Bella Philothei Hatzilias is a proud Greek-American who recently graduated from Buford High School. After being crowned Miss Teen of Georgia, Bella Philothei traveled to Las Vegas to represent her state at Nationals. With an incredible week of memories, friendships, and competition, Bella Philothei was honored to be crowned Miss Teen of America 2026. She is now excited to spend her year traveling and serving.

With more than 600 hours of community service, Bella Philothei has had the opportunity to work with children, families, animals, and organizations in her community. Her passion for children and education inspired her platforms, Crowned With Culture and Nutrition Through Play, where she encourages children to celebrate their heritage while learning healthy habits in fun and meaningful ways. Bella Philothei also founded Towels for Tails, a service initiative supporting animal shelters. She hopes to continue growing these initiatives throughout her reign and inspire others to discover the joy that comes from serving others.

Outside of pageantry, Bella Philothei is a student leader, educator, and proud member of the Greek community. She serves as President of Future Georgia Educators and has spent years gaining experience in elementary classrooms. She is also a member of the Greek dance community and has proudly represented her heritage through dance, including earning Gold at the National Hellenic Dance Festival. Looking toward the future, Bella plans to pursue a career in pediatric occupational therapy, with the dream of eventually opening her own pediatric therapy clinic. She hopes to use her career to help children discover their abilities, build confidence, and know that they are capable of more than they may realize.

Bella is incredibly honored to wear this crown and looks forward to making the most of every moment of her year. She hopes that wherever her title takes her, she can remind others that you do not need to wait until you are older to make a difference. Every act of kindness, every hour of service, and every person you encourage can create a ripple effect far greater than you may ever see. As Bella begins her year as Miss Teen of America, she wants every teen to remember: “make your heart the prettiest thing about you”