Miss America Cassie Donegan Shares Powerful Message About Body Shaming

Jul 20, 2026 by apost team

Winning Miss America opened the door to new opportunities for Cassie Donegan, but it also introduced her to a reality that many public figures know all too well: the constant scrutiny that comes with living in the spotlight.

Since being crowned Miss America after earning the New York title, the 28-year-old has embraced a busy schedule filled with appearances and performances. Most recently, she took the stage during Major League Baseball's All-Star Game in Philadelphia, delivering a rendition of "God Bless America" before a national audience.

Donegan's journey to the crown has been filled with milestones. Along with winning the prestigious title, she received a $50,000 tuition scholarship and an additional $3,000 award for her vocal performance in the pageant's talent competition. Friends and supporters celebrated her victory, with emotional reactions to her win quickly spreading across social media.

But greater visibility also brought criticism. While many applauded her achievement, others turned their attention to her appearance, offering unsolicited opinions about everything from her makeup to her overall look during the competition.

Rather than responding directly to those remarks, Donegan recently shared a simple but thought-provoking message on her Instagram Stories—one that encouraged people to think beyond the person they're commenting on and consider how those words may affect everyone who reads them.

The message Donegan reposted struck a chord with many followers.

"Did you ever consider that your comment about another person's body is also hitting everyone else in the room. Everyone,” she said on Instagram.

Although she didn't address any individual comments, many viewed the post as a reminder of the lasting impact body-shaming remarks can have, especially in an online world where criticism is often shared without a second thought.

Donegan has previously spoken about learning to handle public opinion without letting it define her. She explained that one of the most valuable lessons she's learned is to be intentional about what she gives her attention to.

"Often you do have to just pick and choose what you allow yourself to digest," she said. "I think that's something that's been a really useful tool, really leaning into those who are lifting me up, loving me and holding me high, and choosing to focus on the positivity that's happening in the moment."

She also acknowledged that wearing the Miss America crown doesn't make her immune to hurtful words.

"I'm just a normal person. No, I don't want to hear people ever say anything negative, especially about my appearance,"

Donegan said. "But I also respect that the internet is a public space and that people have the right to their opinion to be able to share that, and no one's going to be everyone's favorite all of the time."

Still, she hopes to leave a different impression through her time as Miss America.

"I'm just going to do my best to love everyone and care about everyone, because at the end of the day, if even just one person has felt touched in some way or seen or loved through me as Miss America, then I've done my job. And that's the most important thing."

apost.com

Are you a fan of Cassie Donegan? What do you think about her message on body shaming and choosing kindness online? Share your thoughts in the comments and pass this story along to your family, friends and fellow Miss America fans.