Catherine Delinda Smith, a Janesville native, has been crowned Miss Turtle Creek 2026, earning the title at a local preliminary competition for the Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Competition.
Catherine Delinda Smith, a Janesville native, has been crowned Miss Turtle Creek 2026, earning the title at a local preliminary competition for the Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Competition.
Catherine Delinda Smith, a Janesville native, has been crowned Miss Turtle Creek 2026, earning the title at a local preliminary competition for the Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Competition.
Submitted photo
Catherine Delinda Smith, a Janesville native, has been crowned Miss Turtle Creek 2026, earning the title at a local preliminary competition for the Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Competition.
JANESVILLE — Catherine Delinda Smith, a Janesville native, has been crowned Miss Turtle Creek 2026, earning the title at a local preliminary competition for the Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Competition.
The event was held at Beloit Memorial High School, where Smith stood out by winning both the Overall Interview Award and Overall Evening Gown. She also captivated the audience with a Broadway vocal performance of “Somewhere” from West Side Story.
Smith is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and is currently a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin.
During her year of service, she will represent Rock County as a Miss America Opportunity Brand Ambassador, focusing her community service platform on suicide prevention and mental health advocacy.
Her initiative, Saved by Strength: Overcoming Suicide Grief Through Shared Stories, centers on education, prevention and fostering open conversations about suicide loss, resilience and healing. Smith’s advocacy is rooted in lived experience and emphasizes service-driven leadership.
Smith is an active board member of The Salvation Army of Rock County and works closely with community partners including the YWCA of Rock County and NAMI–Rock County.
Reflecting on her journey, Smith said she once believed her participation in the Miss America program had ended when she aged out of eligibility.
“Last year, I believed my Miss America journey had come to an end when I aged out of eligibility,” Smith said in the release. “The Miss America Opportunity’s decision to extend eligibility to age 28 gave me a second chance I never expected. This year represents perseverance, faith, and refusing to let go of a passion rooted in service.”
Smith will compete for the title of Miss Wisconsin 2026 in June at the West Performing Arts Center in New Berlin.
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