Tess Ferm, the newly topped Miss America’s Teen 2026 and an incoming freshman at Furman College, has remodeled her private battle with extreme, life-threatening meals allergy symptoms right into a outstanding nationwide platform. Impressed by her personal experiences with anaphylactic allergy symptoms to meals like tree nuts and sesame, Tess spearheads the neighborhood service initiative titled “From Concern to Freedom: Meals Allergy Consciousness and Training.” She leverages the visibility of her nationwide title to behave as a robust voice, devoted to elevating consciousness and preventing the pervasive worry that always accompanies managing meals allergy symptoms.
Tess’s advocacy is marked by legislative success and strategic collaboration with main non-profits. She actively engaged with lawmakers in South Carolina to make sure the state issued an official proclamation for Meals Allergy Consciousness Week (FAAW) for 2 consecutive years, with the final word purpose of attaining this recognition in each state legislature nationwide. Moreover, she extends her affect by serving on the Teen Advisory Council for Meals Allergy Analysis & Training (FARE) and appearing as an envoy for the Crimson Sneakers for Oakley group, connecting her mission to broader analysis and security initiatives.
The core goal of the “From Concern to Freedom” initiative is to create essentially safer and extra educated environments for the meals allergy neighborhood. Tess’s work focuses on selling complete security schooling, fostering larger understanding among the many normal public, and advocating for protected areas in colleges and eating places. By sharing her story and platform, she empowers different younger individuals to maneuver previous their anxieties and stay extra confidently regardless of their dietary restrictions.
An important component of Tess’s public message is the narrative of private transformation. She overtly discusses her journey from a spot of insecurity, the place she was “scared to speak about it” and the place worry outlined her strategy to friendships and faculty. Now, Tess makes use of her place and voice to advocate on behalf of her youthful self and her brother, who additionally manages life-threatening allergy symptoms, demonstrating that power and confidence may be cultivated by means of expertise and help.
Tess leverages her energetic social media channels as a central automobile for instructional outreach. She recurrently shares sensible, life-saving content material, corresponding to tips about diligently studying meals labels and allergy-friendly recipes she develops. This impactful, seen dedication to service garnered nationwide recognition, incomes her the distinguished High quality of Life: Teenagers in Motion General Award on the Miss America’s Teen competitors.
Wanting forward, Tess’s advocacy is aligned along with her future skilled path. As she begins her research in psychology at Furman College, her long-term purpose is to turn into a Baby Life Specialist. This profession alternative underscores her deep-seated ardour for offering emotional and psychological help to kids going through well being challenges. Tess views her Miss America’s Teen title as a “launchpad” that can proceed to propel her efforts to serve, lead, and make a long-lasting distinction within the lives of these managing meals allergy symptoms.
