A first-generation college student from Gadsden is the University of Alabama's 2026 Homecoming Queen.
Gadsden, Ala. — Kameron Baba, a senior marketing major from Gadsden, was named the University of Alabama's 2026 Homecoming Queen on Friday night, Oct. 23, during the annual pep rally and bonfire on the UA Quad, the university announced.
She was to be officially crowned at halftime of Alabama's homecoming game against Texas A&M at Bryant-Denny Stadium the next afternoon.
For Gadsden, the title puts a hometown name at the center of one of the Capstone's best-known traditions, and it belongs to a student who is the first in her family to go to college.
Who is Kameron Baba?
Baba is a 2023 graduate of Gadsden City High School, The Anniston Star reported. At Alabama, she studies marketing and has built a record of campus leadership and public service:
- She spent the summer interning in Washington, D.C., through the University of Alabama System's 2025-26 Capitol Scholars program.
- She is a member of Capstone Men and Women, the student group that serves as official hosts and ambassadors for the university.
- She is a student officer in the Blackburn Institute, UA's leadership development program focused on civic engagement in Alabama.
How the homecoming queen was chosen
Baba was one of five finalists selected through essays and interviews. UA students then voted on Oct. 20, Patch reported.
The other finalists on the 2026 homecoming court were Rylie Dewley of Grand Blanc, Michigan; Alex Jorns of Chalmette, Louisiana; Savannah Strong of Lincoln, Alabama; and Emie Vandiver of Town Creek, Alabama.
'Better with Baba': her plan for the title
The title comes with more than a crown. Each year, the homecoming queen chooses an on-campus passion project to receive a donation from the Homecoming Queen Endowed Fund. Cathy and Mike Buhai created the fund in honor of their daughter, Katie Buhai, UA's 2018 homecoming queen. Patch reported the donation is expected in the spring semester.
Baba's initiative, Better with Baba, will benefit the Camellia Center, the campus center formerly known as the Women and Gender Resource Center. It offers counseling and advocacy for people affected by interpersonal violence, along with education and prevention programs.
“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 in the university's announcement. “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.”
She said the plans include a UA Wellness Week, a Wellness Passport and fundraisers for the center, with a goal of creating “a healthier, more connected and more supportive community.”
A Gadsden name in a Tuscaloosa tradition
Homecoming at Alabama draws alumni and families from across the state for the parade, the bonfire on the Quad and a Saturday game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. This year, Gadsden had a reason of its own to watch.
Baba's year as homecoming queen now turns to the work she campaigned on: connecting students with health and wellness support, and raising money for the Camellia Center before the endowed fund's donation in the spring.
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