UNH Student Represents New Hampshire in Miss America Competition
Lauren Plank ’27 competes in the Miss America competition. (Photo credit: Katrina Bernard Photography)
Lauren Plank ’27 would love to tell you she remembers every detail from the moment she was named Miss New Hampshire, earning herself a spot in the Miss America competition she used to watch at home with her mother every year growing up.
Details, though, are a little hazy, lost in the surprise of the moment. But what she does remember is feeling like a lifelong aspiration had officially been realized.
“When my name was called for the title, I had extreme tunnel vision. I feel like everything around me went blurry and I was feeling shocked and a little bit in disbelief,” Plank says. “Being named Miss New Hampshire was a dream come true. I worked so hard to prepare for this competition, mentally, physically, and in my community, so seeing that work all pay off in that one moment was incredible.”
Getting to stand on the stage as part of the Miss America competition in West Palm Beach, Florida, this fall was equally awe-inspiring for Plank. It was a decidedly different vantage point than the one she had as a child, sitting on the couch with her mother watching the event each year.
“I’ve dreamed of going to Miss America for as long as I can remember. To be there, involved and competing, still feels surreal,” Plank says.
Some of the most rewarding takeaways for Plank were the bonds she built with her fellow competitors. Through a daunting schedule of rehearsals and long days with little rest, the 52 contestants grew close and still talk almost daily in a group chat.
The communication major’s journey to the Miss America stage truly began in the summer of 2024, when she entered two local pageants but didn’t earn a title. She returned to UNH for the school year, but the experience was never far from her mind.
In 2025, she tried again and was named Miss Bedford, winning $10,000 in scholarship money. In April, after a weeklong competition, she was crowned Miss New Hampshire 2026.
The honor was especially meaningful for Plank, who has found a home in New Hampshire after coming to UNH. She initially thought she wanted to attend a big school somewhere far away from her home in Marlborough, Massachusetts, but as decision time loomed, she realized she felt more comfortable staying within easy driving distance of her family.
“Deciding to come here was definitely the best decision that I could’ve made,” Plank says. When she found out she would be competing in Miss America, she says she was “so excited to represent the state that I’m furthering my education in.”
That relationship to UNH is something Plank expects to be lifelong. She met her best friends here during her freshman year, found a sisterhood at Alpha Chi Omega, and loves cheering on the Wildcats during football season. And she doesn’t envision any of that Wildcat spirit diminishing when she graduates.
“Everyone who goes here is a Wildcat for life,” she says.