Miss America 2020
The Miss America 2020 competition was held on Thursday, December 19, 2019. This was the 93rd Miss America pageant/competition, though the Miss America Organization will celebrate its 99th anniversary in 2019. 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.
In May 2019, it was announced that the 2020 competition would be broadcast on NBC after previously being aired on ABC since 2011. NBC previously aired Miss America pageants for more than two decades until ABC was selected to air the Miss America 1998 pageant in September 1997. This is also the first beauty pageant to be aired by NBC since the network terminated its contract with the Miss Universe Organization in June 2015 over controversial remarks that were made by Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.
In July 2019, it was announced that the 2020 competition would be held at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut on Thursday, December 19, 2019, making this the ninth year that the competition would not be held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Miss America 2019, Nia Franklin of New York, officially crowned Camille Schrier of Virginia as her successor at the end of the event.
Schrier's reign was originally to end in December 2020, but the reign will be extended due to outside factors, with the next pageant now scheduled for at the end of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic making it unfeasible to be held before 2020's end.
Overview
Organization of competition
The preliminary competition consisted of private interviews with judges, on-stage interview, talent competition, and "social impact pitch". Candidates will not be judged in an evening gown or swimsuit competition.The fifteen candidates from the preliminary competition with the highest overall scores were announced during the televised event. For the top 15 finalists, their preliminary scores contributed to 25% of their final night score. The top 15 was then immediately whittled down to the top 7 candidates. Then the top 7 competed in on-stage "job interview"; the top 5 performed their respective talents; and the top 3 candidates presented their "social impact pitch" to the panel of judges. These phases of competition contributed to 25%, 30%, and 20% of their final night score respectively. The final two candidates then were asked the same question and given the chance to agree or give rebuttal to the other candidate's answer. From this, the judges then determined the placements of the finalists.
Judges
Preliminary judges
On December 15-16, 2019, judges for the preliminary competition selected winners of the preliminary competitions as well as the top finalists for the final night of competition. The panel included composer and music producer, Anthony Barfield; model and lifestyle consultant, Holly Pelham Davis; and executive director for the Clinton Foundation, Stephanie S. Streett.Final night judges
The panel of judges on the final night of competition on December 19, 2019 included actress, Lauren Ash; TV host, Karamo Brown; and singer, songwriter, and actress, Kelly Rowland.Results
Placements
Awards
Preliminary awards
Equity and Justice Scholarship awards
In September 2019, the Miss America Organization announced that a new scholarship, the Equity and Justice Scholarship, will be awarded at the 2020 competition to the candidate, "who best exemplifies inclusion and acceptance of these principles in her social impact initiative."| Results | Contestant | Social Impact Initiative |
| Winner |  North Carolina – Alexandra Badgett | N.I.N.E.: No is Not Enough |
| Finalists |  Illinois – Ariel Beverly | Advocating for Arts Education |
| Finalists |  Maryland – Caitlyn Stupi | #CommonCents: Promoting Financial Literacy at the Primary Grade Level |
| Finalists |  Michigan – Mallory Rivard | Read to Succeed |
| Finalists |  Tennessee – Brianna Mason | Advocates for Autism |
Social Impact Initiative Scholarship awards
Formerly called “Quality of Life Award”| Results | Contestant | Social Impact Initiative |
| Winner |  Kansas – Annika Wooton | The Artist's Fingerprint: The Transformative Power of the Arts |
| 1st runner-up |  South Carolina – Morgan Nichols | Stronger with STEM |
| 2nd runner-up |  South Dakota – Amber Hulse | Operation Overload |
| Finalists |  Nevada – Nasya Mancini | Patch for a Purpose #FindYourVoice |
| Finalists |  Utah – Dexonna Talbot | Servesteem – Increasing Self-Esteem Through Service |
STEM Scholarship awards
Women in Business Scholarship awards
Other awards
Candidates
The Miss America 2020 candidates were:| State | Name | Hometown | Age | Talent | Social Impact Initiative | Placement | Special awards | Notes |
 Alabama | Tiara Pennington | Helena | 20 | Classical Vocal, “Nessun Dorma" from Turandot | National Psoriasis Foundation: Psoriasis Take Action | Top 7 | Previously Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2016 Top 11 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2017 pageant | |
 Alaska | Maile Johnston | Eagle River | 19 | Contemporary Dance, "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" | A Case for Hope | |||
 Arizona | Jacqueline Thomas | Phoenix | 24 | Piano, "Malagueña" | Lady Leaders | Women in Business Scholarship Finalist | ||
 Arkansas | Darynne Dahlem | Greenwood | 22 | Vocal, “Somewhere" from West Side Story | Refashioning Lives: What You Can Spare | STEM Scholarship Finalist | ||
 California | Eileen Kim | Orange | 22 | Violin | Let's Talk: Opening the Discussion and Prevention of Self-Harm | Top 15 | ||
 Colorado | Monica Thompson | Aurora | 24 | Classical Vocal, "Les Filles de Cadix" | Building Strong Girls | Top 7 | ||
 Connecticut | Jillian Duffy | Burlington | 22 | Vocal, "Once Upon a Time" from Brooklyn | Jillian's Journey: Pediatric Cancer Research and Awareness | 4th runner-up | ||
 Delaware | Hillary May | Mount Vernon, IN | 23 | Vocal, "Valerie" | Bring Awareness to the Stigma Surrounding Mental Illness | |||
 District of Columbia | Katelynne Cox | Washington, D.C. | 25 | Vocal | Silence Is Not Compliance | Women in Business Scholarship Finalist | Previously Miss Missouri for Miss Earth United States 2016 | |
 Florida | Michaela McLean | Clermont | 21 | Lyrical Dance, "You Say" | Brave and Beautiful, LLC | Top 15 | Previously Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2014 Top 12 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2015 pageant | |
 Georgia | Victoria Hill | Canton | 20 | Classical Vocal, "Chacun le sait" from La fille du régiment | Flip the Script on Foster Care | 1st runner-up | Preliminary On Stage Interview Award Preliminary Talent Award | |
 Hawaii | Nicole Holbrook | Laie | 20 | Classical Piano, “Concerto in A Minor" | SNAP: Service Nurtures All People | Top 15 | Women in Business Scholarship 1st runner-up | |
 Idaho | Grace Zimmerman | Weiser | 21 | Ceramics Demonstration | Be the Impact: American Heart Association | Miss Congeniality Women in Business Scholarship Finalist | Was originally named first runner-up at Miss Idaho 2019 pageant Assumed the title when original winner, Rachel Forest, stepped down to continue to pursue her education | |
| Illinois | Ariel Beverly | Springfield | 24 | Vocal, "Son of a Preacher Man" | Advocating for Arts Education | Equity & Justice Scholarship Finalist | ||
 Indiana | Tiarra Taylor | New Albany | 21 | Vocal, "You Will Be Found" from Dear Evan Hansen | Bringing Advantages to Disadvantaged Youth | |||
 Iowa | Emily Tinsman | Bettendorf | 22 | Classical Vocal | Americans for the Arts – Advocate, Educate, Invest | |||
| Kansas | Annika Wooton | Overland Park | 25 | Speed painting | The Artist's Fingerprint: The Transformative Power of the Arts | Top 15 | Social Impact Initiative Scholarship Winner | |
 Kentucky | Alex Francke | Lexington | 22 | Vocal, "Maybe This Time" | Adopt an Art | Women in Business Scholarship Winner | Previously Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen 2014 4th runner-up at National Sweetheart 2018 pageant | |
 Louisiana | Meagan Crews | Bossier City | 22 | Vocal | LEAD – Leadership Empowerment and Development | Non-finalist Talent Award | Previously Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen 2014 | |
 Maine | Carolyn Brady | Brunswick | 22 | Violin | Immigration Builds Our Nation | First African American to win Miss Maine | ||
| Maryland | Caitlyn Stupi | Westminster | 21 | Cello, "The Swan" | #CommonCents: Promoting Financial Literacy at the Primary Grade Level | Equity & Justice Scholarship Finalist | ||
 Massachusetts | Lyndsey Littlefield | Taunton | 22 | Lyrical Dance | Girls, INC. | STEM Scholarship 1st runner-up | ||
| Michigan | Mallory Rivard | Bay City | 24 | Vocal | Read to Succeed | Equity & Justice Scholarship Finalist Private Interview Award | ||
 Minnesota | Kathryn Kueppers | Mendota Heights | 21 | Jazz Vocal, "Nature Boy" | The Invisible Crown | Daughter of Miss Minnesota 1983, Vicki Plaster Kueppers Top 10 finalist at National Sweetheart 2018 pageant | ||
 Mississippi | Mary Margaret Hyer | Hattiesburg | 23 | Vocal, "Queen of the Night" aria by Mozart | Promoting Organ and Tissue Donation | |||
 Missouri | Simone Esters | Columbia | 20 | Baton Twirling, "Turn the Beat Around" | Mentoring Youth | 2nd runner-up | Beacom College STEM Scholarship | |
 Montana | Mo Shea | Helena | 22 | Vocal, "Let Me Be Your Star" from Smash | Love the Skin You're In: Skin Cancer Prevention | Dr. & Mrs. David Allman Medical Scholarship STEM Scholarship Finalist | Previously Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2012 | |
 Nebraska | Allie Swanson | Omaha | 24 | Vocal | CyberSmartz: Protecting Yourself in a Digital World | Tiffany Phillips Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Winner | Sister of Miss Nebraska 2014 and Miss Nebraska USA 2020, Megan Swanson | |
| Nevada | Nasya Mancini | Sparks | 22 | Comedic Monologue/Accent Impersonations | Upstage Dramatically Changing the Lives of Children | Social Impact Initiative Scholarship Finalist | ||
 New Hampshire | Sarah Tubbs | Sandown | 25 | Lyrical Dance | Choose One – Revolutionize the World | |||
 New Jersey | Jade Glab | Belmar | 19 | Classical Vocal, "O mio babbino caro" from Gianni Schicchi | Healthy Children, Strong America | Top 15 | Preliminary On Stage Interview Award | |
 New Mexico | Misa Tran | Alamogordo | 20 | Dance | Veterans: Home Is Where the Heart Is | Previously Distinguished Young Woman of New Mexico 2017 | ||
 New York | Lauren Molella | Millbrook | 24 | Ballet en Pointe | Voices of Honor: Salute and Support Our Military | Top 15 | STEM Scholarship Finalist | Daughter of Miss Massachusetts 1983 and National Sweetheart 1982, Holly Mayer, and niece of Miss New York 1989, Lisa Molella Previously Miss New York's Outstanding Teen 2011 |
| North Carolina | Alexandra Badgett | Reidsville | 22 | Tap Dance | N.I.N.E.: No is Not Enough | Top 15 | Equity & Justice Scholarship Winner | Previously Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen 2012 |
 North Dakota | Haley Wolfe | Carrington | 22 | Dance | #BeThe1To | Previously Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota 2016 | ||
 Ohio | Caroline Grace Williams | Cincinnati | 24 | Classical Vocal | Caroline's Crisis Call | |||
 Oklahoma | Addison Price | Edmond | 20 | Jazz Dance, Medley of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" | Empowering Individuals with Disabilities Through Self-Advocacy | 3rd runner-up | Previously Miss Oklahoma's Outstanding Teen 2016 Assumed state title from Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2017, Nicole Jia | |
 Oregon | Shivali Kadam | Portland | 25 | Vocal, “Reflection" from Mulan | STEM to Bloom | Private Interview Award | 3rd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2018 pageant | |
 Pennsylvania | Tiffany Seitz | Freeport | 23 | Dance | Adoption Advocacy: Restoring Hope, Transforming Lives | |||
 Rhode Island | Molly Andrade | Middletown | 20 | Irish Step Dance | Self-Defense for Women as a Means of Empowerment | |||
| South Carolina | Morgan Nichols | Lexington | 22 | Vocal, “Bridge Over Troubled Water" | Stronger with STEM | Social Impact Initiative Scholarship 1st runner-up STEM Scholarship Winner | ||
| South Dakota | Amber Hulse | Hot Springs | 20 | Piano | Operation Overload | Social Impact Initiative Scholarship 2nd runner-up | ||
| Tennessee | Brianna Mason | Nashville | 23 | Piano, "Piano Fantasy" by William Joseph | Advocates for Autism | Equity & Justice Scholarship Finalist | First African American to win Miss Tennessee | |
 Texas | Chandler Foreman | Pearland | 22 | Flute, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" | Leader Within | Top 15 | ||
| Utah | Dexonna Talbot | Spanish Fork | 19 | Ballet en Pointe | Servesteem – Increasing Self-Esteem Through Service | Social Impact Initiative Scholarship Finalist | ||
 Vermont | Jillian Fisher | Burlington | 20 | Vocal, "Bennie and the Jets" | Fighting Addiction | |||
 Virginia | Camille Schrier | Richmond | 24 | Chemistry Demonstration | Mind Your Meds: Drug Safety and Abuse Prevention from Pediatrics to Geriatrics | Miss America 2020 | Preliminary Talent Award | Current student at VCU School of Pharmacy |
 Washington | Abbie Kondel | Brush Prairie | 21 | Power Tap Dance, "Sax" | Be Smart Don’t Start: Drug & Alcohol Awareness | |||
 West Virginia | Toriane Graal | Morgantown | 21 | Baton Twirling, "Man of La Mancha " | Let’s Be Clear – Children's Leukemia | |||
 Wisconsin | Alyssa Bohm | Mount Pleasant | 24 | Tap Dance, "Feeling Good" | Enhancing Opportunities for Individuals with Special Needs | |||
 Wyoming | Jordan Hardman | Rock Springs | 20 | Clogging, "9 to 5" | Let Them Know We Care: Packages to the Military |