There they are: 52 Miss America contestants in Atlantic City
ATLANTIC
CITY, N.J. (AP) — There they are: the 52 Miss America contestants, on
the Atlantic City Boardwalk — and not a moment too soon for a city that
could use a happy diversion.
The
hopefuls were welcomed to the seaside resort Tuesday afternoon to kick
off two weeks that will culminate in the crowning of the 2017 Miss
America on Sept. 11.
They
arrived as Atlantic City faces yet another imminent casino closing —
the Trump Taj Mahal is due to shut down on Oct. 10 — as well as a
threatened state takeover of its finances and decision-making power.
The
city also is bracing for the possibility that voters will choose to
authorize two new casinos in the northern part of the state in a
November referendum that Atlantic City officials fear will cause even
more of the city's eight casinos to go out of business.
"Miss
America is just what this city needs right now," said Mayor Don
Guardian. "We may be struggling financially, but we know where we want
to go. You certainly want to put your best foot forward, and this brings
people to Atlantic City to have fun and enjoy what we have to offer."
The
contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto
Rico met the public in front of Boardwalk Hall on Tuesday.
This
year's competition is the 96th in the history of the pageant, which
originated as a way to extend the summer tourist season in Atlantic City
for an extra week beyond Labor Day.
The current Miss America, Betty Cantrell, recalled sitting on the same stage a year ago as one of more than 50 hopefuls.
"It
seems like you're so small," she said. "You're one of 52 girls: how are
you going to be noticed? The best thing you can do is just be
yourself."
Cantrell, who was Miss Georgia, says she is headed to Nashville after the pageant to begin a career in country music.
"I'm thrilled to be passing on the crown to one of these amazing young women," she said. "I think it's in very good hands."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/52-miss-america-contestants-atlantic-city-040802529.html
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