Owensboro resident Karrington True was crowned United States of America’s Miss on Sunday night, capturing her first national pageant title following an emotional and tightly contested finals night — one she described as both surreal and unforgettable.
The national competition, held in Las Vegas, marked a milestone moment for True, who has spent years working toward the opportunity to compete on that stage and represent Owensboro at the United States of America Pageants.
“I have never won a national pageant before, so I really had nothing else to compare it to,” True said.
The evening unfolded in rounds, beginning with a full group appearance before narrowing to a top eight and eventually a final three. True said the experience backstage — particularly the relationships formed with other contestants — stood out just as much as the competition itself.
“When we got over to the corner, we were all kind of joking with each other … we had gotten really close and were super excited to share that with each other,” she said.
That closeness carried into one of the night’s most nerve-wracking moments. As finalists rotated through on-stage questions, the others waited in a hallway wearing headphones. True said she passed the time listening to Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer.”
“I love classic rock, so I was in the hallway dancing, lip-syncing, and just completely in my own little vibe,” she said.
Moments later, she found herself standing in the final two.
“As soon as they brought us to the center, we just kept looking at each other and saying, ‘Oh my gosh … I love you so much. I’m so proud of you,’” True said. “We were hugging the entire time.”
When the runner-up was announced, True said the moment didn’t immediately feel real.
“I just crouched down a little, completely in shock… I really couldn’t believe it,” she said.
The crowning itself was made even more meaningful by a personal connection. The outgoing titleholder, also from Kentucky, had formed a bond with True leading up to the competition.
“I just remember her walking over and holding the crown, and she looked at me, and she goes, ‘Are you ready?’ And I was just speechless. It was amazing,” True said.
True described the level of competition at nationals as the highest she has experienced.
“It’s the most elite level of competition that you can compete in,” she said. “Everyone had really taken the time to prepare and was at the best version of themselves that they possibly could be.”
Still, she emphasized that the experience was defined less by rivalry and more by mutual support.
“A win for one is a win for all,” True said. “Every single person in my class was hugging me on stage after crowning … that’s just incredibly special.”
Originally from Milton, True moved to Owensboro last fall after spending several years in Lexington, where she attended the University of Kentucky and began building her career. While her pageant journey began in childhood, her path to the national title came after being crowned United States of America’s Miss Kentucky in October 2025.
True has emphasized service throughout her pageant career. She logged 257 hours of community service leading up to nationals, earning a silver-level service award. Contestants collectively contributed more than 4,000 hours nationwide.
Her platform includes work with an organization focused on smoke detector awareness and supporting first responders — something she said will remain a priority during her yearlong reign.
“That work won’t fall by the wayside,” she said.
As United States of America’s Miss, True will travel extensively for appearances, including pageants and national events. She said early plans include a trip to Washington, D.C., tied to celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.
“I’ll travel the country pretty extensively,” she said, noting upcoming trips already on her calendar, including Washington, D.C., as part of celebrations surrounding America’s 250th anniversary.
For now, she’s still taking it all in.
“It was really amazing,” she said.
