The Miss America Pageant is the biggest scholarship pageant to women in the USA. In 2006, there were more than $45 million devoted to the winners for scholarship assistance and cash.
The Miss America pageant is split into five parts. Here are the sections:
1) Personal Interview
This section is less known to the public, since it is not televised or performed on stage. Judges will be in a room with each contestant separately, and they will have a conversation on current events and the contestant's opinion about such things. They will be marked for their accuracy and choice of words, their politeness and their confidence. Their personal interview will count for 25% towards their overall score.
2) Talent
In the talent portion, you are allowed to choose whatever you are most talented at to perform in front of the audience and the judges. Usually contestants choose dancing or singing, but a variety of different contestants also chose to play instruments, juggling, quick-draw painting, etc. The talent portion counts as 35% towards your final score, therefore being the one that counted the most.
3) Lifestyle & Fitness in Swimsuit
In this part of the competition, contestants will walk across the stage in their choice of a tradition one-piece suit or a more revealing two-piece suit (bikini), along with high heels. They will be marked for their posture, poise and fitness. The swimsuit portion counts for 15%.
4) Evening Wear
In this section, the contestants will wear their choice of evening wear as they walk across the stage. Judges will mark the contestant on their poise and bearing. This counts as 20% towards their overall score.
5) Onstage Question
This section happens during the evening wear night. The contestants will be asked a random question from a pre-written list with no preparation. These questions usually involve the current events around the world. The questions require for the contestants to have knowledge on this event and to also declare an opinion. This counts as 5% of their overall score.
A casual wear section was added to the Miss America Pageant in 2003, but removed in 2006.
The Miss America pageant began in 1921.
The Miss America pageant was held in Las Vegas.
The 2012 Miss America pageant was held on January 14, 2012.
This changes from year to year. Miss Pennsylvania at the 2015 Miss America pageant was Amanda Smith. The pageant was held on September 14, 2014.
The first Miss America pageant to be televised was the 1955 pageant. It was broadcast on ABC.
The Miss America pageant began in 1921.
The Miss America pageant was held in Las Vegas.
To become Miss America, you participate in the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The winner of the 1998 Miss America pageant was Katherine Shindle, Miss Illinois.
The winner of the 1933 Miss America pageant was Marian Bergeron, Miss Connecticut.
The contestants in the Miss America pageant are the winners from their home-state pageants.
The 2014 Miss America pageant was held on September 15, 2013.
The 2013 Miss America pageant was held on January 12, 2013.
The 2012 Miss America pageant was held on January 14, 2012.
This changes from year to year. Miss Pennsylvania at the 2015 Miss America pageant was Amanda Smith. The pageant was held on September 14, 2014.
The first Miss America pageant to be televised was the 1955 pageant. It was broadcast on ABC.
The winner of the 2013 Miss America pageant was Mallory Hagan, Miss New York.