We're Looking for Miss Bel Air 2026 and Miss Bel Air Teen 2026!

Deadline to Apply: February 16, 2026 for Miss Bel Air; March 15, 2026, for Miss Bel Air Teen!

The Bel Air Independence Day Committee, Inc., announces that it is seeking applicants for the position of MISS BEL AIR INDEPENDENCE DAY 2026 (commonly known as "Miss Bel Air"), and, for the first time ever, seeking applicants for the position of MISS BEL AIR TEEN.

Please see photos on this page of our most recent holders of the Miss Bel Air position: Kyla Ghirardello 2025, Gianna Romero 2024, Giovanna Ward 2023, Shyama Bhatt 2022, Maka Ezeonyebuchi 2020-2021, Kelsey Scott 2019, being crowned by Gabrielle Kerby, Miss Bel Air 2018, and Gabrielle Kerby being crowned by Natalie Brosch, Miss Bel Air 2017.

To qualify for the position of MISS BEL AIR INDEPENDENCE DAY ("Miss Bel Air") or for the position of Miss Bel Air Teen:

• For Miss Bel Air, the applicant must be no younger than 18 by September 1, 2026 and no older than 28 by September 30, 2026, and must be at least a high school senior as of the 2025-2026 academic year.
• For Miss Bel Air Teen, the applicant must be no younger than 14 by September 1, 2026 and no older than 18 by September 30, 2026.
• All applicants must be single and never have been married.
• All applicants must live, work full time, or attend school full time in Maryland. Current or former residence in or around Bel Air, Maryland, is preferred but not mandatory for the title of Miss Bel Air. For the title of Miss Bel Air Teen, attending a Harford County high school (public or independent) is required.
• All applicants must be U.S. Citizens.

• All applicants must meet character criteria as set forth by the Miss America Organization (q.v.), and the Miss Maryland Organization (q.v.)
• Should you be named Miss Bel Air Independence Day (Miss Bel Air) or Miss Bel Air Teen, you must be available to speak on behalf of the Bel Air Independence Day Committee to organizations such as the Harford County Council and the Town of Bel Air Commissioners.
• Should you be named Miss Bel Air Independence Day (Miss Bel Air) or Miss Bel Air Teen, you may also be asked to participate or appear, as a representative of the Bel Air Independence Day Committee, in other Fairs or Festivals throughout the time you hold the title (through December 31 of this year), as your schedule permits; these may include the Harford County Farm Fair; the Bel Air Kite Festival; the Bel Air Christmas Parade; and others; your participation in these is not mandatory but is preferred.

• Should you be named Miss Bel Air Independence Day (Miss Bel Air) or Miss Bel Air Teen, you must commit the entire day of July 4, 2026, in Bel Air, Maryland, to carrying out the duties of the position.
• Should you be named Miss Bel Air Independence Day (Miss Bel Air) or Miss Bel Air Teen,, you must agree to attend the Miss Maryland and Miss Maryland Teen Pageant mandatory orientation meeting(s), and compete for the title of Miss Maryland 2026 or Miss Maryland Teen 2026 in Hagerstown, Maryland (or wherever the competition is held), conforming to all the requirements, qualifications, conditions and codes of conduct common to those who are contestants in that pageant.
• Should you be named Miss Bel Air Independence Day (Miss Bel Air) or Miss Bel Air Teen, you must agree to raise a set amount for the Miss America Organization, through SpotFund, and/or any other requirements common to all Miss Maryland or Miss Maryland Teen contestants. The Committee may assist you in these efforts and detailed information is available about this upon request.
• You must also agree to meet the time-commitment and responsibilities as set forth by the Miss Maryland program, should you win the title of Miss Maryland or Miss Maryland Teen.

How to Apply to Become the Next Miss Bel Air or Miss Bel Air Teen:

• Read the above requirements!
• E-mail us a resume and a head shot. Send them to the Committee via e-mail no later than February 16, 2026, for Miss Bel Air, and no later than March 15, 2026, for Miss Bel Air Teen.
• We will respond very quickly! Our Miss Bel Air Coordinator, Gabrielle Kerby Brady, will write you and let you know how the process is proceeding; this will include scheduling your INTERVIEW.
• The positions of MISS BEL AIR INDEPENDENCE DAY and MISS BEL AIR TEEN are chosen via interview; said interviews may be in person or via Zoom or Facetime.

A Few Notes about the Process:

No person may hold the title of "Miss Bel Air" or "Miss Bel Air Teen" more than once, but previous applicants or contestants are welcome to apply again, assuming they are still qualified (see above).

All communications will be via e-mail; please do not use Facebook, text messages, Facebook Texts, tweets, snapchat or any other electronic communications protocol! Don't use faxes — and don't mail us anything!

We will place updates on the Miss Bel Air and the Bel Air Independence Day Committee Facebook pages for general interest.

If you have any questions about this, please fill out the CONTACT FORM or ask us via e-mail.

Interviews for Miss Bel Air will be held in late February 2026, with the goal of choosing Miss Bel Air 2026 by March 1, 2026. Interviews for Miss Bel Air Teen will be held in late March 2026, with the goal of choosing our first Miss Bel Air Teen no later than March 31, 2026. Should that not be successful, later updates will be posted.

Events on Independence Day in Bel Air traditionally include flag-raisings in Bel Air on July 4, and the various family-friendly functions during the day, including the traditional competitive events such as the Water-Balloon Toss, Uncle Sam Says, and the Watermelon Eating Contest. Patriotic flag ceremonies are held in Shamrock Park, Rockfield Park and Town Hall. Finally, Miss Bel Air 2026, as Honorary Grand Marshal, along with Miss Bel Air Teen, leads the parade down Main Street in Bel Air at 6 pm. Fireworks at about 9:30 pm conclude the day.

Miss Bel Air and/or Miss Bel Air Teen may also appear at or in official or charitable events throughout the calendar year, including the Bel Air Kite Festival, the Bel Air Soapbox Derby, the Harford County Farm Fair, and the annual Town of Bel Air Christmas Parade. Miss Bel Air and Miss Bel Air Teen compete for the titles of Miss Maryland and Miss Maryland Teen at the annual Miss Maryland Competition, usually held in late June of each year.

The title and position of Miss Bel Air Independence Day ("Miss Bel Air") and Miss Bel Air Teen are honorary ones only, with no employment value or compensation to the title holders. No obligation is imposed upon the Bel Air Independence Day Committee towards the title holders, nor is there any obligation imposed upon the title holders, other than the requirements listed on this page. The holding of the titles lasts the calendar year of its choice only, as per the general pageant or competition expectations. The Committee reserves the right to change or replace holders of these positions if or as needed, at any time, at its sole discretion.