Miss California 3rd Runner-Up at Miss America
Miss California 2026 Sharlize True Trujillo Named Third Runner-Up at 99th Miss America Competition
September 6, 2026 — Sharlize True Trujillo, Miss California, was named Third Runner-Up at the 99th Miss America competition, representing California among 52 delegates from the 50 states, District of Columbia, and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Trujillo advanced through multiple rounds of competition to earn a coveted position in the Top Five finalists on the Miss America stage.
At 22 years old, Trujillo is a senior at UCLA, where she is majoring in Gender Studies on the pre-law track with a minor in Film and Screenwriting. An entrepreneur and digital media and brand partnership strategist, she is also the founder and CEO of the clothing brand TrueWrld. Her career ambition is to earn a Juris Doctor in entertainment law and build a production company dedicated to creating films that inspire and empower women and girls.
Trujillo has established herself as a leader in the digital space, building an online community of more than five million followers and generating more than one billion global views. As a creative director and producer, she has worked on more than 300 brand campaigns with companies including Sony, Meta, Universal Studios, Target, Ulta Beauty, Samsung, Walmart, and Disney+. She also grew her TrueWrld clothing brand from an idea to placement on Tilly's shelves nationwide.
But for Trujillo, influence has always been about creating impact. Her Community Service Initiative, True Worth, focuses on empowering the next generation to recognize their inherent value while developing the confidence and practical goal-planning skills necessary to turn their dreams into reality. Her commitment to young people began long before earning the title of Miss California; she has devoted the past decade to encouraging young people to keep dreaming, remain positive, and understand their value in a world increasingly shaped by social media. She also serves as a National Ambassador for Girl Well, a nonprofit that has raised more than $250,000 to provide thousands of self-care kits to underserved teenage girls throughout the United States.
Trujillo's vision for True Worth extends beyond her own social media presence. With an online audience that is approximately 90 percent women, she has used digital media as a bridge to mentorship, service, and meaningful relationships. Her national vision includes equipping state and local titleholders with resources, virtual workshops, and social media training designed to help them amplify their own community service initiatives and reach even more people.
A former U.S. Figure Skating athlete who trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, she brought that same discipline and performance experience to the Miss America stage, presenting an original dance performance to Elton John's “Bennie and the Jets.” Trujillo finished among the competition's Top Five finalists alongside Miss Texas Regan Hutsell, who was crowned Miss America; Miss Louisiana Shelby Bordelon, First Runner-Up; Miss Illinois Kate Dimmett, Second Runner-Up; and Miss District of Columbia Evelyn Smith, Fourth Runner-Up.
Her Third Runner-Up finish adds another chapter to a year centered on scholarship, service, leadership, and using modern media to create meaningful connections. Trujillo will continue serving as Miss California and advancing True Worth, while using the visibility of her national placement to encourage young women to recognize their value, develop their voices, and pursue ambitious goals.
For Trujillo, the Miss America stage represents not the culmination of her work, but an expansion of it—an opportunity to demonstrate how influence can become impact and how a new generation of women can use their voices to lead with purpose.
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