Overview
- Hutsell was crowned Miss America on Sept. 6 in West Palm Beach after advancing to the final five and defeating delegates from 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico; Shelby Bordelon was first runner-up and Kate Dimmett was second runner-up.
- The Miss America Organization noted that Hutsell is the first Texan to win the crown since 1975 and the first woman of color to win while wearing her natural hair, a milestone many outlets highlighted.
- Hutsell said her platform, “Your Body Is Your Home,” grew from her recovery from an eating disorder and will guide a yearlong campaign focused on body positivity, healthy self-worth, and mental and physical wellness.
- Her professional dance background — training with Houston Ballet, performing with the Radio City Rockettes and the Birmingham Royal Ballet — earned her preliminary talent and fitness awards for a jazz routine during the competition.
- Reporting says Hutsell has secured nearly $90,000 in Miss America scholarships to fund studies in health sciences as she trains to become a physical therapist, and some outlets additionally described a separate $50,000 winner’s scholarship as part of her prize package.