Beauty Queen Rises Above Criticism to Champion Unity and Empowerment

When Cassie Donegan was crowned Miss America on September 7 in Orlando, Florida, her moment of triumph quickly collided with the harsh reality of social media criticism. The 28-year-old New York representative found herself the target of online critics who took issue with her pageant makeup, claiming it appeared too heavy under the stage lights. Some even suggested that runner-up Sadie Schiermeyer from Texas should have claimed the title instead. Yet despite this unexpected wave of negativity, Donegan has demonstrated remarkable resilience, choosing to focus on her platform rather than the criticism. “The reality is, when something big happens like this, there are going to be many opinions,” she told Fox News Digital. “Everyone has the right to their own opinion, especially in such a public forum like the internet… But I’m surrounded by so much love and so much support and so many people who are holding me up… I’m just not allowing their negativity to cloud the really incredible thing that’s happening.” Instead of dwelling on negative comments, Donegan has redirected her energy toward being a positive role model for young girls across America, emphasizing that empowerment comes from within and that she hopes to inspire that spark in others.

The Miss America pageant represents far more than just a beauty competition. Born from a 1921 Atlantic City contest just a year after women gained the right to vote, the organization has evolved into one of the nation’s largest providers of scholarship assistance for young women. Annually, it awards more than $5 million in cash scholarships, plus millions more at various levels. For many participants, the competition has been truly life-changing, opening doors both personally and professionally that might otherwise have remained closed. Donegan’s victory earned her a $50,000 tuition scholarship, plus an additional $3,000 for her performance in the preliminary talent competition. But beyond the financial rewards, she has gained a platform to speak on issues that matter to her, particularly during a time when many Americans feel divided. As the daughter of a U.S. Navy veteran from a family with a strong military tradition, Donegan brings a unique perspective to her role and hopes to use her position to promote unity and understanding.

Developing resilience against online criticism hasn’t been easy, but Donegan has found effective ways to shield herself from the negativity. “I know it’s really hard,” she admitted. “It’s hard not to open my phone and want to go and see what people are saying, but curiosity really does kill the cat.” She’s adopted a powerful mindset: “I once heard that other people’s opinion of you is not your business. That is something that I’ve really tried to live by. Their opinion of me is valid because that is their truth, but it doesn’t mean that it’s my opinion of me.” She questions whether critics would make the same comments to her face rather than behind a screen and focuses on surrounding herself with positive people who truly know and love her. This approach has helped her maintain perspective and prevent online negativity from undermining her confidence and joy in her achievement.

Donegan’s remarkable resilience wasn’t developed overnight but forged through personal hardship that many might not associate with someone in the glamorous world of pageantry. “I’m from a smaller town. We were a lower-income family,” she revealed. “We struggled a lot growing up. I dealt with bullying pretty badly. My mom had multiple health problems and had her first of multiple strokes when I was only nine years old. Some days, we didn’t even know if certain utilities were going to be on. Some days they weren’t on.” This challenging background might seem at odds with the polished image of Miss America, but Donegan sees her journey as proof that circumstances don’t have to determine outcomes. She emphasizes that her participation in the pageant didn’t depend on expensive gowns or exclusive products—her talent outfit was sponsored, and some of her makeup came from drugstores. “There is no set of rules that says you have to spend a certain amount of money, or you have to come from a certain background or lifestyle to be Miss America, or to be whatever it is that you want to be,” she asserted. This message of accessibility and possibility regardless of circumstance is central to her platform.

As Miss America, Donegan is particularly passionate about promoting unity during a time when many Americans feel divided. Drawing inspiration from her family’s military service, she speaks with pride about the values that underpin American society: “Being able to have equality for all. Being able to have spaces that are filled with love and kindness. Being able to look at your neighbor and say, ‘Your journey matters just as much as my journey.'” Despite having her own beliefs and opinions, Donegan sees her role as creating safe spaces where people can authentically express themselves without judgment. “It is a space for you to be able to stand and say your truth, live your truth, be your truth, and understand that there is love here, there is a community here,” she explained. She believes in fostering environments where people from different backgrounds and walks of life can connect meaningfully through authentic conversation. In her view, genuine listening and understanding are essential first steps toward achieving greater unity: “I think once we’re able to hear each other, understand each other, we can start seeing unity.”

Through her journey from modest beginnings to the Miss America crown, Cassie Donegan embodies resilience, authenticity, and purposeful leadership. Rather than allowing online criticism or past hardships to define her, she has chosen to transform these challenges into opportunities for growth and connection. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that success isn’t determined by background or resources but by inner strength and determination. As she fulfills her role as Miss America, Donegan continues to demonstrate that true beauty lies not in physical appearance or expensive trappings but in the ability to rise above negativity, embrace one’s authentic self, and create spaces where others can do the same. In a nation often characterized by division, her message of empowerment, accessibility, and unity offers a refreshing perspective and a pathway toward more meaningful connection.