DOUGLAS, Ga. (WALB) —A Coffee County teenager has made history once again — this time on the national stage.

On Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, 18-year-old Kiran Reddy was crowned Miss Teen USA 2026 in Miami, bringing the national title home to Georgia. Reddy was crowned Miss Teen USA 2025 by Mailyn Marsh during the 44th Miss Teen USA competition.

The victory comes just weeks after WALB first introduced viewers to Reddy following her historic win as Miss Georgia Teen USA, making her the first Indian American to hold the state title.

Now, her journey has taken her from Coffee County to the national crown.

Following Wednesday night’s win, Reddy said she was excited and blessed to represent Georgia and the United States and to be a role model for girls like her.

From Coffee County to college and a national crown

Reddy graduated as valedictorian of Coffee High School’s Class of 2026 and is now headed to the University of Georgia, where she plans to study on a pre-med track. Her goal is to eventually pursue a career in women’s health or obstetrics and gynecology.

That passion for medicine started close to home. Growing up, Reddy spent time around her father’s medical practice and later began volunteering in the nursery of the labor and delivery wing at Coffee Regional Medical Center. She previously told WALB that experience helped her fall in love with women’s health and the OB-GYN field.

Reddy has said she hopes to return to Douglas after completing her education to practice medicine. She also wants to eventually take her work abroad and provide prenatal care to women in other countries.

Service before the crown

Reddy’s involvement in Coffee County stretches beyond academics and pageants.

She has read to students at local elementary schools, spent time with residents at Lakeside Senior Living Center, and organized a charity pageant that raised $3,000 for Alzheimer’s awareness. She has also used her crown to connect with younger girls, including visiting her former gymnastics gym and allowing them to try it on.

Before pageantry, Reddy competed in varsity swimming and spent years in competitive gymnastics. She did not enter her first pageant until she was 15 and previously finished as a runner-up in Miss Georgia Teen USA before finally earning the state title this year.

Reddy told WALB in July that pageantry helped transform her from someone who was once afraid to speak publicly into someone comfortable using her voice to help others.

Her goal, she said, has always extended beyond winning.

“It’s never been about the title, and it’s never been about the crown. It’s about the impact.”

Just over a month after sharing those words with WALB, Reddy now has a national platform to continue making that impact as Miss Teen USA 2026.

Coffee High School reacts

Educators at Coffee High School, where Reddy graduated as valedictorian, said they watched her competition with pride.

Coffee High School Principal Van Allen said Reddy was a light on campus.

“She was a light. Absolutely phenomenal. You know, she won the beauty contest, but her real beauty comes from inside. She is such a light. And she was such a joy to have on our campus. One of the sweetest, most genuine students that I’ve ever met.”

Van Allen said Reddy’s academic record reflected the same drive.

“I think the results speak for themselves. She was a valedictorian. And that’s what we want to do at Coffee High School. You know, you can stand on the sidelines and ask, why? Or come to Coffee High School and ask, why not? And so why not chase the impossible dream? Why not be Miss Teen USA? Why not be the valedictorian? So she did an outstanding job while she was there.”

Van Allen had a message for Reddy following her win.

“We’re so proud of you, Kiran. We love you. You’ll always be a Trojan. We thank you for what you’ve done for us and what you’ll continue to do for this community. We just really could not be more proud of her.”

School counselor James Lowther, who worked with Reddy since her sophomore year, said she set goals early.

“She was determined. She was fierce. She had goals set from the first day she stepped foot on that campus. She identified herself as wanting to be the valedictorian. She took on so many community service projects. She was a Fitbit ambassador. Everything. She took leadership to the extreme. And I was there to watch her and guide her and help her.”

Lowther said Reddy’s national title added to a pattern of accomplishments he witnessed as her counselor.

“That’s a really big deal, competing against other states’ representatives. And she brought the win back to not only Georgia but to Coffee County. I’ve seen her win a lot of things being her counselor. Winning valedictorian, winning ambassador, getting into the college of choice that she gave, recently getting into the sorority of choice. I’ve been with her through every step. I just couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Kate Walker, director of student services at Coffee High School, said Reddy consistently pushed herself.

“Kiran means the absolute best. She came in wanting to strive to do her best, and she expected us to make sure that she was doing her best even when she struggled.”

Walker said she watched Reddy compete with her own children.

“I was. Actually, my daughter and my youngest son, we were in the bed, and we were screaming right there by ourselves watching every second of it.”

Walker described the moment as surreal.

“It was a little surreal, you know, to just see her out there on this huge stage. You know, she was on our stage, which was the biggest stage when she was valedictorian, but it was so surreal just knowing her personally and knowing her heart.”

Walker said Reddy was known for offering to help however she could.

“Kiran always wanted to give more. She always stopped by to check if there was anything else she could do, if there was anything she could do community service-wise, for student council, or just as our administrative team as a whole. She was always willing to give back.”

Walker’s message for Reddy: “Kiran, go be yourself. You’re great.”

Community rallies around Reddy

Devis Burnham, a family friend, said her business, Tio’s Table,” hosted a send-off party for Reddy at her mother’s request.

“She is just as beautiful and smart as what you see on TV, but in person. And just such a genuine human.”

Burnham said Reddy’s community involvement includes work with the Chamber Ambassador Program and the Douglas Mayor’s Youth Council, and that she started a hygiene cart at the high school.

“I’ve heard her name for years, and it’s all stuff that she’s done behind the scenes to help the community. So she genuinely has a heart of gold, but it’s more than just a pretty face.”

Burnham said the send-off party drew community support.

“We hosted a send-off party for her last week, and seeing the community support coming just through these doors and sharing their excitement for that particular stage — a national stage — you know, just seeing the community rally behind her and get to that particular platform is super special for our community, too. We have a lot of individuals who have gone places after high school and made waves in the world, and I think it’s really important to celebrate that, especially when it starts at such a young age.”

A letter from a sorority sister

Reddy is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi at the University of Georgia. Nora Lott, her sorority sister, wrote the following letter to Reddy following her win:

Kiran,

I could not be more proud of you. Watching you win Miss USA is such an incredible moment, and I truly cannot think of anyone more deserving. You have always been a light in every room you walk into, and now the entire country gets to see the person that so many of us already know and love.

Being able to share high school with you and now UGA and AOII has been one of my greatest blessings. I have gotten to watch you grow into the beautiful, confident, and graceful woman you are today, and it makes me so proud to see you accomplish something this amazing.

What makes this moment so special is that you are just as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside. You are kind, genuine, hardworking, and someone who makes the people around you feel loved. I know you are going to represent Miss USA with the same grace and heart that you bring into everything you do.

Kiran, you are so loved, and I hope you know how many people are cheering you on. I cannot wait to watch you shine during this next chapter and see all of the incredible things you accomplish. I am so proud of you, Miss USA!

With love, Nora Lott

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