Tess Ferm ’29 crowned Miss America’s Teen 2026

Tess Ferm of Charleston, South Carolina, and a first-year psychology student at Furman University, was crowned Miss America’s Teen 2026 on Sept. 6. Several news sources covered the event, which took place in Orlando, Florida. Among them were NBC’s WCBD-Charleston, CBS’s WCSC-Charleston, ABC affiliate WCIV-Orlando, and Cola Daily. She will receive $30,000 in scholarships and will serve as a brand ambassador for the Miss America’s Teen program. Ferm is also the winner of the national “Teens in Action” award for her work to support those with food allergies.

“Being Miss America’s Teen means representing possibility,” she told WCSC. “It’s about showing that teens are not just the future, but the now – ready to lead, to innovate, and to make a real difference in our schools, our communities, and across the country. This crown is so much more than a crown, it’s a launchpad.”