ASHLAND – Outgoing Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson placed the crown on her successor June 20: Miss South Central Lexie Miller of Newark, who received a $10,000 scholarship and other gifts and awards.
The 23-year-old Miller, a vocalist who sang “Natural Woman” for her talent segment, will compete in September for the title of Miss America in West Palm Beach, Florida. Miller won the People’s Choice Award, joining the 10 semi-finalists who competed during the final night.
Her community service initiative is Take Heart, which promotes awareness of cardiac health, which goes hand-in-hand with Miss America’s American Heart Association partnership.
The first runner-up was Miss Greater Columbus Caitlin Seifert of Niles.
Second runner-up was Miss Clayland Lucabella LaEace of Cincinnati.
Third runner-up was Miss Lake Festival MacKenzie Harmer of St. Henry.
Fourth runner-up was Miss North Coast Marina DeNunzio of Shaker Heights.
About the new Miss Ohio 2026
It was Miller’s second attempt at the Miss Ohio crown. She is a nurse at Mount Carmel East Hospital in Columbus.
As a nurse, she said she works in the cardiac ICU 36 hours a week and will balance her job and Miss Ohio during her reign. She became a nurse in part after going on a medical mission trip in 8th grade to the Dominican Republic and said the experience was life-changing. While there, she performed home visits with a priest.
“I realized there are a lot of people in and outside the United States who need help. I’m a ‘sciency’ girl. I love equations,” she said. Her mother also works in the medical field.
Miller previously competed a handful of years in the Miss Ohio’s Teen competition, starting at age 14.
Miller said she was a bit intimidated at first in Miss Ohio’s Teen. She said she came out of her shell and interviewed better, which started her journey to Miss Ohio.
“All I knew was I wanted to sing on a stage,” she said.
She said she had such a great time meeting people and performing her talents along the way.
On Saturday, she captured the title against 29 contestants.
During the press conference, Miller said she is self-taught and likes to sing a little of every music genre. She said her mother used to sing when she was younger and competed in some pageants.
After winning a preliminary talent award Thursday night, she said she has been singing “since she could sing.”
She said she will begin preparing for Miss America by working on her stage presence. She most likely will keep her Miss Ohio talent selection for the Miss America stage.
Rounding out the top 11 were: Miss Lake Erie Sophia Kreze of Strongsvillle; Miss Northern Ohio Cassandra Kurek of Bucyrus; Miss Shawnee Bryn Hasenaur of Holland; Miss Greater Cleveland Emily Cram of Minford; Miss Columbia Homecoming Madalynn Anderson of Toronto, Ohio and Miss Maple City Emily Legenza of Wauseon.
For her farewell night, Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson sang several songs from her heart, taking off her crown and sash and handing them to her parents on stage.
A new law school graduate of Ohio State University, Fosson said she will leave for Texas to start her law career June 22.
“Forever Miss Ohios” also returned to the stage to let people know what they have been doing in their lives, including Miss Ohio 1962/Miss America 1963 Jackie Mayer.
The show was fun-filled and included several country hit songs by the Miss Ohio Singers and Dancers.
Contact Lou Whitmire at 419-521-7223. She can be reached on X at @lwhitmir.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Vocalist from Newark captures Miss Ohio 2026 crown
Reporting by Lou Whitmire, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lou Whitmire, Mansfield News Journal | USA TODAY Network
