Charleston has a new reason to celebrate — Tess Ferm, a Porter-Gaud graduate and passionate advocate for food allergy awareness, has been crowned Miss America’s Teen 2026. The 18-year-old won the national title during a special competition held over the weekend at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida.
From Miss South Carolina’s Teen to National Recognition
Tess Ferm began her journey by winning Miss South Carolina’s Teen 2025, which gave her the opportunity to represent her state on the national stage. As a rising freshman at Furman University, she not only took home the Miss America’s Teen title but also earned $30,000 in scholarships and will now serve as a brand ambassador for the Miss America’s Teen program.
Championing Food Allergy Awareness
What truly sets Ferm apart is her dedication to a cause close to her heart — supporting those with food allergies. Diagnosed with life-threatening food allergies herself, Ferm turned her personal challenge into a mission to help others through her platform called “Fear to Freedom.”
Through this initiative, she has:
Educated more than 2,500 students and teachers
Helped install epinephrine auto-injectors in over 10 locations across her school
Designed thousands of food allergy awareness placemats for local restaurants
Filmed public service announcements on allergy safety
Her work has earned her the prestigious national “Teens in Action” award, recognizing her outstanding efforts to make schools and communities more allergy-safe and inclusive.
Raising Her Voice Beyond the Stage
Before the national competition, Ferm appeared on WCBD+’s podcast “Get 2 Know” with Chief Meteorologist Rob Fowler. She spoke passionately about her advocacy work and shared her hopes of taking her message to a wider audience.
“I really want to take this nationally… we can focus on inclusion and empathy,” Ferm said. “Food allergies aren’t going away, but awareness and preparedness can make a real difference.”
Ferm is also working on plans to collaborate with lawmakers to push for statewide laws that support food allergy safety in every school.
Tess Ferm’s journey from Charleston student to Miss America’s Teen 2026 is more than just a pageant success — it’s a powerful story of turning personal struggle into meaningful action. With her voice, vision, and leadership, she’s already making a national impact, and there’s no doubt she’ll continue to inspire others through her advocacy for food allergy awareness, education, and inclusion.
