TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama on Friday night announced that Kameron Baba, a first-generation college student and senior from Gadsden, has been selected as the university's 2026 homecoming queen.
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Baba was revealed as the winner during the annual homecoming pep rally and bonfire on the UA Quad Friday evening.
She will officially be crowned Saturday during halftime of Alabama's football game against Texas A&M at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
A marketing major, Baba is involved in several campus leadership organizations, including Capstone Men and Women and the Blackburn Institute, where she serves as a student officer.
She also spent the summer interning in Washington, D.C., as part of the University of Alabama System's 2025-26 Capitol Scholars program.
As homecoming queen, Baba will have the opportunity to select an on-campus passion project to receive financial support through the university's Homecoming Queen Endowed Fund.
Her proposed initiative, called "Better with Baba," focuses on matching students with health and wellness resources while raising money for the Camellia Center.
"Centered around health, wellness and service, Better with Baba will connect students with valuable resources both on campus and throughout the Tuscaloosa community," Baba said. "We will work to bridge students with resources beyond campus, emphasize the importance of balancing physical and mental wellness and raise funds to benefit the Camellia Center."
The Homecoming Queen Endowed Fund was established to provide future homecoming queens with opportunities to support campus initiatives and make a lasting impact on the university community.
Baba was selected from a field of five finalists competing for the 2026 title.
Saturday's Alabama-Texas A&M game is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT.
According to UA's selection process, the five finalists were chosen through essays and interviews before students voted Oct. 20 to determine the winner.
As Patch previously reported, other finalists were Rylie Dewley of Grand Blanc, Michigan; Alex Jorns of Chalmette, Louisiana; Savannah Strong of Lincoln, Alabama; and Emie Vandiver of Town Creek, Alabama.
The endowed fund supporting the homecoming queen's chosen initiative was established by Cathy and Mike Buhai in honor of their daughter, Katie Buhai, who was crowned UA's homecoming queen in 2018.
The selected campus program is expected to receive its donation during the spring semester.
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