Miss Bel Air, Miss Bel Air Teen Crowned

BEL AIR, MD — Two residents have been crowned the 2026 Miss Bel Air and Miss Bel Air Teen.

Both will serve as official hostesses and participants in Bel Air's July 4th day-long holiday celebration. Miss Bel Air and Miss Bel Air Teen also help promote the town in various ways.

Tiara Kittelberger, the 16th consecutive title holder of Miss Bel Air, and Evelyn Brush, the inaugural Miss Bel Air Teen, were chosen through an interview process of applicants, Kittelberger succeeds Kyla Ghirardello, Miss Bel Air 2025.

“The selection process this year was very difficult, we had so many qualified candidates and young women who were eager to represent the town of Bel Air and its annual Fourth of July celebration,” said Gabrielle Brady, chairperson of the Miss Bel Air Selection Committee. “It was also the first year we had to interview for both a Miss and a Teen. So it was exciting to bring that into the fold this year.”

The selection committee included former Miss Bel Airs Laura Patnaude and Gabrielle Brady, and board members Don Stewart, Michael Blum and Lisa Williams.

“We couldn’t have done it without our amazing volunteers in the selection process who certainly had their work cut out for them,” Brady added. “I believe Evelyn and Tiara will be great representatives of the town and help us garner more local interest in the program by just being out there in our community and showing our local young women the joy of being part of this organization.”

Kittelberger currently works as a junior marketing associate for Noble Prestige Impact. In this role, she uses her bachelor’s degree in mass communications to help clients market their products and she manages customer engagement and retention.

“As your reigning Miss Bel Air, I look forward to being a part of the community and memories of those who make this town so special,” Kittelberger said. “Bel Air has a lot of hidden gems and it’s my job to help them shine.”

Evelyn Brush is a freshman at North Harford High School and part of their magnet program.

“I’m most excited to meet the people of Bel Air, and spread the message of my Community Service Initiative: Balance Beyond Standing,” Brush said.

Miss Bel Air and Miss Bel Air Teen will appear at public events throughout the calendar year, including the Bel Air Soap Box Derby, the Harford County Farm Fair and the annual Town of Bel Air Christmas Parade. They will compete for the titles of Miss Maryland and Miss Maryland Teen at the annual Miss Maryland Competition, held every year in Hagerstown in late June.

Bel Air’s upcoming Independence Day event includes a flag-raising at 6:45 a.m. on July 4 at Town Hall, followed by a full schedule of family-friendly functions during the day, including a horseshoe pitching tournament, water balloon toss, Uncle Sam Says and watermelon eating. Patriotic flag ceremonies will be held at various locations, including Shamrock Park and Rockfield Park.

Miss Bel Air 2026 serves as honorary grand marshal of the Independence Day Parade and leads the parade down Main Street in Bel Air at 6 p.m. Fireworks at Rockfield Park wrap up the day's activities at around 9:30 pm.