Miss Arkansas 2025 Kennedy Holland finishes among top 11 in Miss America 2026.

According to the Miss America Website, “For the past 100 years, Miss America has been one of the country’s most recognizable household names and has been at the center of everything from national trends to social movements to the birth of television.”

“The young women involved have made a significant difference in people’s lives through their charitable and community service endeavors, using the national platform to educate millions of Americans on issues facing the nation.”

“Miss America is more than a title, it’s a movement of empowering young women everywhere to dream big, to insist that their voices be heard and to inspire change in the world around them.”

To compete in Miss America you have to be at least 18 and can not be any older than 28.

Holland is from Greenwood, Arkansas, and attends UCA. She is also in the sorority Alpha Sigma Alpha.

Holland was crowned Miss Arkansas on June 14, 2025, at the Robinson Center in Little Rock Arkansas, and she was crowned as Miss UCA in 2024. 

According to the UCA website Holland received $36,000 in scholarships to help with her professional and educational life.  

Miss America 2026 was on September 7, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. 

The Miss Arkansas Scholarship Organization posted on its social media congratulating Holland. 

“Top 11 at Miss America!! We are beyond proud of you, Kennedy — what an accomplishment! Your journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!!” the post read along with a photo of Holland in a silver dress smiling. 

According to KARK, for the talent portion of the competition Holland wore a long blue dress and sang “Bridge Over Troubled Water” written by Paul Simon. 

“As part of the on-stage question section, Holland was asked if she believes art education deserves federal taxpayer funding. She responded that as a performer, she believes that arts should be prioritized in education funding,” according to KARK.

For the evening gown portion Holland showed up in a light blue gown, “while audio played of her explaining that she will always be reminded of the hard working Arkansans that raised her,” according to KARK.

“I am still the girl who grew up in the hay field and dreams big for every girl across America who thinks her roots are too small for this stage,” Holland said during the audio that played while she walked out.

According to Parade, the top five contestants for Miss America 2026 were Miss Alabama, Emma Terry, Miss Georgia Audrey Kittila, the second runner up Miss Florida, Paris Richardson, the first runner up Miss Texas Sadie Schiermeye and Miss New York, Cassie Donegan.

Donegan won Miss America 2026 and this makes her the 98th woman to be Miss America. According to KARK, “Former Miss Arkansas Cori Keller, also crowned while representing Miss Metro like Holland, made it to the top 11 of the Miss America competition in 2023.”