Public Voting Underway for Bridgeport’s Gracia Knight Ahead of Miss Teen USA Competition
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Bridgeport’s Gracia Knight is preparing to represent West Virginia on the national stage later this month, and Mountain State supporters have an opportunity to help send her directly into the semifinals at Miss Teen USA.
Knight, the reigning Miss West Virginia Teen USA, is competing in the national Miss Teen USA People’s Choice vote ahead of the 2026 competition in Miami.
Click here to vote for Gracia Knight in the Miss Teen USA People’s Choice competition.
Knight has already advanced through the first round of public voting, which narrowed the field of 51 contestants to 25. The current second round will narrow the field again to 15 contestants when voting closes Sunday, Aug. 16, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
Those who advance will move into the final People’s Choice round beginning Aug. 17 and continuing through Aug. 23. The three contestants receiving the most validated votes in that round will earn automatic spots in the Top 20 at the 2026 Miss Teen USA competition.
Eligible supporters can cast one free vote every 24 hours after verification, with additional vote packages also available for purchase. Voters must be at least 18 years old, reside in the United States or District of Columbia and be physically located in the United States when voting.
For Knight, the public vote comes just days before she heads to Miami with representatives from across the country.
Miss Teen USA events are scheduled for Aug. 24 through Aug. 26 in Miami, with Knight representing West Virginia during the national competition. The 2026 Miss Teen USA Pageant is scheduled to air live on The CW on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Knight was crowned Miss West Virginia Teen USA in Charleston in June. She is a Bridgeport High School student and has been active in academics, athletics, community service and leadership activities in the area.
Her trip to Miami will now put a Harrison County representative on one of the country’s largest national pageant stages.
Before she gets there, West Virginians have an opportunity to play a direct role in her journey.
