Meet The 5 Candidates For University Of Alabama Homecoming Queen

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama has announced five finalists for its 2026 Homecoming Queen, with students set to cast their votes next week ahead of the university's annual homecoming festivities.

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The five candidates represent a range of academic disciplines and hometowns, with each campaigning on a platform focused on community service, education, health or student engagement.

UA says the Homecoming Queen selection process emphasizes service, leadership, scholarship and character, with the eventual winner receiving the opportunity to support a campus initiative through the Homecoming Queen Endowed Impact Fund.

The Homecoming Queen Endowed Impact Fund was established by Cathy and Mike Buhai in honor of their daughter, Katie Buhai, who served as UA's 2018 Homecoming Queen.

The fund allows the elected queen to support an on-campus initiative of her choosing, with the recipient presenting a check to the selected program during the spring semester following the election.

The five finalists were selected through a process involving candidate essays and interviews, with the general student body determining the winner.

Voting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. through mySOURCE, the university's student engagement platform.

The winner will be officially announced Friday, Oct. 23, during the Homecoming Pep Rally and Bonfire.

The Homecoming Court will also participate in the university's homecoming parade Saturday, Oct. 24, before being presented during halftime of the Crimson Tide's homecoming football game against Texas A&M.

Here's a look at the five candidates.

Kameron Baba

Baba is a senior from Gadsden, Alabama, majoring in marketing. Baba's "Better With Baba" campaign focuses on health, wellness and service, including connecting students with campus and community resources. Her platform also includes fundraising for the Camellia Center and organizing wellness initiatives.

Rylie Dewley

Dewley is a senior from Grand Blanc, Michigan, double-majoring in criminal justice and political science with a minor in civic engagement and leadership.

Dewley, a Crimsonette in the Million Dollar Band and founding president of the Heart Club, is campaigning on heart health awareness. Diagnosed with heart disease at age 13, she hopes to support the American Heart Association through the Katie Buhai Fund.

Alex Jorns

Jorns is a junior from Chalmette, Louisiana, majoring in mathematics and pursuing an accelerated master's degree in applied statistics, with a minor in the Catherine J. Randall Research Scholars Program. Jorns hopes to expand Girls Who Code outreach in Tuscaloosa, including free coding workshops, educational activities and a community hackathon for younger students.

Savannah Strong

Strong is a senior from Lincoln, Alabama, majoring in philosophy with a concentration in jurisprudence on the pre-law track, with minors in sociology and public policy.

Strong's "Still Strong" platform focuses on improving literacy across Alabama through UA's Statewide Literacy Center and supporting educational opportunities for students in Tuscaloosa and throughout the state.

Emie Vandiver

Vandiver is a senior from Town Creek, pursuing bachelor's and accelerated master's degrees in biology. Inspired by her younger brother, who has Down syndrome, Vandiver's campaign emphasizes inclusion and opportunities for children with different abilities. She hopes to use the Homecoming Queen Endowed Impact Fund to support the UA Rise Center.

Click here to learn more about the candidates and their platforms.

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