve as the brand ambassador for the Miss America's Teen program.

The Charleston native will also continue promoting her "From Fear to Freedom" initiative, which focuses on food allergy safety and education, inspired by her own experiences with life-threatening food allergies.

According to the Miss South Carolina's Teen website, she has used the organization and platform to educate over 2,500 students and teachers, h

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