Who will be Miss America 2017?
It’s that time of the year for the coveted Miss America title (and sparkling tiara) to be passed down to a new, fresh-faced beauty.
The list of lovely and intelligent individuals competing for the coveted Miss America crown come from all 50 states including Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. Before we choose the winner, let’s first take a closer look at this year’s hopefuls. Check out our breakdown of their talent, platform, and fun fact about each lady below!
The Miss America 2017 winner will be announced on Sunday, September 11, 2016 at 9 pm ET on ABC.
Miss Alabama – Hayley Barber
Talent: Tap Dance
Platform: Sight for Small Eyes – Advocacy for Comprehensive Eye Examinations at a Young Age, and Fundraising for Children with Low Vision
Fun Fact: She has competed for the Miss Alabama title four times before finally being successful on her fifth attempt.
Miss Alaska – Kendall Bautista
Talent: Piano
Platform: The Power of One – Making a Difference
Fun Fact: This her second time being crowned Miss Alaska.
Miss Arizona – Katelyn Niemiec
Talent: Baton Twirling
Platform: Bullying S.T.O.P.S. Here
Fun Fact: Prior to being Miss Arizona, she used to be a sports newscaster.
Miss Arkansas – Savvy Shields
Talent: Jazz Dance
Platform: Eat Better, Live Better
Fun Fact: She loves to draw on giant canvas using charcoal at a local art studio back home.
Miss California – Jessa Carmack
Talent: Dance
Platform: “Building a Healthy Future†by instilling a healthy lifestyle for our youth
Fun Fact: She is incredibly flexible and can do the splits upside-down.
Miss Colorado – Shannon Patilla
Talent: Vocal
Platform: Learning Through Serving
Fun Fact: Only one thing makes her happy: pizza.
Miss Connecticut – Alyssa Rae Taglia
Talent: Dance
Platform: “Smiles for Seniors†– Enriching the Lives of Seniors Across America
Fun Fact: She considers her baby blanket to be her lucky charm.
Miss Delaware – Amanda Debus
Talent: Contemporary Dance
Platform: All Aware, Allergy Awareness
Fun Fact: She found her platform after having a severe allergic reaction to pineapples.
Miss District of Columbia – Cierra Jackson
Talent: Vocal
Platform: Behind the Frontline: Supporting Military Children
Fun Fact: She was once featured in The First Lady’s #JoiningForces campaign.
Miss Florida – Courtney Sexton
Talent: Dance
Platform: Get up! Get moving! Volunteer!
Fun Fact: Her dream job is to work with penguins.
Miss Georgia -Patricia Ford
Talent: Ballet en Pointe
Platform: Promoting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Fun Fact: She loves cats.
Miss Hawaii – Allison Carol Nanea Chu
Talent: Vocal
Platform: Safe in the Sun
Fun Fact: She has met and sang with Bruno Mars when she was a kid.
Miss Idaho – Kylee Solberg
Talent: Classical Ballet en Pointe
Platform: Our Words Have Power
Fun Fact: She once had a customized, scented bowling ball in middle school.
Miss Illinois – Jaryn Franklin
Talent: Vocal
Platform: Advocating for Individuals with Disabilities
Fun Fact: In her spare time, she likes to watch videos of when she was crowned Miss Illinois.
Miss Indiana – Brianna DeCamp
Talent: Tap Dance
Platform: Ray of Hope: Medical Missions
Fun Fact: She loves to run alongside her beloved horse, Nevada.
Miss Iowa -Kelly Koch
Talent: Ballet en Pointe
Platform: Pinky Swear Foundation
Fun Fact: She is a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.
Miss Kansas – Kendall Schoenekase
Talent: Vocal
Platform: Stay Alive – Don’t Text and Drive
Fun Fact: Her last name literally translates to “beautiful cheese”.
Miss Kentucky – Laura Jones
Talent: Violin Solo
Platform: W.A.I.T.
Fun Fact: She knows how to play Michael Jackson‘s “Smooth Criminal” on the violin.
Miss Louisiana – Justine Ker
Talent: Classical Piano
Platform: “A Beautiful Mind: Promoting Positive Mental Healthâ€
Fun Fact: Her cousin was Miss California in 2013 and the Miss America first runner-up in 2014. It runs in the family!
Miss Maine -Marybeth Noonan
Talent: Vocal
Platform: “Be Their Voice†– Fundraising for childhood cancer research and providing assistance for families affected by the disease
Fun Fact: She used to work as a princess for children’s parties.
Miss Maryland – Hannah Brewer
Talent: Vocal
Platform: Hannah’s Heroes
Fun Fact: Her boyfriend is in the US Air Forces.
Miss Massachusetts – Alissa Musto
Talent: Piano
Platform: Changing Keys – Connecting Kids with Keyboards
Fun Fact: She lost her front two teeth after a slight walking mishap when she was traveling in Spain. She now rocks fake veneers.
Miss Michigan – Arianna Quan
Talent: Piano
Platform: Being American: Immigration & Citizenship Education
Fun Fact: She was once pushed into a pile of cow poo by a mean bully who made fun of her lack of English-speaking skills.
Miss Minnesota -Madeline Van Ert
Talent: Vocal & Piano
Platform: Fine Arts For Kids
Fun Fact: She once won a karaoke contest at her state fair.
Miss Mississippi – Laura Lee Lewis
Talent: Vocal
Platform: Mentoring Matters
Fun Fact: She once had to undergo surgery due to midfacial hypoplasia – underdeveloped cheekbones and eye sockets, and faster-than-normal lower facial bone growth.
Miss Missouri -Erin O’Flaherty
Talent: Vocal
Platform: Suicide Prevention: We’re All Responsible
Fun Fact: She is the first openly gay woman to compete in a Miss America Pageant.
Miss Montana – Lauren Scofield
Talent: Piano
Platform: Planting the Seeds of STEM
Fun fact: She is majoring in Biochemistry is aspiring to be a doctor.
Miss Nebraska- Aleah Peters
Talent: Baton Twirling
Platform: Cyberbullying Prevention – Make Kindness Viral
Fun Fact: It took Aleah three times to score her title as Miss Nebraska.
Miss Nevada -Bailey Gumm
Talent: Tap Dance
Platform: Autism through a different Lens
Fun Fact: She has a direct family lineage to Judy Garland.
Miss New Hampshire – Caroline Carter
Talent: Vocal
Platform: 1, 2, We: Diabetes Advocacy
Fun Fact: She has met The First Family’s pet dog, Bo.
Miss New Jersey – Brenna Weick
Talent: Vocal
Platform: A World of Difference: Navigating the Cybersphere
Fun Fact: She is a Potterhead. She once watched Harry Potter every night before bed.
Miss New Mexico – Stephanie Chavez
Talent: Vocal
Platform: Stephanie’s Ponytail – How I Learned to Read
Fun Fact: She can name every president there ever was within 20 seconds.
Miss New York – Camille Sims
Talent: Jazz Vocal
Platform: Encouraging Wellness and Fostering Food Dignity
Fun Fact: She despises red gummy bears.
Miss North Carolina – McKenzie Faggart
Talent: Lyrical Dance
Platform: The SAFE Project
Fun Fact: She dreams of driving on the NASCAR track.
Miss North Dakota – Macy Christianson
Talent: Contemporary Ballet en Pointe
Platform: You Decide The Road Ahead: Don’t Drink and Drive
Fun Fact: She can not only dance, but dance while wearing skis.
Miss Ohio -Alice Magoto
Talent: Vocal
Platform: Beauty Unedited – Redefining Beauty for the Next Generation
Fun Fact: She once wore her prom dress to the Miss Ohio Pageant and she won!
Miss Oklahoma – Sarah Klein
Talent: Classical Piano
Platform: Supporting Our Troops from Deployment to Employment
Fun fact: She used to work at Chik-Fil-A as the cow that greeted customers.
Miss Oregon – Alexis Mather
Talent: Operatic Vocal
Platform: Mentoring to Develop Leaders
Fun Fact: She loves to make overnight oats.
Miss Pennsylvania – Samantha Lambert
Talent: Acrobatic Dance
Platform: Heads Up: Brain Injury Awareness
Fun Fact: She would love to compete on Cupcake Wars one day.
Miss Puerto Rico – Carole Rigual
Talent: Monologue
Platform: Children Victims of Sexual Abuse
Fun Fact: She has 7 distinct scars on her face.
Miss Rhode Island – Shruti Nagarajan
Talent: Bollywood Fusion Dance
Platform: Upward Mobility: College Access for Low Income and Minority Students
Fun Fact: She was born in Guam.
Miss South Carolina – Rachel Wyatt
Talent: Dance
Platform: Autism Speaks
Fun Fact: She can not only dance, but she can rap as well!
Miss South Dakota – Julia Olson
Talent: Classical Vocal
Platform: Worth It
Fun Fact: She is an amazing opera singer.
Miss Tennessee – Grace Burgess
Talent: Vocal
Platform: Ready, Set, Read! Encouraging A Love for Reading
Fun Fact: She’s obsessed with Dolly Parton. I mean, who isn’t?
Miss Texas – Caroline Carothers
Talent: Baton Twirling
Platform: With + Math = I Can
Fun Fact: She has won multiple awards for baton twirling.
Miss Utah – Lauren Wilson
Talent: Dance
Platform: With Help Comes Hope: Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Fun Fact: She can easily wiggle her left pinky toe.
Miss Vermont – Rylee Field
Talent: Monologue
Platform: Find a Happy Place – Positive Mental Health & Wellness
Fun Fact: In case you ever score a date with Rylee, take her to mini gold date. She’ll love it!
Miss Virginia – Michaela Gabriella Sigmon
Talent: Tap Dance
Platform: Making it Matter
Fun Fact: Her father was the one who delivered her when her mother went into labor too early.
Miss Washington – Alicia Cooper
Talent: Tap Dance
Platform: Live on Purpose: Defining Your Legacy
Fun Fact: She loves the aroma of freshly made pancakes.
Miss West Virginia – Morgan Breeden
Talent: Piano
Platform: Bullies Beware: I Have a Lion in My Heart
Fun Fact: Competing in pageants has been a part of her life since she was a toddler.
Miss Wisconsin – Courtney Pelot
Talent: Jazz Dance
Platform: Open Books, Open Opportunity: Promoting Literacy in Our Communities
Fun Fact: She will wear anything that has feathers on it.
Miss Wyoming – Jordyn Hall
Talent: Lyrical Jazz Dance
Platform: Shatter the Silence – Stop the Violence (SSSV)
Fun Fact: She says that her dog’s affection inspires her.
