University of Delaware Class of 2024 alumna Anaya Harrison was crowned Miss Delaware 2026 and will represent the First State at the Miss America Competition this September.

From campus to crown

Article by Sophonie Milord Photos by Kevin Parsons and courtesy of Anaya Harrison September 02, 2026

UD alumna Anaya Harrison will represent the First State on the Miss America stage after being crowned Miss Delaware

For Anaya Harrison, the road to the crown didn't begin in a pageant dressing room but in the halls of Capitol Hill and the classrooms at the University of Delaware.

After being crowned Miss Delaware 2026 on June 20 at UD’s Thompson Theatre —a space where Harrison spent some time rehearsing as a student — she reflected on several key points in her life that led to this full-circle moment and achievement.

Harrison graduated from UD in 2024 as a 4+1 student with a dual bachelor's degree in political science and public policy and master of arts in urban affairs and public policy. As a student, Harrison balanced her coursework with numerous community service endeavors. Whether leading as a three-year resident assistant — starting during the pandemic — or participating in the Spring Semester in Washington D.C. program, Harrison's dedication to public service has been the driving force of her personal and professional journey.

This month, Harrison will carry that legacy of civic engagement along with heartfelt leadership to the national stage at the Miss America competition, a pageant that goes beyond the title or crown, empowering young women to dream big, while using their voices to inspire change in the world. The 99th Miss America pageant will run Sept. 3-6, with the final crowning on Sunday, Sept. 6.

“This was actually the organization’s first year having the competition at UD, which was exciting because not only was this my first year competing for this pageant, but it also took place in a space that we used for the UD Gospel Choir. So it felt like I was coming home since I had not been on campus in quite some time,” she said.

Harrison drew on her musical background during the talent portion of the Miss Delaware competition, showcasing her piano skills, cultivated since age 5.

After being crowned Miss Delaware 2026 on June 20 at UD’s Thompson Theatre — a space where Harrison spent some time rehearsing as a student — she reflected on several key points in her life that led to this full-circle moment and achievement.

From First State to home

Harrison’s “homecoming” has been a long time in the making, as she and her family relocated from Utah to Delaware when she was just 2 years old. Even when it came time to select a college, Harrison had no plans or desire to venture off too far from home.

“When I applied for UD, I actually applied as a biology student and over time I discovered that my passion was more geared towards public service and political science,” she said.

Since then, Harrison has lived and served the state of Delaware through initiatives such as the Environmental Justice Project, which she co-founded to help source grant funds for communities facing environmental concerns.

Harrison’s heart for public service extends from initiatives such as the Environmental Justice Project, which she co-founded, to local organizations like the Humane Animal Partners.

Harrison, who is locally known as Miss Claymont, continues bridging the gap between policymaking and the scientific method through her work for environmental advocacy, the legislative sector and her community service initiative, A More Perfect Union: Pathways to Civic Engagement.

“My initiative is about helping people realize they don't have to take a backseat in the civic process. Whether in D.C. or Dover, there are always ways to get involved, access resources, and ensure your voice is heard,” Harrison said.

For Harrison, policy isn't just about theory. It's about the everyday structure of our lives.

“Taking a graduate class in 'Everyday Architecture' shifted my entire perspective, moving me away from the textbook and helping me see policy in a real-life context, specifically how urban space-making and architecture tie into the daily lives of citizens,” she said.

Connecting communities

Reinforced through her role as a social justice peer educator and student in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, Harrison’s lifelong passion for public service and commitment to community now serve as the foundation for her work as Miss Delaware 2026. In fact, one of the events she coordinated and hosted as Miss Claymont directly connected constituents to their elected officials through a resource fair at the Claymont Community Center.

Harrison’s love for Capitol Hill stemmed from her time as an intern in the Spring Semester in D.C. Program, where she formerly worked in the Office of Senator Tom Carper. She is currently a Congressional Aide in the House of Representatives for U.S. Representative Dwight Evans, yet another full-circle moment in her life.

“In the past, Miss Delaware was more of a state ambassador working with different legislative offices, so I’m hoping to get that back into play. I think being able to connect the ‘pageant world’ to the government space would be really beneficial for encouraging young people to become more involved in our voting process,” she said.

Harrison’s love for Capitol Hill stemmed from her time as an intern, where she formerly worked in the Office of Senator Tom Carper. She is currently a Congressional Aide in the House of Representatives for U.S. Representative Dwight Evans, yet another full-circle moment in her life.

Beyond the crown

For Harrison, carrying the title of Miss Delaware goes beyond the glitz and glamour of the crown. She hopes to inspire others to step out of their comfort zones, especially as someone who was very shy growing up.

“As someone in a pageant, leadership is so much more than just being an influencer,” she said. “In five years, I hope to encourage young women and everyone to pursue whatever education they want and provide resources to support that. I want to use my platform for the betterment of our communities and public service, something I'm looking forward to.”

Harrison is already using her platform for good through partnerships with the Miss Delaware Scholarship Organization and the American Heart Association. During the pageant, she raised the most money out of all the contestants for the Heart Association. It was a special moment, as several of her family members have dealt with heart disease.

As Harrison looks ahead, she takes a moment to reflect on the individuals who have inspired her to this point, including her mother, who also competed in pageants and gave her the same makeup case she once used.

Thinking about her mentors and professors, Harrison hopes to be viewed as “an embodiment of the [poli-sci] program.”

Never afraid to get involved in new opportunities or present as her most authentic self, Harrison went on to share the significance of wearing her natural hair on the Miss Delaware stage as a way to inspire others to remain true to themselves.

“I feel like a good leader encourages people to follow their own paths, no matter what that looks like for them, and gives them the courage to be able to do that,” she said.