Betty Cantrell, was crowned Miss America 2016 on Sunday evening. Miss Georgia made her state proud and the first, second, third and fourth runners-up are respectively Miss Mississippi – Hannah Roberts; Miss Colorado – Kelley Johnson; Miss Louisiana – April Nelson; Miss Alabama – Meg McGuffin.
Determining Miss America is a very serious matter and taking the final decision was not very easy for the judges. “I’m still so overwhelmed; I don’t know what to say other than thank you.” Cantrell told reporters moments after being crowned Miss America.
In the talent portion of competition, Betty Cantrell impressed judges with her performance from “Madame Butterfly”. However, she didn’t give her best in the question answering round because there was a question regarding Tom Brady’s Deflate gate and she bluntly told the told the world that she thinks that Tom Brady cheated.
This response aroused many other questions and in defence she replied, “I’m not sure about this. Did he cheat? Um, that’s a really good question! I’m not sure. I think I’d have to be there to see the ball, and feel it to make sure it was deflated or not deflated. But if there’s any question, then yes, I think he cheated. If there were any question to be had, I think that he definitely cheated, and he should’ve been suspended for that. That’s not fair.”
According to Miss America Organization’s website, “She will be awarded $50,000 as scholarship money. For Miss Mississippi – Hannah Roberts, the first runner-up, there is an award of $25,000. Her talent was classical violin. The Second runner up was Miss Colorado Kelly Johnson has been awarded $20,000 and her talent was original monologue.
Congratulations to the new Miss America, Betty Cantrell. The winner in the competition was selected by the panel of judges lead by former Miss America Vanessa Williams. The judging panel included famous country musician Breet Eldredge, wife of the U.S. Navy Seal portrayed in “American Sniper,” Taya Kyle, actress Danica McKellar, “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary, Paralympian Amy Purdy and Disney Channel star Zendaya.
Last year’s Miss America, Kira Kazantsev was the third consecutive Miss New York to win the title of Miss America. In the Press conference Tuesday afternoon in the Boardwalk Hall Kira Kazantsev said, “I can’t believe it’s been a year since I was backstage getting ready to compete, just as the contestants are right now.”
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