by Naquela Kirk, assistant director of Student Affairs Marketing and Communications

Miss UAB 2026 McKinley Hubbard represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham during the Miss Alabama competition held June 3 - 6 at Samford University, earning three scholarships.

Hubbard received a total of $3,700 in scholarship awards throughout the competition, including a first runner-up $1,200 Miss Alabama STEM Scholarship and a $1,000 Memorial Scholarship in honor of Diedra Downs.

The STEM Scholarship award was presented by Nan Teninbaum, president of the Miss Alabama Board of Directors, recognizing Hubbard's academic achievements and future aspirations in healthcare. A junior kinesiology major, Hubbard plans to pursue a career as a physician associate after graduating from UAB in 2027 and hopes to be the next Dr. Pimple Popper.

One of Hubbard's standout moments of the competition came during the talent preliminary competition on Wednesday evening, where she performed Tina Turner's classic hit, "Proud Mary." The energetic performance highlighted another side of the student-athlete and campus leader, who has been involved in music since childhood and competed with piano as her talent during the Miss UAB competition.

The UAB community congratulates Hubbard on her accomplishments and thanks her for representing the university with authenticity, compassion, and Blazer pride throughout her year as Miss UAB.