CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A Porter-Gaud graduate has been named Miss America’s Teen 2026 during a special competition held over the weekend.

Tess Ferm, an 18-year-old from Charleston, was previously crowned Miss South Carolina’s Teen for 2025 and went on to compete on the national stage in Saturday’s 2026 Miss America’s Teen Competition.

Ferm, who is a rising freshman at Furman University, will receive $30,000 in scholarships and will serve as a brand ambassador for the Miss America’s Team program.

Ferm is also the winner of the national “Teens in Action” award for her extensive work to support those with food allergies.

Ferm launched a platform, “Fear to Freedom,” out of her own life-threatening allergies, where she has educated more than 2,500 students and teachers, and has helped install epinephrine auto-injectors in over 10 locations across her school.

Ahead of Saturday’s competition, Ferm appeared on Get 2 Know, a weekly WCBD+ podcast with Storm Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Rob Fowler, where she discussed her experience with food allergies and the work she is doing with schools and restaurants to raise awareness and action.

“I am an advocate for Food Allergy Research Education, which is one of the largest non-profits for food allergy awareness … They have a lot of resources available, and it’s truly impacted so many lives across America. That’s what I want to continue to do, hopefully as Miss America’s Teen; I really want to take this nationally because it’s not going to go away, unfortunately, but we can focus on inclusion and empathy,” she said on the program.

Ferm has filmed public service announcements and designed thousands of food allergy placemats for local restaurants. She also hopes to work with state lawmakers to introduce laws that focus on allergy safety and preparedness in every school.

The competition was held at Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida.