Florida's second-crowned Miss Florida contemplates Miss America pageant
Miss Paris Richardson, the second Black woman to win the Miss Florida title, is gearing up for the Miss America 2026 competition. The four-day event begins on September 3 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando.
Richardson, who hails from Gainesville, won the Miss Florida 2025 competition among dozens of contestants. Her victory earned her a $20,000 scholarship.
Before entering pageantry in college, Richardson had been working extensively with local community organizations to further her health equity initiative. One such project was the Ribault Get RAW program, which she started in high school to promote her school's health center for underserved students. The program later expanded into a statewide initiative with CROWN of Health.
In addition to her work in health equity, Richardson is also an author. She released a children's book, "The Not-So-Perfect Garden Project," in April to spread her health equity message to a younger audience. The book discusses themes of food insecurity and features the daughters of Ribault cheer coaches Natasha Skipper and Latosha Nightingale.
Preparing for the Miss America 2026 competition has not been without its challenges. Richardson finds the transition from cheerleading to dance difficult in her competition preparation. She is currently practicing at Radar Dance Complex in Ocala.
The Miss Florida 2025 competition consisted of five segments: private interviews, health and fitness, on-stage questions, talent, and evening gown. Richardson's talent is dance.
As she prepares for the national stage, Richardson keeps up with the news to form her own opinions on relevant topics for the competition's onstage and private interview sections. She is also working with sponsors throughout north central Florida to strengthen her resume.
Richardson's mother, Rachelle Miller, is proud of the hard work Richardson has put in over the last four years. "She's been working really hard, and it's paying off," Miller said.
The Miss America 2026 competition will have two remaining participants: Richardson and Miss Jacksonville Anjelica Jones. The preliminary round begins on September 3. The winner will represent Florida in the Miss America 2026 pageant.
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