Kayleigh Bush, who was crowned Miss North Florida 2025 within the Miss America organization, became the center of a national controversy after her title was revoked when she declined to sign a delegate contract that defined “female” in a way that conflicted with her religious convictions. Bush maintained that her Christian faith and understanding of biological sex prevented her from agreeing to the language in the contract.
Her legal team appealed to both the Miss Florida Scholarship Program and the Miss America Organization, requesting that her title be reinstated and that she be allowed to sign a modified version of the agreement. The request was denied, preventing her from advancing to the Miss Florida competition. Contrary to some viral reports, Bush did not lose the national Miss America title; she lost her Miss North Florida title.
Despite the setback, Bush later received the 2025 Young Christian Woman of Distinction Award and was crowned “Miss She Leads America” at the Museum of the Bible. Her story gained national attention and was entered into the Congressional Record, transforming what many viewed as a loss into a platform for sharing her faith and convictions.
