Hazel Park Student Crowned at Frauenthal Theater

The 87th annual Miss Michigan scholarship competition concluded Saturday night in downtown Muskegon, with Grace Hanke of Hazel Park winning the title and $11,000 in scholarship money.

Hanke, 19, competed as Miss Oakland County and was crowned by outgoing titleholder Hannah Palmer of Brighton during the finale at the historic Frauenthal Theater on June 20, according to MLive.

“My goal wasn't to be in top 10 or to win the title. Of course, that was something I wanted, but my main takeaway was to be there, and that's really what I was doing and I was just trying to soak it all in so that I could remember it no matter what happened,” Hanke said, according to CBS Detroit.

Engineering Student Beats 29 Other Contestants

Hanke is a mechanical engineering student at the University of Detroit Mercy. She won the judges over with her vocal performance of Elvis Presley's “Can't Help Falling in Love” and her response to an onstage question about the quality she is most proud of, according to MLive.

Thirty contestants from across Michigan competed during a three-night event. The theme for 2026 was “American Spirit,” chosen to coincide with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, MLive reported.

The field narrowed to 11 semi-finalists on Saturday night before the top five were named. Contestants competed in on-stage interviews, health and fitness presentations, talent performances, and evening gown rounds.

Hanke also earned two individual awards:

  • The $500 Shelley Taylor Lead With Your Heart Award
  • The evening gown award during Thursday's preliminary round

Scholarship Money Distributed to All Finalists

The Miss Michigan competition distributes scholarship money to all finalists, according to MLive:

  • $10,000 for the title winner
  • $4,000 for first runner-up: Reese Johnson, Miss Washtenaw County
  • $3,000 for second runner-up: Mary Hagemeyer, Miss Great Lakes Bay
  • $2,000 for third runner-up: Lacy Jewell, Miss Spirit of the State
  • $1,500 for fourth runner-up: Melissa Sexton, Miss Sand Dunes
  • $1,000 each for the other five semi-finalists
  • $500 each for non-finalists

Five Miss Michigan winners have gone on to win the Miss America title, including Patricia Donnelly Harris in 1939, Nancy Anne Fleming Lange in 1961, Pam Eldred in 1970, Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson in 1988, and Kirsten Haglund in 2008, according to MLive.

Age Limit Change Brought Larger Field

The Miss America organization raised its age limit to 27 this year. The Miss Michigan program responded by allowing eight more candidates than in 2025, when the cap was 22, according to MLive.

Hanke will compete at the Miss America competition in Florida in September, CBS Detroit reported.

Also on Friday evening, Maggie-Mae Nixon, Miss Saginaw County's Outstanding Teen, was crowned Miss Michigan's Outstanding Teen 2026. Nixon, of Ann Arbor, earned the title with a violin performance of “Phantom of the Opera,” according to MLive.