Map Crowning 19 Scaled E1780944940374 — Ruby Tilghman waves to the crowd after being crowned Miss Alabama 2026. (Willie Moore Photography)

With Miss America 2026 less than three months away, Alabama has crowned our representative for the prestigious pageant.

Ruby Tilghman, who competed as Miss Birmingham, won the Miss Alabama 2026 crown Saturday night at Samford University. She came out on top of the field of 45 total contestants.

Keep reading to learn more about Tilghman + what comes next for the newest Miss Alabama.

Meet Ruby Tilghman, Miss Alabama 2026

Map Crowning 31 — Miss Alabama 2026 (Willie Moore Photography)

Ruby Tilghman is originally from Panama City, Florida, but she has spent plenty of time in Alabama in recent years.

The 22-year-old graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in chemistry. While in Tuscaloosa, Tilghman was crowned Miss University of Alabama 2025.

During the Miss Alabama 2026 pageant, Tilghman won two preliminary awards including evening gown on Wednesday and the talent prelim Friday night. For her talent, Tilghman sang “I Dreamed A Dream” from “Les Miserables.”

Between her two prelim wins + the Miss Alabama crown, Tilghman received more than $15,000 in scholarship awards.

Tilghman will compete in Miss America 2026 this September. She’ll hope to become the fifth Miss Alabama to take the national crown + second in the last three years, following Abbie Stockard in 2024.