Sky York Journal
Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan knows true beauty is not skin-deep.
That’s why the 28-year-old is brushing off online criticism over her makeup at the latest national pageant, during which she represented New York.
“I’m just a normal person. No, I don’t want to hear people ever say anything negative, especially about my appearance,” she told People in an interview published Sept. 9. “But I also respect that the internet is a public space and that people have the right to their opinion to be able to share that, and no one’s going to be everyone’s favorite all of the time.”
Instead, Cassie is “just going to do my best to love everyone and care about everyone.”
“Because at the end of the day, if even just one person has felt touched in some way or seen or loved through me as Miss America, then I’ve done my job,” she continued. “And that’s the most important thing.”
