Los Angeles, Sep 14 (IANS) Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell has won the coveted Miss America 2016 pageant title during the show held in Atlantic City on Sunday.
Beating out 51 other contestants, she succeeded last year’s winner Kira Kazantsev from New York, reports aceshowbiz.com.
The 21-year-old sang from an opera in the talent round.
Miss Mississippi Hannah Roberts was the first runner-up, Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson was named the second runner-up, followed by Miss Louisiana April Nelson.
Miss Alabama Meg McGuffin, who ended up as the fourth runner-up, came up with an interesting answer when asked why Donald Trump is leading the Democratic contenders for the presidency.
While she called Chris Christie and Jeb Bush “incredible,” she said that Republicans should be “terrified” of Trump.
Serving as judges for the pageant were Danica McKellar, Zendaya Coleman, “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary, Amy Purdy, country singer Brett Eldredge and Navy Seal Chris Kyle’s widow Taya Kyle.
Vanessa Williams, who opened the show with a performance of her hit “Oh how the years go by”, was the head judge.
Chris Harrison and Brooke Burke-Charvet served as the hosts.