Wichita teen Ta’Lyiah Lewis has earned a state title, a scholarship award and the opportunity to represent Kansas on the national stage after being crowned Miss Kansas’ Teen 2026.
Lewis was crowned June 6 at Pratt Community College in Pratt after emerging as the winner of a field of 20 contestants from across Kansas. She received a $1,500 cash scholarship as part of her victory and will now advance to the Miss America’s Teen 2027 competition, scheduled for September in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Lewis is the daughter of Chandra Lewis and Adrian McClough and the granddaughter of Janice Lewis.
The Wichita Northwest High School student was one of two Wichita contestants to finish at the top of the state competition. First runner-up honors went to Miss Greater Wichita’s Teen Khavayi Tsimonjela, a Wichita Southeast High School student, volleyball player and former Miss ICT Teen 2023. Together, the two Wichita teens finished first and second in the statewide competition.
Lewis first competed in the 2024 Miss Juneteenth ICT Pageant,. During that pageant, she told THE VOICE reporter she decided to participate in the pageant to build confidence, develop leadership skills and pursue scholarship opportunities for college. At the time, the student-athlete was balancing academics with her role as a shooting guard on Wichita Northwest’s basketball team.
Since then, Lewis has continued to grow as a competitor, community advocate and leader. This pageant, her community service initiative focuses on youth mental health, an issue she hopes to bring greater attention to among young people.
Lewis said she plans to spend her year as Miss Kansas’ Teen advocating for mental health awareness and suicide prevention while encouraging young people and families to have open conversations about mental health. In a statement following her crowning, Lewis said mental health affects many individuals and families and that she hopes to help reduce stigma while reminding people they are not alone.
She also said the Miss America Opportunity has taught her the importance of service, leadership, scholarship and sisterhood, lessons she hopes to build upon while making a positive impact in communities across Kansas.
During the Miss Kansas’ Teen competition, Lewis performed a praise dance for the talent portion of the event, using faith-inspired movement and music to express her message and showcase her abilities before the judges.
The Miss Kansas’ Teen competition serves as the official state preliminary to Miss America’s Teen, the national youth scholarship program affiliated with the Miss America Organization. The program emphasizes academic achievement, leadership, talent and community service while providing scholarship opportunities to participants.
At the national competition, Lewis will join state and territorial titleholders from across the country to compete for the Miss America’s Teen 2027 crown. Contestants participate in private interviews, talent presentations, fitness and evening wear competitions while serving as ambassadors for causes important to their communities.
The national winner becomes a spokesperson for the organization and is eligible for significant scholarship opportunities, including a tuition scholarship valued at up to $100,000 through a partnership with Samford University. Additional scholarship opportunities are available through university partners and the Miss America’s Scholarship Foundation. Lewis’ journey from local pageant contestant to Miss Kansas’ Teen also shines a spotlight on Wichita’s pageant community ahead of this year’s Miss Juneteenth ICT Pageant, scheduled for Saturday, June 13, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Carl Brewer Community Center, 1329 E. 13th St.
