Nine young women will compete in late October for the title of 2026 Miss Fayetteville and Miss Fayetteville’s Teen, preliminaries to the state competition and Miss America pageants.
The competition is Oct. 25 at the J.W. Seabrook Auditorium on the Fayetteville State University campus. The event is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m.
“Miss America has four points of the crown, and they are scholarship, service, success and style,” said Erica Cook, director of the Miss Fayetteville Organization. “We really believe those four pillars are what’s important as we support these young women and we say that we help prepare the women for the world and help prepare the world for these amazing young women.”
Cook said that the women will be subject to five areas of competition.
“The different areas of competition are a private interview with the judges, an onstage question based on their community service initiative essay and a private interview, they do a fitness, a 90-second talent routine and evening wear,” she said.
Cook said the fitness competition incorporates promoting heart health in honor of the pageant’s national partner, the American Heart Association.
The winner of Miss Fayetteville takes home not only the crown, but a $2,500 scholarship, with Miss Fayetteville’s Teen securing a $1,500 scholarship.
Audience members and former queens watch during the contests of the 2017 Miss Fayetteville on Saturday Feb. 25, 2017 at Fayetteville State University. [Staff photo by Shane Dunlap]
“We have a huge history of service and scholarship and support from the community,” she said. “Miss America is actually the number one provider of scholarships to women in the United States.”
Cook said winners will also advance to the Miss North Carolina competition, which is scheduled to be held in June 2026. The Miss America and Miss America’s Teen pageants are scheduled for September 2026.
Tickets are available online or at the door and cost $20 for general admission. Attendees can also purchase a Diamond reserve seating package for $100 and $575 for a Forever VIP package, which offer reserved seating, free t-shirts and photos and brunch with the winners.
Here’s some information about this year’s contestant.
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Cynder Hardesty
Cynder Hardesty
Cynder Hardesty, 16, of Sneads Ferry, is a junior at Dixon High School. Her community service initiative is The Forgotten Generation: Raising Awareness of Elderly Neglect.
Isabella Ramanna
Isabella Ramanna
Isabella Ramanna, 16, of Angier, is a sophomore at West Johnston High School. Her community service initiative is Heart to Heart, Let’s Make a Difference.
Emma Taylor
Emma Taylor
Emma Taylor, 16, of Pinehurst, is a junior at Pinecrest High School and is dually-enrolled at Sandhills Community College. Her community service initiative is Battle Buddies: Supporting Military Veterans.
Leea Ashton Watts
Leea Ashton Watts
Leea Ashton Watts, 15, of Fayetteville, is a sophomore at Cape Fear High School. Her community service initiative is Moments that Matter.
Haleigh Baker
Haleigh Baker
Haleigh Jo Baker, 24, of Fayetteville, is a math teacher at Cumberland International Early College High School. Her community service initiative is Putting the “PRO” back into Professional: Advocating for North Carolina’s Teachers.
Lesle Bouchard
Lesle Bouchard
Lesle Bouchard, 21, of Hampstead, is a junior studying for an associate degree in business administration at Cape Fear Community College. Her community service initiative is WAVE: Worthy and Valued Entirely-Eating disorder awareness and action.
Anna Campbell
Anna Campbell
Anna Grace Campbell, 25, of Wilmington, is a pre-music major at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Her community service initiative is Beyond the Bell-Creating Space for Adults with Special Needs.
Hannah Wheeless
Hannah Wheeless
Hannah Wheeless, 22, of Garland, is a doctorate student studying occupational therapy at Methodist University. Her community service initiative is All Kinds of Minds.
Ashlyn Williams
Ashlyn Williams, who will be competing in the Miss Fayetteville competition, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.
Ashlyn Williams, 24, of Fayetteville, is a doctor of physical therapy student at Methodist University. Her community service initiative is “STEMpower”-Empowering young women to pursue careers within science, technology, engineering and math.
Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Miss Fayetteville and Miss Fayetteville’s Teen competition Oct. 25
