Miss America 2019
{{Short description|92nd edition of the Miss America competition}}
{{Infobox beauty pageant
| winner = Nia Franklin
| represented = New York state
|image = 150px
|caption = Franklin at the 2018 Military Bowl
| date = {{start date|2018|9|9}}
| presenters = Carrie Ann Inaba
Ross Mathews{{cite web|first= Denise |last= Petski | url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/carrie-ann-inaba-to-host-2019-miss-america-competition-on-abc-1202453989/|work= Deadline|title=Carrie Ann Inaba To Host 2019 Miss America Competition On ABC |date=August 29, 2018}}
| venue = Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
| broadcaster = ABC
| entrants =51
| placements=15
| debuts =
| returns =
| withdraws =
| before = 2018
| next = 2020
}}
Miss America 2019, the 92nd Miss America pageant, though the Miss America Organization celebrated its 98th anniversary in 2018. This discrepancy is due to national pageants not being held from 1928 to 1932 or in 1934 because of financial problems associated with the Great Depression.{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh//amex/missamerica/timeline/timeline2.html |title=Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950 |work=PBS}} The 2019 competition was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.{{cite web|first= David |last= Danzis |title=Miss America to remain in Atlantic City with $4 million CRDA subsidy |work= Press of Atlantic City |url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/top_three/miss-america-competition-to-remain-in-atlantic-city-following-scandal/article_d91d10ac-6a07-583b-aa4d-f1bb245586ed.html |date=April 18, 2018}} On May 23, 2018, it was announced that the pageant would air live on ABC on Sunday, September 9, 2018.{{cite web |url= http://missamerica.org/2018/05/23/2019-miss-america-competition-air-sunday-sept-9-abc-television-network/ |work= Miss America Organization |title= The 2019 Miss America Competition' to Air Sunday, Sept. 9, on the ABC Television Network |date= May 23, 2018 |access-date= May 23, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180627092407/http://missamerica.org/2018/05/23/2019-miss-america-competition-air-sunday-sept-9-abc-television-network/ |archive-date= June 27, 2018 |url-status= dead }} This was the last Miss America to be aired on ABC before it was moved to NBC beginning from the 2020 pageant.
At the end of the event, Miss America 2018, Cara Mund of North Dakota, officially crowned her successor, Nia Franklin of New York, as Miss America 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/miss-new-york-nia-imani-franklin-wins-miss-america-pageant/ar-BBN6VSs?li=AA2qN5v|title=Miss New York Nia Imani Franklin wins Miss America pageant|website=www.msn.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816035210/https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/miss-new-york-nia-imani-franklin-wins-miss-america-pageant/ar-BBN6VSs%3Fli%3DAA2qN5v|archive-date=2019-08-16|url-status=dead}}
Overview
=Miss America 2.0 / Changes to competition and judging criteria=
On June 5, 2018, it was announced that Miss America contestants would no longer be judged based on their physical appearance and that the national Miss America event would be considered a competition, rather than a pageant, and the titleholders now candidates, rather than contestants.{{cite web|first1= Catherine |last1= Thorbecke |first2= Katie |last2= Kindelan |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/miss-america-scrapping-swimsuit-competition-longer-judge-based/story?id=55638426 |work= ABC News|title=Miss America is scrapping its swimsuit competition, will no longer judge based on physical appearance |date=June 5, 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://missamerica.org/2018/06/05/miss-america-2-0/ |work=Miss America Organization |title=Miss America 2.0 |date=June 5, 2018 |access-date=June 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703072219/http://missamerica.org/2018/06/05/miss-america-2-0/ |archive-date=July 3, 2018 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|first=Matthew |last=Haag |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/05/business/miss-america-swimsuit.html |work=New York Times |title=Miss America Ends Swimsuit Competition, Aiming to Evolve in 'This Cultural Revolution' |date=June 5, 2018}}{{cite web|first=Amy S.|last=Rosenberg |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/shore/miss-america-gretchen-carlson-atlantic-city-swimsuit-regina-hopper-20180725.html?mobi=true |work=The Inquirer |title=With six weeks to go, is Miss America 'coming apart at the seams?' |date=July 25, 2018}} The swimsuit competition was replaced with state titleholders participating in a live interactive session with the judges, "to highlight her achievements and goals in life and how she will use her talents, passion, and ambition to perform the job of Miss America."{{cite web|first1= Doug |last1=Criss |first2= Karma |last2= Hassan |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/05/us/miss-america-swimsuit-trnd/index.html |work=CNN |title=Miss America is scrapping the swimsuit portion from its pageant |date=June 5, 2018}}
The red carpet, formerly evening gown, competition allowed contestants to choose clothing, "that makes them feel confident, expresses their personal style, and shows how they hope to advance the role of Miss America."{{cite web|first=Megan |last=Garber |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/06/miss-america-the-inner-beauty-pageant/562070/ |work=The Atlantic |title=Miss America 2.0: The Inner Beauty Pageant? |date=June 5, 2018}} In interviews, Gretchen Carlson, the chair of the Board of Trustees of the Miss America Organization, emphasized the organization's desire to be more welcoming, "open, transparent, [and] inclusive to women," and to prioritize displaying the talent and scholarship in the contestants.{{cite web|first=Colin |last=Dwyer |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/06/05/617088219/miss-america-drops-its-swimsuit-competition-embracing-whole-new-era |work=NPR |title=Miss America Says Farewell To Its Swimsuit Competition, Embracing 'Whole New Era' |date=June 5, 2018}} These changes were announced by Carlson and the Miss America Organization after numerous titleholders were crowned after competing in state pageants with swimsuit competitions.{{cite web|first=Amanda |last=Coyne |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a22893341/miss-america-pageant-2019-facts-drama-swimsuit/ |title=Everything To Know About This Year's Miss America Competition|work= Cosmopolitan |date=September 4, 2018}}
At the time the Miss America 2019 competition began, 46 of 51 state organizations (as well as 23 former Miss America winners) had signed a petition calling for the resignation of Carlson and CEO, Regina Hopper, from the Miss America Organization.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2018/09/06/miss-america-2019-swimsuit-less-competition-enters-day-2-prelims/1212272002/|title=Swimsuit-less Miss America competition enters Day 2 of prelims: 'Swimsuit is behind us' |work= USATODAY |date=September 6, 2018}} The states who had not signed were Arkansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, and Vermont.
==Organization of competition==
The preliminary competition consisted of private interviews, "red carpet" evening wear, an on-stage interview, and talent competitions.{{cite web|url=http://www.newser.com/story/264226/amid-an-open-revolt-miss-america-pageant-begins.html |title=Pageant Officials in 46 States Want Gretchen Carlson Out |work= Newser |date=September 5, 2018}} The private interview is a ten-minute session during which the candidate answers questions from the panel of preliminary judges which took place on September 4 and 5. The interview accounts for 20% of each titleholder's preliminary score.{{cite web|first=Brittany |last=Tait |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/46386322/university-of-utah-graduate-competing-for-miss-america |title=University of Utah graduate competing for Miss America |work= KSL.com|date=September 5, 2018}} The "red carpet" evening wear competition (making up 15% of preliminary scores) consists of candidates walking down a literal red carpet and then being given 8 seconds to answer rapid fire questions relevant to their "social impact initiative", formerly referred to as a platform.{{cite web|first=Nicole |last=Pelletiere |title=Miss America 2.0: Behind-the-scenes changes to competition begin at preliminaries |work=ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/miss-america-20-scene-competition-begin-preliminaries/story?id=57667416 |date= September 7, 2018}} The on stage interview preliminary award is replacing the lifestyle and fitness (swimsuit) preliminary award which was awarded at every Miss America pageant from 1940 to 2018. This interview portion of the competition makes up 15% of the preliminary score and consists of each candidate being asked a question by the judges and then having 20 seconds to answer.{{cite web|first=Amy |last=Kuperinsky |title=Miss America 2019: Florida and Wisconsin triumph on night 1 of revamped pageant |work=NJ.com |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2018/09/miss_america_2019_florida_and_wisconsin_triumph_on.html |date= September 5, 2018}} Scores from the preliminary competition determines the top 15 finalists who went on to compete on the televised final night of competition.
For the final night of competition, the top 15 candidates were selected based on their scores from the preliminary competition, which accounted for 25% of their final night score.{{cite web|first=Nardine |last=Saad |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miss-america-2019-story.html |title=Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin likes competition's changes, especially no swimsuits |work=The Los Angeles Times |date= September 10, 2018}} The top 15 were first scored by the final night judges in an onstage interview with questions written by fellow finalists (termed "peer-to-peer questions"), accounting for 25% of their final night score and with ten contestants advancing. The top ten competed in the "red carpet" evening wear portion of the competition, contributing 20% of their scores. No candidates were eliminated after evening wear, and all top 10 performed their talent, serving as 30% of their total score. The total scores after these phases of competition determined the top 5 contestants.{{cite web|first=Bonnie |last=Bolden |url=https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/local/miss-louisiana-is-second-runner-up-to-miss-america-2019/289-592535585 |title=Miss Louisiana is second runner up to Miss America 2019 |work=WWLTV |date= September 10, 2018}} Each remaining candidate then drew a number to select a judge and had 20 seconds to answer that judge's assigned question; the scores from these questions then determined the winner of the competition and the placement of the other finalists.
=Judges=
==Preliminary judges==
On September 4–7, 2018, judges for the preliminary competition selected winners of the preliminary competitions as well as the top 15 finalists for the final night of competition on September 9, 2018. The panel included president and founder of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Bonnie Carroll; arts and education executive, Courtney Blackwell Burton; Emmy Award-winning hair designer and stylist, Bobby H. Grayson; musician, J'Anna Jacoby; managing editor of The Root, Lyne Pitts; TV host and New York Times bestselling author, Nancy Redd; and entrepreneur, Bill Townsend.{{cite web|first=Lauren |last= Carroll |url=https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/missamerica/miss-america-preliminary-judges-announced/article_e3d348ad-675d-56e4-8df5-46d969cafcc2.html |title=Miss America preliminary judges announced |date=August 16, 2018}}
==Final night judges==
The panel of judges on the final night of competition on September 9, 2018 included professional boxer, Laila Ali; radio host, Bobby Bones; Grammy-winning producer and musician, Randy Jackson; country singer and TV personality, Jessie James Decker; TV journalist, Soledad O'Brien; entrepreneur and podcast host, Alli Webb; and singer/songwriter, Carnie Wilson.{{cite web|first=Amy |last=Kuperinsky |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2018/08/miss_america_2019_judges_include_carnie_wilson_lai.html |title=Miss America 2019 announces judges, including Carnie Wilson and Laila Ali |work= NJ.com |date= August 31, 2018}}
Results
=Placements=
class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Placement ! Contestant |
Miss America 2019
| |
1st Runner-Up
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2nd Runner-Up
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3rd Runner-Up
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4th Runner-Up
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Top 10
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Top 15
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=Awards =
==Preliminary awards==
==Quality of Life awards==
class="wikitable"
! Results ! Contestant ! Platform |
Winner
| {{flagicon|Arkansas}} Arkansas – Claudia Raffo{{cite web|url=http://www.kait8.com/2018/09/10/claudia-raffo-competes-miss-america/ |work= KAIT 8 News |title=Claudia Raffo competes in Miss America |date=September 9, 2018}} | New Life Saves Lives: Umbilical Cord Donation |
1st runner-up
| {{flagicon|Maryland}} Maryland – Adrianna David | The Kidney Project |
2nd runner-up
|{{Flagicon|Mississippi|2001}} Mississippi – Asya Branch | Finding Your Way: Empowering Children of Incarcerated Parents |
rowspan=5 | Finalists{{cite web|first=Erin |last=Serpico |title=Miss America Cara Mund announces scholarship finalists before competition |work=Press of Atlantic City |url=https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/missamerica/miss-america-cara-mund-announces-scholarship-finalists-before-competition/article_0fc3760b-82d4-5ffb-8e1a-1105e1ad1d0a.html |date= August 26, 2018}} |
{{flagicon|District of Columbia}} District of Columbia – Allison Farris
| Women in Technology |
{{flagicon|Georgia (U.S. state)}} Georgia – Annie Jorgenson
| Patch of Confidence #IGotThis |
{{flagicon|New Jersey}} New Jersey – Jaime Gialloreto
| Don't Get Nutty: Food Allergy Awareness |
{{flagicon|Tennessee }} Tennessee – Christine Williamson
| Alzheimer's Awareness: Fundraising, Advocating, and Providing Hope |
==Children's Miracle Network (CMN) National Miracle Maker awards==
class="wikitable"
! Results ! Contestant |
Winner
| {{flagicon|South Carolina}} South Carolina – Davia Bunch |
1st runner-up
| {{flagicon|Kansas}} Kansas – Hannah Klaassen |
2nd runner-up
| {{flagicon|Alabama}} Alabama – Callie Walker |
==STEM Scholarship awards==
class="wikitable"
! Results ! Contestant |
Winners{{cite web|title=Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin Crowned in Atlantic City|work=Miss America Organization |url=http://missamerica.org/miss-america-2019-nia-franklin-crowned-in-atlantic-city/ |date= September 9, 2018}}
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Finalists
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==Women in Business Scholarship awards==
class="wikitable"
! Results ! Contestant |
Winners
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Finalists
| |
==Other awards==
class="wikitable"
! Awards ! Contestant(s) |
Miss Congeniality
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Non-finalist Talent Awards
| |
People's Choice Award
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Candidates
The Miss America 2019 candidates were:
Notes
{{notelist}}