Miss America 2017 night 1: D.C. wins swimsuit, Tennessee takes talent
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on September 06, 2016 at 10:30 PM, updated September 07, 2016 at 1:50 AM
D.C. and Tennessee have it in the first night of competition at the 2017 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City.
Miss Tennessee, Grace Burgess, impressed the judges with her rousing, twangy rendition of the 1973 Eagles song "Desperado" to take home the first award for talent. Burgess, 22, a Memphis local and senior child development major at the University of Memphis who wants to pursue a master's degree in child studies at Vanderbilt University, receives a $2,000 scholarship for the win.
"It's such an honor to be able to walk on that stage in the first place," Burgess said after her successful performance under the giant Miss America crown that hangs over the stage at Boardwalk Hall.
Miss District of Columbia, Cierra Jackson, who walked the runway in a bright orchid bikini to the sounds of "Me Too" by Meghan Trainor, won a $1,000 scholarship for "Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit."
Miss District of Columbia 2016, Cierra Jackson, competes in the swimwear category during the first preliminary night of the Miss America 2017 competition at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. (Tim Hawk | For NJ.com)
Jackson, 24, an alumna of Spelman College who worked as a communications intern at the White House in the office of the chief of staff, has an interest in environmental law and a bachelor's degree in political science.
"You let your light shine and then other people are able to see that," Jackson said after her win, thanking her pageant trainer, adding that he works with other Miss America contestants, including Miss West Virginia and Miss Maryland.
Miss New Jersey, Brenna Weick, competed in the swimsuit and evening gown portions, wearing a white bikini and striding in a shimmering beige dress with a fluffy fishtail train to the blippy Calvin Harris and Rihanna song "This is What You Came For."
From Alabama to Wyoming, they're all in Atlantic City vying for the crown
Though she she trained daily for a shot at the swimsuit title, Weick, 22, of Mantua, took home another honor — the bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.
The award, bestowed to several other Miss America contestants in a silver and gold variation, is part of an international program founded by the United Kingdom's Prince Philip in 1956 that recognizes young people ages 14 to 24 who have made strides in physical fitness, serving their communities or cultivating skills outside of school.
Falling in line with the usual pageant fare, Miss America 2017's inaugural talent portion saw plenty of vocal performances along with piano, ballet en pointe (to music from "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl"), lyrical and jazz dancing and a baton twirling routine. Changing up the pace a bit were a Bollywood fusion dance from Shruti Nagarajan, Miss Rhode Island, and a poem recitation ("Say Yes," by Andrea Gibson) from Rylee Field, Miss Vermont.
Perhaps the greatest change, however, was telegraphed in the state introductions.
Miss Missouri, Erin O'Flaherty, the first openly gay Miss America contestant, opened with this:
"From the Show Me State, I've got a lot to show you, America!"
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/09/miss_america_2017_night_1_miss_dc_wins_swimsuit_mi_1.html
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