Miss A Preliminary Reaction
Press of Atlantic City
After a week of service and appearances around the area, the Miss America contestants took to the stage Tuesday night in the first preliminary of the competition.
The first night of preliminaries kicked off the week-long competition and saw the contestants answer questions on-stage, perform their talent and show off their evening gowns and swimsuits.
Miss Tennessee Grace Burgess took home the talent award with her rendition of "Desperado" by The Eagles while Miss District of Columbia Cierra Jackson won the lifestyle and fitness competition.
Burgess said that she was thrilled to win the talent competition because she had worked on the piece with her uncle, who passed away from lung cancer while she was finishing her arrangement. 
"I know that he's looking down and smiling and has a big grim on his face," she said.

Miss America 2017 Night 1

Before the competition, the contestants were placed in three groups that determined which night they would perform their talent, participate in the evening gown/swim wear competitions and answer a question on stage.
The talents were performed by the Alpha group and were a mix of dance, singing and monologues. Miss Nebraska Aleah Peters was the lone outlier and twirled a baton for the audience at Boardwalk Hall.
Some talents that stood out to the crowd were Miss Iowa's Ballet en Pointe to the theme song of Pirates of the Caribbean and Miss Mississippi's rendition of "A Piece of the sky."
Miss New Jersey and the Sigma Group will perform their talents Wednesday night.
The preliminary was hosted by Miss new Jersey 1995 Dena Blizzard, her eighth year as the emcee. Blizzard also co-hosted the Miss New Jersey competition in June with 6ABC’s Karen Rogers
Miss New Jersey Brenna Weick participated in the swimsuit/evening wear competitions with the Sigma Group and will perform her talent on Wednesday during the second night of preliminaries.
Earlier in the day, the Miss America Organization unveiled the shoes that the contestants will be wearing at the annual “Show us your Shoes” parade on Saturday on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Both Miss New Jersey and Miss Nevada Bailey Gumm will wear casino-themed shoes to represent Atlantic City and Las Vegas.

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“I’m just so glad it’s something that we’ve kept going as a tradition for the Miss America Organization,” Miss America Betty Cantrell said of the parade during a press conference. “It’s something special. I’m so excited to be leading the parade this year as your Miss America for the last time.”
The second night of preliminaries will start at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Boardwalk Hall.
Miss America preliminary and winners
Press of Atlantic City
Staff Writer

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