Miss UCA Pageant set for Nov. 16 at Reynolds Performance Hall

The University of Central Arkansas will host the 2026 Miss UCA Scholarship Pageant Sunday, Nov. 16, at 3 p.m. in Reynolds Performance Hall, 223 Beatrice Powell Street, Conway.

The pageant will feature 14 UCA students competing in areas of talent, evening wear, on-stage question and interview. The winner will be crowned Miss UCA 2026 and will represent the university at the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Competition in June 2026.

Admission is $5 with a UCA ID and $10 for general admission.

Contestants for the 2026 Miss UCA Pageant are:

• Riley Strube of Cabot, a senior majoring in communication sciences and disorders.
• Abby Bounds of Camden, a senior majoring in information systems.
• Kaitlyn Barbee of Des Arc, a freshman majoring in art education.
• Carrington Crafts of Rogers, a junior majoring in elementary education.
• Gabrielle Russell of Van Buren, a junior majoring in accounting.
• Izzy Saettele of Hot Springs, a graduate student studying accountancy and data analytics.
• Ava Walker of Little Rock, a sophomore majoring in international studies.
• Kierra Collier of Russellville, a sophomore majoring in marketing.
• Tina Trickey of Benton, a senior majoring in family and consumer sciences.
• Akeela Shavers of Little Rock, a freshman majoring in theatre.
• Ana Brandon of Conway, a junior majoring in broadcast journalism.
• Devin Mack of Stuttgart, a junior majoring in exercise science.
• Gracelynn King of Fort Smith, a freshman majoring in public administration.
• Cambree Allen of Sherwood, a freshman majoring in nursing.

Since the university's first representative competed in 1965 as Miss Arkansas State Teachers College, Miss UCA has been part of a six-decade tradition of scholarship, leadership and service. With the help of generous donors and local businesses, Miss UCA awards scholarships and in-kind gifts in excess of $14,000 each year.

The Miss UCA Pageant is an official local preliminary for the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Competition, part of the Miss America Organization - the nation's leading provider of scholarships for young women. The Miss Arkansas Organization has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships over the past five years.

More information is available at uca.edu/missuca.