Dr. Candace Thomas and Sthephanie Marie Miranda Named 2026 Best Rookie Director |Producer

The pageant world is always evolving, but every now and then, a leadership team steps into the spotlight and reminds everyone what fresh vision, intention, and hard work really look like.

This year, that moment belongs to Dr. Candace Thomas and Sthephanie Marie Miranda, the National Directors of Miss Grand USA, who were named 2026 Best Rookie Director | Producer. The official winners page published by the Global Beauty Awards lists their names together in that category, marking a major moment of recognition for the Miss Grand USA leadership team.

For anyone who has been watching Miss Grand USA closely, this recognition does not feel random. It feels earned.

The Queen Beauty Network describes itself as a worldwide streaming television network centered on the beauty, fashion, and pageant industries, built to inform, inspire, and entertain audiences across the globe. In a space where visibility matters and execution matters even more, recognition tied to this world says a lot. It shines a light on the people behind the scenes who are not just showing up, but helping shape where the industry is headed.

And that is exactly why this win matters.

As the new National Directors of Miss Grand USA, Dr. Candace Thomas and Sthephanie Marie Miranda represent a leadership pairing that feels both strategic and exciting. Their recognition as Best Rookie Director | Producer points to a growing momentum around their work and the direction they are building for the organization.

Although Dr. Candace Thomas and Sthephanie Marie Miranda are being recognized for this incredible achievement, Miss Grand USA is the result of a much bigger team effort. It takes a committed village to bring the organization to life, including Protagonist Live, the production team, sponsors, volunteers, choreographers, and so many others working behind the scenes. Their time, talent, and dedication play a vital role in making each event, appearance, and opportunity possible. This recognition may carry two names, but it reflects the heart, hard work, and collaboration of an entire team.

In pageantry, direction is everything. A strong director does not simply organize an event. She shapes a culture. She sets a standard, builds trust with contestants, strengthens a brand, creates meaningful experiences, and helps position a system for long-term growth.

To be recognized as Best Rookie Director | Producer means that even in a new era of leadership, Dr. Candace Thomas and Sthephanie Marie Miranda are already making a visible impact.

It is about what happens when women step into leadership and actually move the needle. It is about vision meeting execution. It is about showing the pageant world that new leadership can still be bold, organized, polished, and worthy of recognition. For Miss Grand USA, this is an exciting milestone.

For the wider industry, it is a reminder that the next generation of directors is already here, and they are not playing small.

Congratulations to Dr. Candace Thomas and Sthephanie Marie Miranda on being named 2026 Best Rookie Director | Producer. It is a well-deserved win and a strong reflection of the leadership now guiding Miss Grand USA into its next chapter.

____

Source List

Global Beauty Awards - Winners page

Lists: “BEST ROOKIE DIRECTOR | PRODUCER - CANDACE THOMAS & STHEPHANIE MIRANDA.”

Global Beauty Awards - Best Rookie Director | Producer (2026) category page

Shows the nominee listing for Candace Thomas & Sttephanie Miranda.

Queen Beauty Network - Official site

Describes QBN as a worldwide streaming television network focused on beauty, fashion, and pageantry.

Queen Beauty Network - Streaming platform page

Describes QBN as the streaming home for beauty, fashion, and pageantry