Miss America 2019
The Miss America 2019 pageant was 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 1928–1932 or in 1934 because of financial problems associated with the Great Depression. The 2019 pageant was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey. On May 23, 2018, it was announced that the pageant would air live on ABC on Sunday, September 9, 2018. This was the last Miss America to be aired on ABC before would be moving to NBC beginning from 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.
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. When the program aired on September 9, 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." 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." 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, inclusive to women," and to prioritize displaying the talent and scholarship in the contestants. These changes were announced by Carlson and the Miss America Organization after numerous titleholders were crowned after competing in state pageants with swimsuit competitions. At the time the Miss America 2019 competition began, 46 of 51 state organizations had signed a petition calling for the resignation of Carlson and CEO, Regina Hopper, from the Miss America Organization. The states who had not signed were Arkansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, and Vermont.Organization of competition
The preliminary competition will consist of private interviews, "red carpet" evening wear, on stage interview, and talent competitions. At the end of each of the three preliminary nights, winners of the talent and on stage interview competitions will be announced. 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. The "red carpet" evening wear competition 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. The on stage interview preliminary award is replacing the lifestyle and fitness 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. The results from each woman's talent will make up 50% of her preliminary score. Scores from the preliminary competition will determine the top 15 finalists who will go 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. The top 15 were first scored by the final night judges in an onstage interview with questions written by fellow finalists, 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. 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.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.Results
Placements
Awards
Preliminary awards
Quality of Life awards
| Results | Contestant | Platform |
| Winner |  Arkansas – Claudia Raffo | New Life Saves Lives: Umbilical Cord Donation |
| 1st runner-up |  Maryland – Adrianna David | The Kidney Project |
| 2nd runner-up |  Mississippi – Asya Branch | Finding Your Way: Empowering Children of Incarcerated Parents |
| Finalists | - | - |
| Finalists |  District of Columbia – Allison Farris | Women in Technology |
| Finalists |  Georgia – Annie Jorgenson | Patch of Confidence #IGotThis |
| Finalists |  New Jersey – Jaime Gialloreto | Don't Get Nutty: Food Allergy Awareness |
| Finalists |  Tennessee – Christine Williamson | Alzheimer's Awareness: Fundraising, Advocating, and Providing Hope |
Children's Miracle Network (CMN) National Miracle Maker awards
| Results | Contestant |
| Winner |  South Carolina – Davia Bunch |
| 1st runner-up |  Kansas – Hannah Klaassen |
| 2nd runner-up |  Alabama – Callie Walker |
STEM Scholarship awards
| Results | Contestant |
| Winners |
|
| Finalists |  New Hampshire – Marisa Moorhouse Vermont – Julia Crane |
Women in Business Scholarship awards
| Results | Contestant |
| Winners |
|
| Finalists |  Nebraska – Jessica Shultis Tennessee – Christine Williamson |
Other awards
Candidates
The Miss America 2019 candidates are:| State | Name | Hometown | Age | Talent | SII | Placement | Special awards | Notes |
| Alabama | Callie Walker | Birmingham | 21 | Ballet en Pointe, "Hoe-Down" from Rodeo | "Let's Talk Trash!" - Green Kids for a Green Planet | Top 10 | CMN Miracle Maker Award 2nd runner-up | Daughter of Miss Alabama 1985, Angela Tower Walker Previously Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2012 |
 Alaska | Courtney Schuman | Anchorage | 24 | Original Speech | Empowering Youth for a Brighter Tomorrow | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2016 pageant | ||
 Arizona | Isabel Ticlo | Chandler | 24 | Bollywood Dance, "JBJ" by Mahalakshmi Iyer | "Be my Eyes" | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2019 | ||
| Arkansas | Claudia Raffo | Jonesboro | 22 | Jazz Dance, "That's Life" | New Life Saves Lives: Umbilical Cord Donation | Quality of Life Award Winner | ||
 California | MacKenzie Freed | Lodi | 23 | Vocal, "Hit Me With a Hot Note" | From Classroom to Boardroom: Overcoming Workplace Bias | |||
 Colorado | Ellery Jones | Greenwood Village | 21 | Monologue | We Need to Talk - Growing Healthy Interpersonal Relationships on College Campuses | Top 10 | ||
 Connecticut | Bridget Oei | Hebron | 22 | Irish Step Dance, "Reel of Arrivals" | Women in STEM: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators | 1st runner-up | ||
 Delaware | Joanna Wicks | Wilmington | 24 | Speed Painting, "Confident" | The Color of Violence: Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness | |||
| District of Columbia | Allison Farris | Jasper, AL | 24 | Classical Piano, "Hungarian Rhapsody" by Franz Liszt | Women in Technology | Top 10 | Quality of Life Award Finalist | |
 Florida | Taylor Tyson | Jupiter | 23 | Classical Piano, "Mephisto's Waltz" by Franz Liszt | Rise Up: Empowering Young Women to Lead and Succeed | 3rd runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | Accepted to Stetson University College of Law |
| Georgia | Annie Jorgensen | Athens | 22 | Jazz Dance, "Feeling Good" by Michael Bublé | Patch of Confidence #IGotThis | Quality of Life Award Finalist | Previously Miss Wisconsin's Outstanding Teen 2011 Previously Miss High School America 2013 | |
 Hawaii | Penelope Ng Pack | Honolulu | 23 | Vocal, "They Just Keep Moving the Line" from Smash | Page by Page: Helping Kids Read to Succeed | Non-finalist Talent Award Women in Business Scholarship | ||
 Idaho | Nina Forest | Pocatello | 21 | Piano, "Rhapsody Brillante" | Leave Childhood Hunger Behind | Top 10 | ||
 Illinois | Grace Khachaturian | Champaign | 21 | Lyrical Dance, "You Raise Me Up" | YOU Matter: Mental Health Education for Our Youth | Previously Miss Illinois' Outstanding Teen 2012 | ||
 Indiana | Lydia Tremaine | Kendallville | 20 | Vocal, "That's Life" | Act Now: Keeping the Arts Alive | Top 15 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
 Iowa | Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw | Rock Island, IL | 21 | Violin, “Chrystalize” by Lindsey Stirling | How About H.O.P.E. - Suicide Awareness and Prevention | Eligible as a student and recent graduate of University of Iowa | ||
| Kansas | Hannah Klaassen | Arkansas City | 19 | Tap Dance, "The Greatest Show" from The Greatest Showman | The Mind Matters | CMN Miracle Maker Award 1st runner-up | ||
 Kentucky | Katie Bouchard | Owensboro | 23 | Clogging, "Soul Man" | Being the Voice for America's Children | |||
 Louisiana | Holli' Conway | Monroe | 24 | Vocal, "I Believe" | InspHIGHER | 2nd runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | |
 Maine | Olivia Mayo | Minot | 20 | Vocal, "Send in the Clowns" | Love Doesn't Hurt | |||
| Maryland | Adrianna David | Rockville | 24 | Vocal, "You've Got Possibilities" | The Kidney Project | Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up | Previously Miss Maryland USA 2017 | |
 Massachusetts | Gabriela Taveras | Lawrence | 23 | Vocal, "Rise Up" | F.E.A.R. - Face Everything and Rise | 4th runner-up | People's Choice Award Preliminary On Stage Interview Award STEM Scholarship | |
 Michigan | Emily Sioma | Grass Lake | 24 | Tap Dance, "Gotta Push On" | "I Believe You" - Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence | Made national news when she used her introduction during the Miss America telecast to highlight the ongoing Flint water crisis rather than state her academic credentials, by stating, "From the state with 84 percent of the U.S. fresh water, but none for its residents to drink..." | ||
 Minnesota | Michaelene Karlen | Kasson | 23 | Contemporary Ballet, "Symphony No. 3" by Philip Glass | Raise the Barre | Top 15 | ||
| Mississippi | Asya Branch | Booneville | 20 | Vocal, "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha | Finding Your Way: Empowering Children of Incarcerated Parents | Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up | Later Miss Mississippi USA 2020 | |
 Missouri | Katelyn Lewis | Lake St. Louis | 22 | Vocal, "Memory" from Cats | Your Digital Compass | |||
 Montana | Laura Haller | Helena | 24 | Ballet en Pointe, "Spanish Dance" | Own Your Movement | Non-finalist Talent Award STEM Scholarship | ||
| Nebraska | Jessica Shultis | Dannebrog | 24 | Monologue | Hoops for H.O.P.E.: Supporting Children's Miracle Network | Top 10 | Women in Business Scholarship Finalist | |
 Nevada | Alexis Hilts | Las Vegas | 23 | Piano, "Transcendental Étude No. 4" by Franz Liszt | Innovation through Inclusion: Diversity in STEM | STEM Scholarship | Previously Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2008 | |
| New Hampshire | Marisa Moorhouse | Manchester | 18 | Jazz Dance, "Respect" | Art in Motion - Moving the World One Dance at a Time | STEM Scholarship Finalist | ||
| New Jersey | Jaime Gialloreto | Woolwich Township | 18 | Contemporary Jazz Dance, " A Natural Woman" | Don't Get Nutty: Food Allergy Awareness | Quality of Life Award Finalist | ||
 New Mexico | Ashley Fresquez | Rio Rancho | 23 | Jazz Dance, "Man of La Mancha" | "Life is Why": Preventing Cardiovascular Disease | Previously Miss New Mexico's Outstanding Teen 2009 | ||
 New York | Nia Franklin | Winston-Salem, NC | 25 | Operatic Vocal, "Quando m'en vò" from La bohème | Advocating for the Arts | Winner | ||
 North Carolina | Laura Matrazzo | Chapel Hill | 23 | Rhythm Tap Dance, "Are You Ready for a Miracle?" | Money Talks: Student-Focused Principles of Financial Management | |||
 North Dakota | Katie Olson | Williston | 20 | Lyrical Dance, "I Will Wait" | The Motivation Mindset: Positivity at Every Turn | |||
 Ohio | Matti-Lynn Chrisman | Cambridge | 22 | Vocal, "Life of the Party" | Pain Isn't Always Obvious: Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention | |||
 Oklahoma | Ashley Thompson | Oklahoma City | 23 | Tap Dance, "Like That" | Human Trafficking: The Exploitation Epidemic | Top 15 | ||
 Oregon | Taylor Ballard | Portland | 25 | Jazz Dance, "Salute" | Confidence Under Construction | |||
 Pennsylvania | Kayla Repasky | Gettysburg | 22 | Contemporary Dance, "Every Breath" | Think First America | |||
 Rhode Island | Alexandra Coppa | Cranston | 22 | Jazz Dance | HEALing Souls: Eating Disorder Treatment and Awareness | Previously Miss Rhode Island's Outstanding Teen 2012 | ||
| South Carolina | Davia Bunch | Spartanburg | 21 | Ballet en Pointe, "Portugal of the Man" | Be the Match - Become the Cure | CMN Miracle Maker Award | ||
 South Dakota | Carrie Wintle | Iroquois | 23 | Piano, "The Final Countdown" | Money $heep | Women in Business Scholarship | Previously Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen 2008 | |
 Tennessee | Christine Williamson | Chattanooga | 22 | Vocal, "Never Enough" from The Greatest Showman | Alzheimer's Awareness: Fundraising, Advocating, and Providing Hope | Quality of Life Award Finalist Women in Business Scholarship Finalist | Resigned on May 10, 2019 citing adverse circumstances, "blatant disregard" for her role as a titleholder, and an "ill-conceived" leadership transition after the state organization was terminated in September 2018 | |
 Texas | Madison Fuller | Fairfield | 23 | Ventriloquism, "I've Been Everywhere" | Sock it to Cancer: Pediatric Cancer Awareness | Non-finalist Talent Award | Previously Miss Texas' Outstanding Teen 2010 | |
 Utah | Jesse Craig | Orem | 22 | Violin, "Flight of the Bumble Bee" | Get Up and Serve: Increasing Young Adult Involvement | Non-finalist Talent Award | Daughter of Miss Utah 1991, Elizabeth Johnson Craig | |
| Vermont | Julia Crane | Colchester | 22 | Tap Dance, "Hit the Road Jack" | Be a Hero: Be an Organ Donor | Miss Congeniality STEM Scholarship Finalist | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2016 pageant | |
 Virginia | Emili McPhail | Roseboro, NC | 22 | Piano, "The Phantom of the Opera" | Ending Hunger in the U.S. | Preliminary On Stage Interview Award | Previously Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen 2013 Top 8 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2014 Eligible as student at Hollins University | |
 Washington | Danamarie McNicholl | Spokane | 23 | Piano, "Curse of the Black Pearl" from Pirates of the Caribbean | Roll with It: Empowerment through Adaptive Sports | Top 15 | ||
 West Virginia | Madeline Collins | Charleston | 23 | Jazz Dance, "Shake Your Groove Thing" | Think About It: Awareness and Advocacy for Mental Health | |||
 Wisconsin | Tianna Vanderhei | Wisconsin Rapids | 25 | Contemporary Dance, "Lean on Me" | BOSS: Building Our Soft Skills | Top 15 | Preliminary On Stage Interview Award | |
 Wyoming | Beck Bridger | Sheridan | 22 | Vocal, "At Last" | The Miracle of the American Woman |