ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The finale of the Miss America
pageant returns to Atlantic City on Sunday night, with plenty of drama
to augment the glamour.
Will the next Miss America be the tattooed
Army sergeant, Miss Kansas, or the inspirational Miss Iowa, who was
born without part of an arm? Will it be Miss Hawaii or Miss California —
both of whom are named Crystal Lee?
How will Miss Florida,
hobbled by a knee injury she sustained in baton-twirling rehearsals on
Thursday, fare in the live national telecast? Can hometown hero Miss New
Jersey capture the title less than a mile from where Superstorm Sandy
came ashore last October?
Sam Haskell, CEO of the Miss America
Organization, is delighted it will all be playing out in Atlantic City
again after a six-year stint in Las Vegas.
"This is where we
belong," he told The Associated Press. "This is the home of Miss
America, and this is where we're going to stay."
Preliminary
winners in the swimsuit competition earlier in the week were Miss
Mississippi, Chelsea Rick; Miss Oklahoma, Kelsey Griswold; and Miss
Georgia, Carly Mathis. Preliminary winners in the talent competition
were Miss New Hampshire, Samantha Russo; Miss Minnesota Rebecca Yeh; and
Miss Florida, Myrrhanda Jones.
The show will begin with the
traditional parade of states, where each contestant briefly introduces
herself and her state, usually in a humorous or attention-grabbing
manner. Take Miss Kentucky's intro, for example:
"From the home of
fast horses and beautiful women — better not get those two things mixed
up — I'm Jenna Day, Miss Kentucky!" she said during preliminary
rehearsals.
Much attention has been given to Miss Kansas, Theresa
Vail, a U.S. Army sergeant who is believed to be the first Miss America
contestant to openly display tattoos. She has the Serenity Prayer on her
rib cage and a military insignia on the back of a shoulder. While other
contestants wore glamorous costumes and elaborately decorated footwear
during Saturday night's "show-us-your-shoes" parade on the Boardwalk,
Vail wore camouflage gear and Army boots.
In a Twitter message
Sunday, Vail wrote: "Win or not tonight, I have accomplished what I set
out to do. I have empowered women. I have opened eyes."
And Jones,
who is Miss Florida, will be wearing a knee brace after tearing a knee
ligament Thursday while rehearsing her baton-twirling act. A pageant
spokeswoman said Jones will compete while wearing the brace Sunday night
if she is one of the 15 semifinalists.
The pageant started in Atlantic City in 1921 as a way to extend the summer tourism season for an extra weekend.
The
move from Las Vegas cut short the reign of the current Miss America,
Mallory Hagan, who was crowned in January and expected to have a full
year as the title holder. The pageant is compensating her for the
shortened term.
The pageant pits 53 contestants — one from each
state, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands — in swimsuit, evening gown, talent and interview competitions.
The winner will be crowned at Boardwalk Hall around 11 p.m.
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