Miss America 2016 was the 89th Miss America pageant, held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on September 13, 2015.
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
There were 52 women 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.
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. 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." Suzette Charles (Williams' replacement) 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. 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."
Results Placements Placement Contestant Miss America 2016 – Betty Cantrell 1st Runner-Up – Hannah Roberts 2nd Runner-Up – Kelley Johnson 3rd Runner-Up – April Nelson 4th Runner-Up – Meg McGuffin Top 7 – Daja Dial – Hannah Robison * Top 10 – Mary Katherine Fechtel – Georgia Frazier – Shannon Sanderford Top 12 – Taylor Wiebers – Alyssa Howell Top 15 – Loren McDaniel – Savannah Lane – Chelsea Malone
* - America's Choice
Awards Preliminary awards Awards Contestant Lifestyle and Fitness Florida - Mary Katherine Fechtel Iowa - Taylor Wiebers South Carolina - Daja Dial Talent Georgia - Betty Cantrell Iowa - Taylor Wiebers Louisiana - April Nelson
Contestants State/district/terr. Name Hometown Age TalentPlatform Placement Special awards Notes Alabama Ozark 22 Jazz Ballet en Pointe "Enigma Variation" from The Matrix"Healthy is the New Skinny - Promoting Positive Body Image" 4th runner-upQuality of Life Award 2nd runner-up Previously Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2007 Alaska Anchorage 19 Vocal "Shy" from Once Upon a Mattress"Instilling Responsibility in Youth through Athletics" Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 Arizona Chandler 20 Contemporary Dance"Empowering Individuals With Disabilities" Previously Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2012 Arkansas Van Buren 22 Vocal "Piece of Sky""Confidently You" Top 15 California Garden Grove 23 Tap Dance"Alopecia Areata Advocacy (NAAF)" Colorado Windsor 22 Monologue"The Health Initiative PLUS" 2nd runner-upSTEM Scholarship Award Appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to discuss her nursing monologue and received $10,000 from Shutterfly for nurse anesthetist schoolLater Miss California USA 2018 Connecticut Wolcott 22 Irish Step Dance"Promoting Childhood Literacy: Encouraging a Health Mind for a Healthy Life" Delaware Selbyville 19 Baton twirling "Rhythm of the Night""Volunteerism - Turn Your Passion into Action" Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 District of Columbia Fort Myers 24 Vocal "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift"Mental Health Manners" Florida 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 2012Previously Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2010 Georgia Warner Robins 21 Classical Vocal "Tu Tu Piccolo Iddio""Healthy Children, Strong America" Miss America 2016 Preliminary Talent Award Hawaii 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 Kimberly 23 Vocal"United We Stand, Supporting Our US Military Heroes" Previously National Sweetheart 2014Later Miss Minnesota USA 2018 Illinois Anna 22 Vocal "That's Life""Crystal Clear Driving - Eyes on the Road Ahead" Indiana 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 Top 10 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 Iowa Clinton 21 Vocal. "Don't Forget Me" from Smash"St. Baldrick's Foundation - Shave. Serve. Share." Top 12Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness AwardPreliminary Talent Award Kansas Wichita 19 Ballet en Pointe Swan Lake"The Bold Initiative: Stand Up, Stand Out, BE BOLD!" Kentucky Lexington 18 Vocal "Summertime""Promoting Dyslexia Awareness" Grew up with dyslexia Louisiana Mandeville 23 Vocal "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" from The Sound of Music"I.O.U. - Improving Others through U!" 3rd runner-up Preliminary Talent Award Previously Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen 2008 Maine Lebanon 24 Clogging "Black Betty""The Superhero in You"Quality of Life Award Finalist Contestant at National Sweetheart 2012 Maryland 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 Attleboro 22 Jazz Dance"America's Promise Alliance" Previously Massachusetts' Junior Miss 2010Top 10 at America's Junior Miss 2010Contestant at National Sweetheart 20131st runner-up at National Sweetheart 2013 pageant Michigan Alpena 23 Tap Dance "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer"Adopting America's Children" Minnesota Minneapolis 24 Contemporary Ribbon Dance "Out of the Woods""The Heart of Learning: Providing What Our Classrooms Need" Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 Mississippi Mount Olive 21 Classical violin "Zapateado, No. 2, Opus 23" "Pages of Love" 1st runner-upSTEM Scholarship AwardQuality of Life Award Finalist Previously Mississippi's Junior Miss 20112nd runner-up to America's Junior Miss 2011 Missouri 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 Cut Bank 23 Piano "Pirates of the Caribbean""Acting on Compassion" Sister of Alexis Wineman, Miss Montana 2012Previously Montana's Junior Miss 2010 Nebraska Omaha 20 Piano "Northern Lights""Making Miracles Happen - One Miracle Bag at a Time" Top 12 Previously Miss Virginia National Teen 2009 Nevada Madisonville, KY 23 Piano"Every Day Counts: A Comprehensive Plan for Improving School Attendance" New Hampshire 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 Hammonton 21 Latin Rhythm Dance "Fireball" by Pitbull"Dangers of Distracted Driving" Quality of Life Award Winner New Mexico 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 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 Dunn 19 Tap Dance "Swing the Mood""Pediatric Eye Disease" 2nd runner-up at Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen 2012 North Dakota Hazen 19 Vocal "Someone Like You" by Adele"Beyond the B Word: A New Stance on Bullying" Ohio Wooster 24 Jazz Vocal "Almost Like Being in Love""Women Hold Up Half The Sky" Previously Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen 2008 Oklahoma Tulsa 23 Vocal "Happy Days Are Here Again""Warriors for Women" Top 10 Previously Miss Oklahoma's Outstanding Teen 2009Top 16 at National Sweetheart 2014 Oregon Portland 21 Lyrical Dance "Latch" by Sam Smith"Traumatic Brain Injury Education & Awareness" Daughter of Tamara Fazzolari, Miss Oregon 1987 Pennsylvania 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 2012Previously Miss United States Continental 2014 Puerto Rico Trujillo Alto 19 Acoustic Drums"#Upstander" Rhode Island 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 2010-2011Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014Later 4th Runner-Up at Miss World America 2017 South Carolina Spartanburg 22 Vocal "I Believe""Type I & Type II Diabetes Mellitus" Top 7 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award South Dakota 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 Paris 21 Piano "El Cumbanchero""Campaign Against Pain: Arthritis Awareness" Top 7 America's ChoiceSTEM Scholarship AwardQuality of Life Award 1st runner-up 2nd runner-up at Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2012 Texas Coppell 23 Pop Vocal"She Matters: Gender Equality and Female Empowerment" Top 10 Utah St. George 22 Piano "All of Me""Live Well" Vermont Bakersfield 23 Scientific Experiment"Success Through STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math"STEM Scholarship Award Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 Virginia Midlothian 19 Vocal "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl"Power of Performance" Top 15 Washington Bellingham 21 Vocal"Community Through Mentorship: Investing in Our Future"STEM Scholarship Award West Virginia Wheeling 23 Vocal"Break the Silence: Opening up the Conversation of Mental Health" Top 15 Wisconsin Waukesha 19 Lyrical Dance "Heaven" by Beyoncé "Colin's Crusade: Breaking the Barriers of Addiction" Wyoming Laramie 21 Violin"Make Music Matter" Contestant at National Sweetheart 2013Later Miss Wyoming USA 2017
Pageant notes Withdraws - Due to lack of sponsorships
Notes
External links Vanessa Williams and Her Mother Receive an Apology From Miss America Organization - ABC News, September 14, 2015.