A high school senior from Washington state has won the 2026 Doodle for Google contest.
She won a $55,000 scholarship and the opportunity to have her artwork displayed on Google’s home page for millions of people to see.
Kameirah, a 12th grader from Washington, won with her Doodle called “Hair Power: The Crown That Grows From Us.” Her art spells “Google,” using three girls whose hair forms the letters. Inspired by the pageant’s theme, “My superpower is…”, Kameirah chose hair as her superpower.
She told Google: “I wanted to imagine a world where hair becomes a superpower, something that reflects the unique stories, talents, and beauty within each person. Through the Doodle, I honored Black hair and culture as a living, growing force that connects people to their heritage, imagination, and confidence.”
This year, tens of thousands of K-12 students in the United States participated in an art contest. Public voting narrowed the entries to five, then guest judges, NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ashlie Crosson, chose the winner. Kameirah’s doodle got the most votes from the public, so she won.
“I’ve seen how often people, especially young people, are encouraged to reduce parts of themselves to fit in. As a black artist, I’ve learned that the things that make us different are often the things that make us powerful,” she added.
Kameriah said her art is her language to express her identity and connect with others. His reason for participating in the contest was the idea of combining creativity with a message that could reach millions.
