Caroline Hawkins is a ten-year-old from the Oklahoma Panhandle and is honored to serve as Little Miss of America 2026. She began her journey with American Pageants as Little Miss of Main Street and quickly fell in love with an organization that celebrates service, achievement, and making a difference in the lives of others.

Caroline’s passion for service inspired her service initiative, Ripple Effect, built around a simple idea: small acts of kindness can create waves of change far beyond the person who starts them. What began as Caroline looking for ways to serve others has grown into a movement encouraging kids and adults to recognize the difference they can make right where they are. Through Ripple Effect, Caroline has participated in projects ranging from writing letters to deployed service members and painting kindness rocks to volunteering in her community and encouraging others to create ripples of their own. Her message is simple: you don’t need a lot of money, a special title, or a grand plan to make an impact—you just have to be willing to start.

When she isn’t volunteering or wearing a crown, Caroline is a busy fourth grader who enjoys basketball and softball, playing the piano, traveling, trying new things, and spending time with her family. She is curious, determined, and always ready for a new adventure.

During her year as Little Miss of America, Caroline hopes to take Ripple Effect far beyond her own community. Her goal is to show that changing the world doesn’t always begin with something big. Sometimes, one small stone can make a very big splash.