Miss Georgia 2015 Wins Miss America Pageant: Betty Cantrell Is The Face Of Miss America Organization
21-year old, Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell was crowned the new Miss America during the pageant on Sunday, Sept. 13 in Atlantic City, N.J. Her platform is Healthy Georgia, Strong America. Her final round question was supposedly the reason why she was crowned as Miss America 2016, reported USA Today.
She was asked one of the most bizarre questions by country singer Brett Eldredge as whether she thought New England's patriot Tom Brady cheated or not? She confidently replied to it as "If there was question there, then yes, I think he cheated," she said. "If there was any question to be had I think that he definitely cheated, and that he should've been suspended for that," stated USA Today.
She performed Tu Tu Piccolo Iddio from Madame Butterfly opera song for her talent round competition. She received $2000 for her talent round competition prize. Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell will also receive $50,000 as scholarship money. She also gets one year long contract to be the face of Miss America Organisation. She is also one of the first Miss Georgia to win the title after 1952 and only second Miss Georgia to bag the title. Miss Mississippi, Hannah Roberts was the first runner-up who received $25,000 in scholarship.
Miss America 2016 pageant also marks the return of former Miss America 1984 Vanessa Williams. She had resigned following a nude photo scandal earlier in 1984. Miss America Pageant CEO Sam Haskell apologized to the singer and actress. Williams served as head judge on behalf of the pageant. Vanessa Williams was the first African-American to wear the crown and till date has maintained that the photos published by Penthouse Magazine were unauthorised, reported CNBC News.
The Top 10 contestants in the Miss America pageant were Miss Florida; Miss Oklahoma, Miss Louisiana, Miss Tennessee, Miss Texas, Miss Alabama, Miss Colorado, Miss South Carolina, Miss Mississippi and Miss Georgia. The pageant included contestants from all 50 states, The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
