Cassie Donegan’s recent crowning as Miss America 2025 brought cheers from fans, but it also sparked a storm of online criticism about her pageant makeup. Social media users called her look too heavy and harsh under the bright stage lights, with some even saying runner-up Sadie Schiermeyer from Texas deserved the win more.
The 28-year-old from New York, who took the title on September 7 in Orlando, Florida, isn’t letting the negativity shake her. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Donegan explained that big wins like this always draw strong opinions online. “Everyone has the right to their own view, especially on the internet,” she said. “I respect that, but I’m surrounded by so much love and support from people who lift me up. I’m not letting the hate overshadow this amazing moment.”
Instead, Donegan wants to focus on inspiring young girls across the country. “I’m not much different from you right now,” she tells them. “You can do anything you set your mind to. Empowerment starts inside—if I can spark that belief in even one girl, I’ve done my job.” As Miss America, she’s committed to showing kids that self-confidence matters most.
The Miss America pageant, which started as a 1921 beauty contest in Atlantic City just after women won the right to vote, has evolved into a major supporter of women’s education. The organization hands out over $5 million in scholarships each year at national, state, and local levels, helping contestants build their futures. Donegan herself scored a $50,000 tuition scholarship, plus $3,000 more for her standout talent performance in the preliminaries. Last year’s winner, Abbie Stockard from Alabama, placed the crown on her head during the ceremony.
To handle the online trolls, Donegan surrounds herself with positive people. “It’s tough not to check what others are saying, but their opinions aren’t my business,” she shared. “Would they say it to my face? At the end of the day, the people who truly know and love you drown out the noise.”
Donegan has built resilience from a tough upbringing in a small town with a lower-income family. She faced bullying, and her mom suffered multiple strokes starting when she was just nine. Some days, they worried about keeping the lights on. “That’s not the glamorous background you’d expect for Miss America,” she said. But she refused to let hardships define her. Her competition gown wasn’t a $10,000 splurge—it was sponsored. Even her makeup mixed drugstore buys with sponsor gifts.
“No rules say you need money or a fancy lifestyle to win Miss America or chase your dreams,” Donegan emphasized. “Your circumstances don’t control your outcome. If one person gets that, I’ve succeeded.”
As she steps into her reign, Donegan plans to promote unity in a divided nation. The daughter of a U.S. Navy veteran from a family of service members, she takes pride in the armed forces. “They protect our country’s foundations—equality, kindness, and seeing every neighbor’s journey as important,” she said. Her brother may soon join the military too.
Through Miss America, Donegan aims to create safe spaces for real talk and connection. “We can come from different backgrounds and still find common ground,” she added. “When we listen and understand each other, unity follows.”
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
