Detroit Mercy Engineering student crowned Miss Michigan 2026

Engineering and pageantry may seem like opposite worlds, but for 19-year-old Grace Hanke, the lessons learned from both were important in shaping her into the woman who was just crowned Miss Michigan 2026. 

“Engineering is about collaborating with people, solving problems and making the world better,” Hanke said. “That’s exactly what the Miss America opportunity is about, too.” 

Hanke, a sophomore Mechanical Engineering student at University of Detroit Mercy, was crowned on June 20, during the 87th annual Miss Michigan scholarship competition at Frauenthal Theater in Muskegon. 

Thirty participants hit the stage over three nights and were judged on categories including a private interview, onstage questions, talent performance, a health and fitness segment and evening gown. 

Hanke, who was participating as Miss Oakland County, earned $11,000 in scholarship funds from the competition and will compete in the Miss America pageant in September. 

But for Hanke, the real win was being able to represent herself authentically, because she believes it allows her to live out her purpose. 

“During the pageant I was truly at peace and just shared my heart,” she said. “I stopped thinking about what I should say or do and focused on presenting myself in a way that shows who I truly am and what I care about.” 

One of Hanke’s purpose-driven missions is “Engineer Her Future,” a social impact initiative she presented during the competition. 

It encourages and empowers young women to pursue careers in STEM fields. 

Hanke said early exposure to engineers helped her realize engineering was a path she could pursue. But it wasn’t until she arrived at Detroit Mercy that the mission behind the initiative truly took shape. 

Detroit Mercy first came onto Hanke’s radar through one of her older sisters, who studied Dental Hygiene at the University. 

Hearing about the close relationships students built with professors, the supportive campus community and being admitted into The Science and Engineering Equity Development (SEED) Scholars program made UDM worth a further look. 

The SEED program supports academically talented students with financial need in the fields of computer science, engineering and mathematics.  

It was a campus tour with Richard Hill, professor of Mechanical Engineering, that solidified her decision to pursue a Mechanical Engineering degree. 

“I like that it gives you the skills to work in virtually any field and solve problems that impact millions of lives.” 

Even so, the beginning of her engineering journey came with uncertainty. 

“I walked into my first engineering class, and I doubted if that was a space for me,” she said. “After that, I made it my mission, through my initiative, to make sure other women see that they belong in these fields.” 

Hanke has since advocated for expanding STEM opportunities for young women through the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the National Society of Professional Engineers and Mind Trekkers, a Michigan-based organization that brings hands-on STEM experiences to students. 

Most recently, Hanke traveled to Washington, D.C., through SWE, representing Michigan and Detroit Mercy, to lobby for increased STEM funding. 

Hanke believes expanding opportunities for women in engineering benefits everyone. 

“With women only making up one-fifth of the engineering workforce, we're limiting the perspectives that can be brought to the table when it comes to engineering,” she said. 

But Hanke’s confidence to advocate for others wasn’t something she always had. 

Hanke, a St. Clair Shores, Mich. native, has competed in pageants since the age of 15, following in the footsteps of her older sisters. 

She was initially drawn to the scholarship opportunities offered by the Miss America Organization, seeing pageantry as another way to invest in her education. 

Performing on stage, however, intimidated her at first. 

“I loved to sing, I loved to speak but doing it on stage was something I was scared of,” she said. “But after the first time I did it, I fell in love with it.” 

Over time, pageantry helped Hanke grow more confident in herself. 

It taught her to be comfortable in her own skin and connect with people from all walks of life. 

Stepping outside of her comfort zone also benefitted her in the classroom. 

One of her earliest engineering projects at Detroit Mercy involved designing and building a robot alongside her classmates. 

It was a challenge that stretched her ability to solve problems and apply engineering theory to real-world situations. 

“I'd only taken math classes and some other science classes at the time, so it was definitely a challenge, but I love challenges and the feeling of overcoming them.” 

Whether standing on stage or tackling a complex engineering project, Hanke says growth has come from a willingness to try. 

Now, that mindset is carrying her into one of the busiest seasons of her life. 

This summer, Hanke is balancing an internship with Ford while preparing to represent Michigan at the Miss America competition. 

“It's definitely going to be crazy: working, being Miss Michigan and trying to keep up with relationships,” she said. “But leading up to Miss America, I'm just focused on trying to step into who I am as a woman.” 

Juggling engineering, pageantry and advocacy require careful time management, but Hanke says she hasn’t had to do it alone. 

Hanke credits Detroit Mercy faculty for providing the flexibility and support to balance her heavy courseload with her commitments as a title holder, while her family has kept her grounded, especially her mom. 

“My mom has always been the one pushing me forward,” Hanke said. “I truly couldn’t do it without her.” 

But Hanke says her strongest foundation has always been her faith. 

During the Miss Michigan competition, Hanke said trusting God helped quiet the pressure of the moment and allowed her to simply be herself on stage. 

“I told myself to just let God,” she said. “I’ve done the work to get here, and I deserve to be here, so I’ll just let God guide the rest.” 

Hanke plans to be in this same headspace during the Miss America pageant in two months. 

While many eyes will be on the gowns and crowns, Hanke hopes people look beyond the surface to the impact she hopes to make. 

“I hope I leave a legacy of helping others,” she said. 

Hanke is the second Miss Michigan pageant winner from the University, following Mercy College's Pamela Anne Eldred, who would go on to win the Miss America competition in 1970. 

Kristen Danyal '12 also was crowned Miss Michigan USA in 2011 while a College of Business Administration student. 

Miss America 2027 will be held on Sunday, Sept. 6 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, in West Palm Beach, Fla., and will be streamed on PageantVision.com and the official Miss America YouTube channel.