89th edition of the Miss America competition
Miss America 2016 was the 89th Miss America pageant, held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey , on September 13, 2015.[ 1]
Kira Kazantsev of New York crowned Betty Cantrell of Georgia as her successor at the end of the event. According to Miss America's website, the pageant got around 7.9 million views.
Overview
Vanessa Williams at the conclusion of her performance of "Oh How the Years Go By " at Miss America 2016
There were 52 women[ 2] competing for the title, down from 53 contestants in the 2014 pageant, as the Miss Virgin Islands pageant organization did not renew their license and is no longer sending representatives for the Miss America pageant.
The panel of preliminary competition judges included publicist and talent producer Brian Edwards, Miss America 1979 Kylene Barker , producer Jenni Pulos , fashion and style expert Rachel Zalis, fashion designer Noah Alexander, D.C. lobbyist Lanny Griffith, and actor/model James Brown III.[ 3] [ 4]
Vanessa Williams (who was crowned Miss America 1984 but was forced to resign a few weeks before her reign ended) served as head judge and performed Oh How the Years Go By .[ 5] [ 6] The pageant began with Miss America CEO Sam Haskell issuing an apology to Williams, telling her that although "none of us currently in the organization were involved then, on behalf of today's organization, I want to apologize to you and to your mother, Miss Helen Williams. I want to apologize for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less the Miss America you are and the Miss America you always will be."[ 7] [ 8] [ 9] Suzette Charles (Williams' replacement)[ 10] said in an interview with Inside Edition that she was perplexed over the apology and suggested that it was given for the purpose of ratings.[ 11] Williams also commented on the events surrounding her return, stating in an interview with Robin Roberts that "there's a lot of people who feel I should return, so the people who harbor the resentment I understand it but realize that all of those people that were part of the old guard are no longer there."[ 5]
Results
Placements
Placement
Contestant
Miss America 2016
1st Runner-Up
2nd Runner-Up
3rd Runner-Up
4th Runner-Up
Top 7
Top 10
Top 12
Top 15
* - America's Choice
Awards
Preliminary awards
Contestants
State/district/terr.
Name
Hometown
Age
Talent
Platform
Placement
Special awards
Notes
Alabama
Meg McGuffin [ 14]
Ozark
22
Jazz Ballet en Pointe "Enigma Variation" from The Matrix
"Healthy is the New Skinny - Promoting Positive Body Image"
4th runner-up
Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up
Previously Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2007
Alaska
Zoey Grenier [ 15]
Anchorage
19
Vocal "Shy" from Once Upon a Mattress
"Instilling Responsibility in Youth through Athletics"
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014
Arizona
Madison Esteves
Chandler
20
Contemporary Dance
"Empowering Individuals With Disabilities"
Previously Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2012
Arkansas
Loren McDaniel [ 16]
Van Buren
22
Vocal "Piece of Sky"
"Confidently You"
Top 15
California
Bree Morse [ 17]
Garden Grove
23
Tap Dance
"Alopecia Areata Advocacy (NAAF)"
Colorado
Kelley Johnson [ 18]
Windsor
22
Monologue
"The Health Initiative PLUS"
2nd runner-up
STEM Scholarship Award
Appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to discuss her nursing monologue and received $10,000 from Shutterfly for nurse anesthetist school[ 19] Later Miss California USA 2018[ 20]
Connecticut
Colleen Ward
Wolcott
22
Irish Step Dance
"Promoting Childhood Literacy: Encouraging a Health Mind for a Healthy Life"
Delaware
Brooke Mitchell [ 21]
Selbyville
19
Baton twirling "Rhythm of the Night"
"Volunteerism - Turn Your Passion into Action"
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014
District of Columbia
Haely Jardas [ 22]
Fort Myers
24
Vocal "Blank Space " by Taylor Swift
"Mental Health Manners"
Florida
Mary Katherine Fechtel [ 23]
Leesburg
19
Lyrical Dance "Listen"
"A Safety Net - Protecting Our Youth from Online Predators"
Top 10
Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
Sister of Elizabeth Fechtel , Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2012[ 24] Previously Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2010[ 25]
Georgia
Betty Cantrell [ 26]
Warner Robins
21
Classical Vocal "Tu Tu Piccolo Iddio"
"Healthy Children, Strong America"
Miss America 2016[ 12]
Preliminary Talent Award
Hawaii
Jeanné Kapela [ 27]
Kailua-Kona
20
Lyrical Dance "My Heart Will Go On " by Tioni Tam Sing
"Sex Trafficking: #ItEndsWithUs"
Miss Congeniality
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014, but pulled out of the competition due to a family emergency
Idaho
Kalie Wright [ 28]
Kimberly
23
Vocal
"United We Stand, Supporting Our US Military Heroes"
Previously National Sweetheart 2014[ 29] Later Miss Minnesota USA 2018[ 30]
Illinois
Crystal Davis [ 31]
Anna
22
Vocal "That's Life "
"Crystal Clear Driving - Eyes on the Road Ahead"
Indiana
Morgan Jackson [ 32]
Charlestown
21
Lyrical Ballet, "You Raise Me Up "
"Project Impact: If not you, then who?"
Daughter of Trina Collins, Miss New Mexico 1984 Previously Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen 2007[ 33] Top 10 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014
Iowa
Taylor Wiebers [ 34]
Clinton
21
Vocal. "Don't Forget Me " from Smash
"St. Baldrick's Foundation - Shave. Serve. Share."
Top 12
Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Preliminary Talent Award
Kansas
Hannah Wagner [ 35]
Wichita
19
Ballet en Pointe Swan Lake
"The Bold Initiative: Stand Up, Stand Out, BE BOLD!"
Kentucky
Clark Janell Davis
Lexington
18
Vocal "Summertime"
"Promoting Dyslexia Awareness"
Grew up with dyslexia
Louisiana
April Nelson [ 36]
Mandeville
23
Vocal "Climb Ev'ry Mountain " from The Sound of Music
"I.O.U. - Improving Others through U!"
3rd runner-up[ 13]
Preliminary Talent Award
Previously Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen 2008[ 37]
Maine
Kelsey Earley [ 38]
Lebanon
24
Clogging "Black Betty "
"The Superhero in You"
Quality of Life Award Finalist
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2012
Maryland
Destiny Clark [ 39]
Gaithersburg
23
Guitar/Vocal
"Forging Your Own Destiny - Overcoming Adversity with Self-Discovery and Mentorship"
Quality of Life Award Finalist
4th runner-up at Miss Maryland USA 2015
Massachusetts
Meagan Fuller
Attleboro
22
Jazz Dance
"America's Promise Alliance"
Previously Massachusetts' Junior Miss 2010 Top 10 at Miss America's Junior Miss 2010 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2013 1st runner-up at National Sweetheart 2013 pageant
Michigan
Emily Kieliszewski [ 40]
Alpena
23
Tap Dance "U Can't Touch This " by MC Hammer
"Adopting America's Children"
Minnesota
Rachel Latuff [ 41]
Minneapolis
24
Contemporary Ribbon Dance "Out of the Woods "
"The Heart of Learning: Providing What Our Classrooms Need"
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014
Mississippi
Hannah Roberts [ 42]
Mount Olive
21
Classical violin "Zapateado, No. 2, Opus 23"
"Pages of Love"
1st runner-up
STEM Scholarship Award Quality of Life Award Finalist
Previously Mississippi's Junior Miss 2011 2nd runner-up to America's Junior Miss 2011
Missouri
McKensie Garber [ 43]
Hale
22
Jazz Ballet en Pointe "P.Y.T. "
"Character Plus - Inspiring Lives of Integrity Through Education"
Previously Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen 2011
Montana
Danielle Wineman [ 44]
Cut Bank
23
Piano "Pirates of the Caribbean "
"Acting on Compassion"
Sister of Alexis Wineman , Miss Montana 2012 Previously Montana's Junior Miss 2010
Nebraska
Alyssa Howell [ 45]
Omaha
20
Piano "Northern Lights"
"Making Miracles Happen - One Miracle Bag at a Time"
Top 12
Previously Miss Virginia National Teen 2009
Nevada
Katherine Kelley
Madisonville, KY
23
Piano
"Every Day Counts: A Comprehensive Plan for Improving School Attendance"
New Hampshire
Holly Blanchard [ 46]
Derry
23
Baton Twirling "Show Me How You Burlesque " by Christina Aguilera
"Charity from the Heart: Giving Time to Make a Difference"
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014
New Jersey
Lindsey Giannini [ 47]
Hammonton
21
Latin Rhythm Dance "Fireball " by Pitbull
"Dangers of Distracted Driving"
Quality of Life Award Winner
New Mexico
Marissa Livingston [ 48]
Albuquerque
20
Jazz Dance "I'm Gonna Live 'Til I Die"
"For The Kids - Supporting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals through Dance Marathons"
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014
New York
Jamie Lynn Macchia [ 49]
Eltingville
23
Lyrical Dance "I Was Here " by Beyoncé
"Inspiring Action Against Pediatric Cancer"
1st runner-up at National Sweetheart 2014
North Carolina
Kate Peacock[ 50]
Dunn
19
Tap Dance "Swing the Mood"
"Pediatric Eye Disease"
2nd runner-up at Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen 2012
North Dakota
Delanie Wiedrich [ 51]
Hazen
19
Vocal "Someone Like You " by Adele
"Beyond the B Word: A New Stance on Bullying"
Ohio
Sarah Hider [ 52]
Wooster
24
Jazz Vocal "Almost Like Being in Love"
"Women Hold Up Half The Sky"
Previously Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen 2008
Oklahoma
Georgia Frazier [ 53]
Tulsa
23
Vocal "Happy Days Are Here Again "
"Warriors for Women"
Top 10
Previously Miss Oklahoma's Outstanding Teen 2009 Top 16 at National Sweetheart 2014
Oregon
Ali Wallace
Portland
21
Lyrical Dance "Latch " by Sam Smith
"Traumatic Brain Injury Education & Awareness"
Daughter of Tamara Fazzolari , Miss Oregon 1987
Pennsylvania
Ashley Schmider [ 54]
South Fayette
23
Tap Dance "Pon de Replay " by Rihanna
"Strong Women, Strong Girls Mentoring Organization: Impacting Our Communities... One Girl at a Time"
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2012 Previously Miss United States Continental 2014
Puerto Rico
Destiny Vélez
Trujillo Alto
19
Acoustic Drums
"#Upstander"
Rhode Island
Alexandra Curtis [ 55]
West Warwick
23
Musical Theater "Poor Unfortunate Souls "
"Leading Ladies: Equipping Young Women With the Skills to Lead"
Quality of Life Award Finalist
Previously National All-American Miss Teen 2010-2011 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 Later 4th Runner-Up at Miss World America 2017
South Carolina
Daja Dial
Spartanburg
22
Vocal "I Believe"
"Type I & Type II Diabetes Mellitus"
Top 7
Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
South Dakota
Autumn Simunek [ 56]
Hot Springs
22
Vocal, "Hallelujah"
"5 Stars for Serving Those Who Served"
Previously Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen 2007 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2012
Tennessee
Hannah Robison [ 57]
Paris
21
Piano "El Cumbanchero"
"Campaign Against Pain: Arthritis Awareness"
Top 7
America's Choice STEM Scholarship Award Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up
2nd runner-up at Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2012
Texas
Shannon Sanderford
Coppell
23
Pop Vocal
"She Matters: Gender Equality and Female Empowerment"
Top 10
Utah
Krissia Beatty [ 58]
St. George
22
Piano "All of Me"
"Live Well"
Vermont
Alayna Westcom [ 59]
Bakersfield
23
Scientific Experiment
"Success Through STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math"
STEM Scholarship Award
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014
Virginia
Savannah Lane
Midlothian
19
Vocal "Don't Rain on My Parade " from Funny Girl
"Power of Performance"
Top 15
Washington
Lizzi Jackson
Bellingham
21
Vocal
"Community Through Mentorship: Investing in Our Future"
STEM Scholarship Award
West Virginia
Chelsea Malone [ 60]
Wheeling
23
Vocal
"Break the Silence: Opening up the Conversation of Mental Health"
Top 15
Wisconsin
Rosalie Smith [ 61]
Waukesha
19
Lyrical Dance "Heaven " by Beyoncé
"Colin's Crusade: Breaking the Barriers of Addiction"
Wyoming
Mikaela Shaw [ 62]
Laramie
21
Violin
"Make Music Matter"
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2013 Later Miss Wyoming USA 2017[ 63]
Pageant notes
Withdraws
Notes
^ "The 95th Anniversary of Miss America To Air on Sunday, September 13 at 9:00 PM ET on ABC" (Press release). Miss America . June 2, 2015. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015 .
^ "Miss America 2016 Contestants" . THE GREAT PAGEANT COMMUNITY . May 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015 .
^ "The Miss America Organization Announces Preliminary Competition Judges" (Press release). Miss America . July 23, 2015. Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015 .
^ Tracey, Sara (July 23, 2015). "Preliminary judges for Miss America 2016 pageant announced" . The Press of Atlantic City . Pleasantville, NJ : BH Media . Retrieved July 30, 2015 .
^ a b Roberts, Robin (September 11, 2015). "Vanessa Williams on Returning to Miss America After Scandal" . ABC News. Retrieved September 11, 2015 .
^ "Miss America 2016 - Vanessa Williams - Oh How the Years Go By (9-13-15)" . Miss America 2016. September 13, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015 .
^ Fitz-Gerald, Sean (September 14, 2015). "Vanessa Williams Finally Got Her Miss America Apology" . New York Magazine . Retrieved September 17, 2015 .
^ Rogers, Katie (September 14, 2015). "Vanessa Williams Returns to Miss America and Receives an Apology" . New York Times . Retrieved September 14, 2015 .
^ Robinson, Joanna (September 14, 2015). "Watch Vanessa Williams Finally Receive an Apology at the Miss America 2016 Pageant" . Vanity Fair . Retrieved September 13, 2015 .
^ "Miss America 1984 B" . Miss America Organization . Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2012 .
^ Inside Edition (September 14, 2015). "Beauty Queen Who Won Vanessa Williams' Crown: Miss America Apology Was About Ratings" . Inside Edition. Retrieved September 18, 2015 .
^ a b Jensen, Erin (September 14, 2015). "Miss Georgia is crowned Miss America 2016" . USA Today . Gannett .
^ a b c "Miss Louisiana named third runner-up in Miss America pageant" . The Advocate . September 14, 2015.
^ Morgan, Lauren (June 7, 2015). "Miss Alabama 2015: Meg McGuffin" . Huntsville, AL : WHNT-TV . Retrieved June 28, 2015 .
^ "New Miss Alaska, Miss Alaska's Outstanding Teen crowned" . www.ktva.com. June 9, 2015.
^ "Loren McDaniel crowned Miss Arkansas" . Little Rock, AR : KATV . July 11, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015 .
^ Santos, Nicole (June 27, 2015). "Miss Orange Coast wins Miss California crown" . The Fresno Bee . Fresno, CA : McClatchy . Retrieved June 28, 2015 .
^ Udell, Erin (June 24, 2015). "Windsor woman crowned Miss Colorado" . Fort Collins Coloradoan . Fort Collins, CO : Gannett . Retrieved June 27, 2015 .
^ "Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson addresses her Miss America monologue on Ellen" . www.ew.com. September 17, 2015.
^ Harding, Todd (December 4, 2017). "Former Miss Colorado Wins Miss California USA Pageant" . K99 News.
^ Howard, Arshon (June 13, 2015). "Brooke Mitchell crowned Miss Delaware 2015" . Delaware State News . Dover, DE : Independent Newsmedia. Retrieved June 14, 2015 .
^ "Haely Jardas was crowned Miss District of Columbia 2015" . pageantsnews.com. June 15, 2015. Archived from the original on June 15, 2015.
^ "New Miss Florida crowned" . www.wtsp.com. June 21, 2015.
^ "Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2012 Rides In The University of Florida's Homecoming Parade" . Tampa, FL : Miss America's Outstanding Teen. November 2012.
^ "Miss Orlando's Outstanding Teen Crowned Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2010" . Scholarship Pageant Newsletter . Vol. 1, no. 2. Miami, FL : Miss Florida. May 2010.
^ "Miss Warner Robins named 2015 Miss Georgia" . www.macon.com. June 21, 2015. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015.
^ "Kapela crowned Miss Hawaii 2015" . www.honolulupulse.com. May 30, 2015.
^ "Kimberly Native Crowned 'Miss Idaho' " . magicvalley.com. June 23, 2015.
^ Dunlap, Tetona (September 7, 2014). "Your Neighbor: The Kimberly Woman Crowned Miss National Sweetheart" . Times-News . Twin Falls, ID : Lee Enterprises .
^ Divine, Mary (November 27, 2017). "Standing ovations for first woman with Down syndrome to compete in Miss Minnesota USA" . Twin Cities Pioneer Press.
^ "Anna native wins Miss Illinois pageant" . The Southern Illinoisan . Carbondale, IL : Lee Enterprises . June 13, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015 .
^ "Charlestown woman crowned Miss Indiana 2015" . Indianapolis, IN : WTHR . June 20, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015 .
^ Kim, Gina (June 24, 2015). "U of L student crowned Miss Indiana" . The Courier-Journal . Louisville, KY : Gannett . Retrieved July 14, 2015 .
^ Geyer, Thomas (June 13, 2015). "Miss Clinton County, Taylor Wiebers, crowned Miss Iowa 2015" . Quad-City Times . Davenport, IA : Lee Enterprises . Retrieved June 23, 2015 .
^ "Miss Augusta crowned Miss Kansas" . www.kwch.com. June 7, 2015. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015.
^ Bolden, Bonnie (June 27, 2015). "Nelson wins Miss Louisiana" . The News-Star . Monroe, LA : Gannett . Retrieved June 28, 2015 .
^ Bolden, Bonnie (September 14, 2015). "Miss Louisiana comes home" . News Star . Nelson started in pageants as a teenager and was named Miss Louisiana Outstanding Teen in 2008.
^ "Miss Maine 2015 crowned in Portland" . Bangor, ME : WLBZ-TV . April 26, 2015. Archived from the original on June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015 .
^ Calhoun, Caleb (June 27, 2015). "Miss Anne Arundel County crowned Miss Maryland" . The Herald-Mail . Hagerstown, MD : Schurz Communications . Retrieved June 28, 2015 .
^ Champion, Brandon (June 21, 2015). "Family-oriented Emily Kieliszewski to use Miss Michigan crown to find homes for those in need" . Muskegon Chronicle . Booth Newspapers . Retrieved July 22, 2015 – via Mlive.com .
^ "Hastings native wins Miss Minnesota pageant" . www.hastingsstargazette.com. June 17, 2015. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2015 .
^ Threadgill, Jacob (June 28, 2015). "Miss USM crowned Miss Mississippi" . The Clarion-Ledger . Jackson, MS : Gannett . Retrieved June 28, 2015 .
^ "ORU grad McKensie Garber named Miss Missouri 2015" . Tulsa World . Tulsa, OK : BH Media . June 13, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015 .
^ "Danielle Wineman of Cut Bank crowned Miss Montana 2015" . Great Falls, MT : KRTV . June 14, 2015. Archived from the original on July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2015 .
^ "Alyssa Howell Crowned Miss Nebraska 2015" . www.knopnews2.com. June 6, 2015.
^ Woods, Stephanie (May 3, 2015). "The Granite State crowns a new Miss New Hampshire Saturday" . Manchester, NH : WMUR-TV . Retrieved June 13, 2015 .
^ Hetrick, Christian (June 13, 2015). "Hammonton's Giannini wins Miss New Jersey" . The Press of Atlantic City . Pleasantville, NJ : BH Media . Retrieved June 14, 2015 .
^ "Albuquerque's Livington crowned Miss New Mexico" . www.pntonline.com. June 21, 2015.
^ "Miss New York 2015: Staten Island's Jamie Lynn Macchia wins" . www.silive.com. June 6, 2015.
^ Wooten, Alan (June 21, 2015). "Miss Dunn Kate Peacock crowned Miss North Carolina" . The Fayetteville Observer . Fayetteville, NC . Retrieved July 17, 2015 .
^ Moore, Katherine (June 13, 2015). "Wiedrich wins: Miss Grand Forks to represent North Dakota at Miss America Pageant" . Williston Herald . Williston, ND : Wick Communications . Retrieved June 14, 2015 .
^ "Sarah Hider wins Miss Ohio 2015 crown" . www.richlandsource.com. June 20, 2015.
^ "Tulsa woman crowned Miss Oklahoma" . www.edmondsun.com. June 15, 2015.
^ "Ashley Schmider was crowned Miss Pennsylvania 2015" . pageantsnews.com. June 14, 2015. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015.
^ "Miss Rhode Island 2015 crowned in Providence" . wpri.com. May 31, 2015.
^ "Hot Springs woman is 2015 Miss South Dakota" . rapidcityjournal.com. June 22, 2015.
^ Taylor, Victoria (June 21, 2015). "Newly crowned Miss Tennessee talks about goals for the coming year" . Jackson, TN : WBBJ-TV . Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015 .
^ "Miss Nebo Krissia Beatty crowned as Miss Utah 2015 Saturday" . Deseret News . Salt Lake City, UT : Deseret Management Corporation . June 20, 2015. Archived from the original on June 22, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2015 .
^ Steponaitis, Cookie (April 28, 2015). "Two New Green Mountain Girls Are Selected" . The Valley Voice . Middlebury, VT . Retrieved June 13, 2015 .
^ Ghion, Kathryn (July 1, 2015). "Miss West Virginia 2015 Crowned" . Clarksburg, WV : WBOY-TV . Retrieved July 2, 2015 .
^ Dickmann, Noell (June 21, 2015). "There she is: Meet Miss Wisconsin 2015 Rosalie Smith" . Oshkosh Northwestern . Oshkosh, WI : Gannett . Retrieved July 23, 2015 .
^ "New Miss Wyoming Crowned in Sheridan" . www.sheridanmedia.com. May 31, 2015.
^ "Miss Wyoming USA and Miss Teen Wyoming USA 2017 Winners Announced" . KTWO . September 19, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2019 .
External links