New Miss America responds to online critics targeting her appearance

When Cassie Donegan was topped Miss America, she by no means thought that her victory would quickly be overshadowed by a wave of criticism of her look.

Totally different customers on-line have rapidly flooded social media with harsh criticisms of Donegan’s parade make -up. They claimed that the look of 28-year-old appeared heavy and onerous beneath the placing stage lights. Some even claimed that Sadie Schiermeyer, who represented Texas, ought to even have gained.

Donegan, who represented New York through the competitors on 7 September in Orlando, Florida, advised Fox Information Digital that she doesn’t let the hateful phrases fall beneath her pores and skin.

Miss America participant, a sergeant of the military, desires to unite a divided nation

Cassie Donegan was topped Miss America on September 7, 2025 within the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida. (Miss America Ip inc.)

“The truth is, when one thing so massive occurs that method, there might be many opinions,” she mentioned.

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“Everybody has the appropriate to their very own opinion, particularly on such a public discussion board such because the web. … Sure, there may be the negativity that’s there, and that’s their fact. They’ll have that opinion, and I absolutely respect that. However I’m surrounded by a lot love and a lot help and so many individuals who do not permit me … [their negativity] To cloud the actually unbelievable factor that occurs. “

Cassie Donegan, an achieved singer, confirmed her expertise through the competitors. (Miss America Ip inc.)

Donegan identified that she is extra targeted on a task mannequin for youthful women all through the nation.

View: Miss America focuses on criticism of social media after her victory

“I can take a look at these little women and say:” I’m not a lot completely different than you at the moment are, and you’re so capable of do all the pieces you need to do, “she mentioned.” I need them to consider in themselves, as a result of if they do not, no one else comes. Empowerment actually comes from inside. And if there may be even a small a part of me that will get that spark from them, then I’ve performed my share. That might be one thing that might be grateful to me. “

Final yr’s Miss America winner, Abbie Stockard of Alabama, has awarded her successor with the coveted crown, sash and title. (Miss America Ip inc.)

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Miss America, a flashy league, was born from a magnificence match of Atlantic Metropolis, only a yr after girls had the appropriate to vote, The corresponding press reported. Many contributors say that the organizational and a big provider of commerce honest assist to younger girls’s life-changing and doorways has been opened each personally and professionally for them.

The group, one of the crucial acknowledged manufacturers within the nation, has greater than $ 5 million yearly in scholarships, plus thousands and thousands extra at nationwide, nationwide and native degree.

Cassie Donegan participated in opposition to 52 different contributors from all 50 states. (Miss America Ip inc.)

The winner of Miss America, Abbie Stockard of Alabama, final yr, awarded her successor. The victory of Donegan included a tuition feast of $ 50,000, plus an additional $ 3,000 grant for its efficiency within the provisional expertise competitors.

Donegan mentioned he surrounds individuals who “positivity in your pouring” is the important thing to preventing hateful phrases on-line.

The primary place within the Miss America procession was Sadie Schiermeyer of Texas. (Miss America Ip inc.)

“I do know it is actually troublesome,” she admitted. “It is onerous to not open my cellphone and need to see what individuals say, however curiosity actually kills the cat. … I’ve ever heard that the opinion of different individuals about you is just not your case. That is one thing I actually tried [live] Via. Their opinion about me is legitimate as a result of that’s their fact, but it surely doesn’t suggest it is my opinion about me.

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Cassie Donegan represented New York (John Nacion/Getty Photos for Empire State Realty Belief)

“[I ask myself]”Would they are saying that on to me if it wasn’t behind a display screen?” … on the finish of the day, whenever you encompass your self with positivity and the individuals you already know, love you and see you, then the opposite sound will matter a lot much less. “

The achieved singer mentioned that she has developed thick pores and skin over time.

Miss America Cassie Donegan visits the Empire State Constructing on September 17, 2025 in New York Metropolis. (John Nacion/Getty Photos for Empire State Realty Belief)

“I’m from a smaller metropolis. We had been a household with a decrease revenue,” she mentioned. “We had been struggling rather a lot. I bullied fairly badly with bullying. My mom had lots of well being issues. She had her first of a number of strokes after I was solely 9 years previous. Some days we did not even know if sure utilities could be. Some days they weren’t.”

Cassie Donegan is just not surprised by on-line trolls that criticize her parade look. (Miss America Ip inc.)

“That isn’t essentially the background that somebody would take into consideration in the event that they take a look at one thing as glamorous because the Miss America alternative from outdoors,” Donegan famous. “However when you permit life and your circumstances to manage your end result, it could probably stop you from being in areas reminiscent of Miss America.”

“I wasn’t in a $ 10,000 costume,” she continued. “My expertise outfit was given to me and was sponsored. The make -up I used, a part of it got here from drugstores. The opposite half was sponsored by an unbelievable make -up sponsor.

Miss America Cassie Donegan spoke with Fox Information Digital about her heavy childhood. (John Nacion/Getty Photos for Empire State Realty Belief)

“There isn’t any algorithm that say that you must spend a certain quantity, or that you must come from a sure background or life-style to be Miss America, or to be what it’s that you simply need to be. If even one individual can perceive that and consider that their circumstances don’t resolve that their end result is … then I’ve been profitable in my work this yr.”

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Cassie Donegan desires to emphasise the message of unity throughout her reign. (Miss America Ip inc.)

Donegan mentioned {that a} message that she desires to emphasise throughout her reign is unity for a divided time in our nation.

Miss America Cassie Donegan’s victory was a sizzling matter on social media. (Miss America Ip inc.)

“I’m the daughter of a veteran of our American navy,” she mentioned. “I come from an extended line of veterans. My brother is now additionally doable … me with our military. I’m very happy with our forces right here in the US.

“I feel that seeing that dedication day in and time out to guard our nation and … to guard the issues on which our nation is based – are capable of have equality for everybody. With the ability to have areas which can be crammed with love and kindness. With the ability to take a look at your neighbor and say:” Your journey is simply as necessary as my journey. “

Miss America Cassie Donegan claimed a $ 50,000 grant. (Miss America Ip inc.)

“One thing so nice about my work as Miss America is that, though I could have my very own beliefs or opinions, I can create … a protected area,” she thought. “It’s a room so that you can rise up and say your fact, reside your fact, to be your fact and perceive that there’s love right here, there’s a group right here. We will have these rooms full of individuals with completely different backgrounds, completely different layers of life and may have actually genuine moments of connection and conversations.”

Cassie Donegan mentioned she desires to be a task mannequin for younger women. (Miss America Ip inc.)

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“I feel that as quickly as we are able to hear one another, we perceive one another, we are able to see unity,” Donegan added.