Miss America's Teen 2026 is a rising Furman University freshman with a passion for food allergy safety and education.

Charleston native and Porter-Gaud graduate Tess Ferm , 18, was crowned the pageant winner Saturday, Sept. 6, at Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida, winning $58,000 in scholarship money through the program.

Ferm was crowned Miss South Carolina's Teen in June in Columbia, where she performed "Tomorrow" from the musical "Annie," according to Furman News . She was also named the American Heart Association’s South Carolina Teen of Impact for 2025.

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