Central Kitsap High School senior Kendall Runyan was recently crowned Miss Washington’s Teen July 2 at Capital High School Performing Arts Center in Olympia, marking the fourth Miss America title holder from Kitsap County since 1959 and only the second teen.

The competition kicked off June 29 with 29 teens from across the state competing for over $250,000 in scholarships, cash and sponsorships, per a news release. After three days of competition, including private interviews, health and fitness, talent and evening gown, Runyan was crowned the winner. She performed a vocal rendition of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” for the talent phase of the competition.

Runyan will now compete for the title of Miss America’s Teen 2026 this September in Orlando, Fla. She advocates for early literacy through her nonprofit Read to Achieve. Her plans for advocacy across the state include working with state legislators, school districts and educational service districts on resources and activities to promote literacy for children of all socio-economic backgrounds, the release states.

Since 2022, she has installed 18 Little Lending libraries around Kitsap County, spoken to classrooms about becoming literacy leaders, donated over 4,000 books to elementary students, and has been awarded over $14,000 in grants and gifts.

Runyan has been involved in The Miss America Opportunity since the age of 6.