Interests include making history: Miss America's first ever openly lesbian contestant makes her first stage appearance
- Miss Missouri Erin O'Flaherty, 23, competed in the swimsuit and evening gown preliminary contests on Wednesday
- Spoke about National Suicide Prevention Week during on-stage question
- Miss Maryland and Miss Arkansas won night's swimsuit and talent portion
- The new Miss America will be crowned on Sunday night
The first ever openly lesbian Miss America contestant took the stage for the first time during the second night of the preliminary competition on Wednesday.
Miss Missouri Erin O'Flaherty, 23, strutted her stuff during the swimsuit competition and spoke about National Suicide Prevention Week during her on stage question.
Miss Maryland Hannah Brewer and Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields won the night's preliminary contests in the swimsuit and talent portion.
Miss Missouri Erin O'Flaherty, 23, the first openly lesbian Miss America contestant, took the stage for the first time during the second night of the preliminary competition on Wednesday
O'Flaherty strutted her stuff during the swimsuit competition and spoke about National Suicide Prevention Week during her on stage question
Brewer won the swimsuit competition, while Shields nabbed the talent portion after jazz dancing to They Just Keep Moving The Line, a song from former NBC show Smash.
'We were just whispering to each other that it's so unreal,' Shields told reporters afterward. 'Every girl here is so talented.'
'And fit and beautiful,' added Brewer.
Shields said she thinks she made a connection with the judges during her dance performance to the 'Smash' song - a television show about a Broadway production that was canceled after two seasons, leaving many fans, including her, in mourning.
'One of my favorite things about dance is connecting with the audience,' she said. 'Hopefully we got to tell our story a bit.'
It was the second of three nights of preliminary competition at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.
The new Miss America will be crowned during Sunday night's nationally televised finale.
Miss Maryland Hannah Brewer and Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields won the night's preliminary contests in the swimsuit and talent portion.
Shields nabbed the talent portion after jazz dancing to They Just Keep Moving The Line, a song from former NBC show Smash.
Miss North Dakota Macy Christianson performed a ballet to showcase her talent
With 52 women vying for the crown, finding a way to stand out from the crowd is imperative, and contestants traditionally incorporate their home state into a humorous introduction of themselves.
'The city of North Pole is in my state, so now you know where your letters to Santa go!' announced Miss Alaska Kendall Bautista.
'From the Mile High state, home of the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, I'm here to keep the winning streak going!' said Miss Colorado Shannon Patilla.
'From the only place in America close to paying women equally, catch up, America!' said Miss District of Columbia Cierra Jackson, who won Tuesday night's swimsuit competition.
'From the home of Nelly!' said O'Flaherty, referencing the popular rapper.
And Miss Nevada Bailey Gumm offered, 'Over 80 percent of my state is owned by the federal government, so America, you might as well have me, too!'
Contestants take the stage for the swimsuit competition during the second night of preliminary competition in the Miss America pageant
Miss Utah Lauren Wilson (left) and Miss Puerto Rico Carole Rigual (right) walk during the swimsuit portion of the competition
Jackson, Miss District of Columbia, got a rousing ovation for her rendition of 'Natural Woman,' the Carole King song made most famous by Aretha Franklin.
Miss New Jersey Brenna Weick sang Someone Like You from' Jekyll & Hyde, Miss Minnesota Madeline Van Ert sang and played the piano on What a Wonderful World.
Meanwhile, Miss New Mexico Stephanie Chavez went all-Jersey with a version of Frank Sinatra's That's Life.
Supporting the military, helping children and seniors figured prominently in the onstage interviews some of the contestants gave.
Miss Nebraska Aleah Peters spoke of combating cyberbullying by thinking twice before reposting something potentially hurtful to someone.
'We need to become aware of what's happening to that person behind the screen who's hurting every time we share that cruel content,' she said.
The contestants wave to the crowd during the opening of the second night
It was the second of three nights of preliminary competition at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. The Miss New America will be crowned on Sunday night
Miss Iowa Kelly Koch spoke of her group Pinky Swear that raises money for the families of kids with cancer.
'It pays for those mortgages and car payments so all their attention is on these children who have cancer,' she said.
Miss Oklahoma Sarah Klein's platform is helping military service members 'from deployment through employment.'
'The greatest casualty is being forgotten,' she said. 'They have done their part and now it's time to do ours.'
The competition was held at Boardwalk Hall in the city where the pageant began in 1921 as a way to extend the summer tourist season beyond Labor Day weekend.
It includes contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
On Tuesday night, Miss District of Columbia Cierra Jackson won the preliminary swimsuit competition, while Miss Tennessee Grace Burgess won the talent portion by singing The Eagles' Desperado.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3779193/Miss-America-s-openly-lesbian-contestant-Erin-O-Flaherty-appears-stage.html#ixzz4Jgmc8Aj1
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário