OCALA, FL (352today.com) – It’s been a long, winding road to the Miss America pageant for Ocala’s Casana Fink.
It was a dream that became a reality in Lakeland, where she was crowned Miss Florida amongst a pool of three dozen fellow competitors.
Securing the crown meant Fink walked away with over $20,000 in scholarship funds, aiding her goal of earning a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida.
Fink has also used her platform to raise awareness for organ donation. She started Give to Live—Donate Life, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and educating the public on organ and tissue donation.
She began the non-profit in honor of her father, who had to wait a year to undergo a life-saving liver transplant. After a yearlong wait of watching her father in an arduous battle with his body, it became apparent to Fink that more people needed organ and tissue transplants than were available.
Fink’s non-profit was her way of extending the message to the masses, and her successful pageantry run provided a large platform for it.
The newly crowned Miss Florida didn’t have to travel far to attend the Miss America pageant in Orlando.
After it was all said and done, following a preliminary and final round, Fink finished third runner-up in the competition behind:
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2nd Runner-up – Miss Tennessee, Carley Vogel
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1st Runner-up – Miss Texas, Annette Addo-Yobo
- Winner – Miss Alabama, Abbie Stockard
Fink reflects on what it felt like to be in the arena on the night of Miss America, in what she says was her final competition.
“It’s hard to put into words how it feels to see the culmination of so many years of work, sacrifice, and dreams come together in just one night,” says Fink. “On the day of the Miss America finals, I was overwhelmed with emotion: gratitude—for the chance to live out a dream I’d held for so long; sadness—realizing this would be my final time competing; and pride—in the years of hard work, dedication, and determination that led me to that stage.”
Fink says being named one of the top 5 contestants at the Miss America competition was “indescribable.”
“In that moment, the dream of becoming Miss America felt so real, so tangible,” she says. “When I was announced as third runner-up, the excitement of standing among the Top 5 on the Miss America stage was overwhelming. It reminded me that this journey was never just about the crown—it was about the growth, the lessons, and the impact along the way.”
“In the end, this journey has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. Miss America has taught me resilience, shaped my purpose, and given me a platform to create meaningful change. I’ve made lifelong friends during Miss America week, and I know my life has been changed in ways that go far beyond the crown. One of my closest friends from the week won Miss America, and I can confidently say America couldn’t be in better hands.”
Fink summarizes what she’s learned and says that the end of her pageantry career is only the end of a chapter in her decorated book.
“Through it all, I’ve learned that success isn’t defined by a title but by the legacy you leave behind—the people you uplift, the causes you champion, and the way you grow into your most authentic self. This chapter may be closing, but the story is far from over. I’m leaving with a full heart, endless gratitude, and excitement for what’s to come.”