Poole crowned Miss OSU 2026-27

Friday, February 27, 2026

Media Contact: Jeff Hopper | Communications and Media Relations Manager | 405-744-5827 | jeff.hopper@okstate.edu

The 66th annual Miss Oklahoma State University pageant took place in the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts this year on Feb 19, where seven eligible women competed for the revered title of Miss OSU. 

Pageant winner Jaidyn Poole is a fashion merchandising student at OSU and is a Gamma Phi Beta sorority member. Her experience as an OSU baton twirler helped her take home the crown as Miss OSU in her first-ever pageant. 

“I went into 2026 and thought I needed to try something new,” Poole said. “I’m so glad I did — I got to meet so many incredible people, and I know it’s going to be a great year ahead.”

Former Miss OSU Jaselyn Rossman presented closing remarks on her reign, emphasizing the importance of seizing opportunities and having a strong community behind you.

“The community has really rallied behind me throughout my time as Miss OSU,” Rossman said. “I'll never take for granted all the lessons that it's taught me and from just being able to grow in this organization.”

The Miss OSU pageant consists of five scored categories: offstage interview (30% of the overall score), onstage interview (10%), health and fitness (20%), talent competition (20%) and evening gown (20%).

The pageant awarded Poole a $1,000 scholarship as the winner, along with financial support for her participation in the Miss Oklahoma pageant, held in June at the Rose State Performing Arts Center in Midwest City, Oklahoma.

First runner-up Samantha Rother received a $750 scholarship, and second runner-up Reiley Koepsel received a $500 scholarship.

“Being a Cowboy isn't in our clothes, it's in our character,” said Amanda Kemme, executive co-director of the Miss OSU pageant. “It’s not just the dress she wears, it's not just the crown she puts on her head, but it's what she does in the community and her initiative.”

Kemme has been the co-director for Miss OSU for two years and emceed the pageant on Thursday as contestants showcased graceful routines, in-depth interviews and refined poise. 

Poole was surrounded by her baton twirling community members and fellow Miss America organization participants who helped her prepare for Miss OSU.

“I had to learn how to talk about myself,” Poole said. “I had a lot of different people helping me get here, whether it was my walk or my interview, I had a lot of people supporting me.”

The competition gives contestants the opportunity to showcase their elegance and preparation, but deeper than that, it gives them time to introduce their community initiatives and platform. 

Poole’s community service initiative, “Closet with a Conscience,” addresses today’s issues of overconsumption in the fashion industry. 

As Poole begins her reign as Miss OSU, she plans to activate this initiative by “promoting clothing sustainability practices to help better the environment and bring campus and community together,” Kemme’s introduction stated.

“The mission is to empower women, to help them build self-confidence,” Kemme said. “It means living out that Cowboy Code each and every day.”

Story By: Annelise Vinson | annelise.vinson@okstate.edu