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Date Posted: 16:32:55 01/05/25 Sun
Nothing like getting this in a full 2.5 hours before the pageant begins! This has been a hectic week for me. It probably will not be as bad in September. At least I hope not. Cramming everything into 2 nights is difficult for everyone. But it's been a great competition, nonetheless.
The big day is here! I wish the new Miss America the very best for her year. I think you will find that there are a lot of very nice young women. This week, I didn't ever once think of any contestant "Oh my god, she'd be a nightmare if she won." Full disclosure: I do not think that much anymore, but there have been some nightmare contestants over the years. (And winners, but I digress.)
Overall, I do not think this year's class is as strong as last year's class. Meaning-last year's class was extremely competitive. There are a lot of "good" contestants this year and 11-20 is going to be very congested. The individual competitions, IMO, were much better than other years. The contestants are tremendously fit overall, and the fitness competition was top notch. And the talent was better. The kind of unusual thing is that despite me saying that, there were contestants that seemed to excel in one or the other, and the ones that did well in both are still not jumping out at me as separating themselves from the rest. I think tonight you will see just like last year, the consistent ones in the top 10. One thing I would add: last year the talents were "not bad" but some of the most talented were not in the top 10. You may not be blown away with talent. Last year, IN and Madison seemed to have the best talent. The others were "not bad", and they did as much as they could with theirs. One thing I have considered is that the early week panel who did interview and all onstage categories except talent is where the bulk of this week's judging is coming from. Keeping that in mind, here is what I think.
I congratulate the following contestants for making it to Miss America, and there are some amazing young women in this group. I do not think they excelled enough this week during the competition, and I do not see them advancing to the top 10:
AK, CO, CT, DE, DC, IN, LA, MT, NE, NM, NH, WV
A few notes about this group: Some of these contestants I really liked a lot, including IN and LA. Unfortunately, this is not about who I like or not, I always remain as objective as possible.
This next group for me is while I do not think it likely they will make the top 10, it would not totally shock me to see them there:
AZ, ID, KS, ME, MN, OK, OR, PR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WY
Some comments about this group: OR has been on an upward trend the past few years at Miss America and so I could see it continuing on that trend alone. KS has a fantastic story, and we might see her due to her platform. However, the rest of her competitions were not as strong. Her talent was entertaining, but that is only 20 percent of the total score. I also wanted to comment on MN, who seems very bright and ambitious. I read a little bit about her and was curious to see how she would do. I do not think she stood out enough to me in onstage competitions, but she does strike me like she interviews well.
The rest I will have individual commentary on:
MAYBE
These contestants I could see based on their overall performance. I will not be surprised either way if they make it or not, but there's always the possibility.
AR-Based on the success of the state, I could see her making the top 10. Probably nothing more, though. She looked great in fitness and gown, and she probably scored well there. The big thing with her is that her talent wasn't that strong, and I didn't think she answered her question well. She sounded more rehearsed than anything.
CA-She has been consistent all week. She was good in fitness, decent in talent, and a good communicator. The state always sees success, so it is a possibility.
GA-This is a powerhouse state, no doubt. She was very good in talent, but she seemed very laid back in other competitions except OSQ. I do not quite see the GA energy that we are used to this year, but with the state reputation, I could see her there.
HI-She is a contestant where I could see her going far if the judges love her. She has a special quality about her. She was consistent across the board this week. Her story and platform is compelling, and she communicates in a personable and easy to understand way.
MA-She is perhaps the one on this list where I would expect it the least, but I could see it happening. She was consistent this week-not overpowering, but consistent. She does have a certain quality about her that you notice onstage. Her music in her talent was a bit overpowering but then again, MA makes mistakes with their music. (I am still bitter about Chelsea Vuong changing her talent! lol)
MI-She is my "I hope she makes it" contestants. Works in the NBA, has a compelling story about being a female equipment manager there. She was good in fitness, elegant in gown, and she will no doubt get noticed if she performs HERStory. She's young, works in sports, if she won I think it would bring GREAT attention to the Miss America program. Take a look at some of the salaries, too-the NBA's got money.
MS-She's not as strong for me on this list. She was consistent all week-not outstanding, but consistent. Even though it has been not showing up as much at the national level, MS does have a great state program. So, I think she could still make it in on that. Only top 10 for me, though.
IA-Like many of the others on this list, consistent all week. She has a certain way about her, that she is not the loudest contestant but something dynamic about her. She makes a statement about herself without a lot of noise, if that makes sense.
NY-Perhaps the most curious of all of the people on this list. After night 1, I said she was not standing out. She was consistently good, though, when I looked back at her scores. Her talent was strong and I think that she chose the wrong song to demonstrate her ability. This is New York, a state who sends contenders every year. Based on that, we cannot count her out. We also cannot count her out because she's been there all week. Do I think she's the next Miss America? No, but destined at least for the top 10 like so many others, it is a possibility.
VA-After the first two competitions, I kind of counted her out. However, when she started to speak during OSQ about her grandparents, I found her very real, emotional and compelling. And then she came out with that talent. What she has is an ability to reach you on a personal level, and I think that counts for something. Whether she did enough this week to score well will be the big sign, but overall, I really think she's the real deal. If the judges liked her in interview, I expect good things.
WILD CARDS
All week, these contestants have really risen to the occasion. These are the ones where it is all going to come down to how the judges saw them. If any of these make it in, I could see them headed to the top 5.
IL-She is an aspiring lawyer or already is. We know Miss America loves aspiring lawyers from IL-one won the whole thing in 2002. Aside from that, she did above average in all of the competitions this week. I think her weakest is talent but it is certainly good enough.
MD-She has shown up all week as well. She has a lot of natural confidence. Her talent was Don't Rain on my Parade which I would donate $100k to the MAO if I never heard that song again, but I digress lol. Everything she did, she did well. They had success last year, there is no reason to think it couldn't continue.
MO-I really liked her all week. She is young, fresh, and modern. She danced a really great ballet to Eleanor Rigby. Every competition, she showed up strong. This is going to sound silly when I say this, but my only concern with her is that she looks very young and has a high pitched young voice. We know how weird people can be, and I can hear people complaining. But I hope it is not a deterrent.
NV-She has been a very strong presence all week. She is very consistent in all phases of competition and really has a spark that made her stand out all week. She was one where she had such strong presence I remembered everything she did.
NJ-Of everyone in this list, she is my almost sure bet. There's something about her. She's not a "powerhouse" but she has something that you remember about her. A natural charisma, she seems to have picked everything that works for her. Maybe that gives you a sense that she is confident and assured of herself. She has a unique personality and very comfortable in her own skin. I think she'd be a great Miss America.
VERY GOOD CHANCE (non-winners)
This list is short because I want to address the preliminary winners separately, but here they are:
AL-She has been very good all week. Well above average in all categories-she rocked fitness, looked very elegant in her evening gown and her talent was strong. I see no weaknesses.
KY-Also very consistent across the board. Good, entertaining talent that is more appealing these days, a girl-next-door kindness vibe, there's a lot to like.
PRELIMINARY WINNERS
OH-There is no weakness in her competition at all. Dynamic in fitness, strong in evening gown, good in talent. There are no holes, and she has an amazing presence about her. You absolutely remember her because she draws you in.
SC-Very sweet and real, the classic Miss South Carolina who does very well at Miss America. Her talent wasn't amazing but it was certainly good enough and on par with what you would see.
WI-The surprise of the winners but she backed it up with very good talent and a nice evening gown. She is a quiet, laid back yet confident contestant. The person I think of comparable is a Pam Eldred type-regal, a little quieter, but stands out.
FL-Very consistent all week, EG winner, strong in fitness and talent. Like OH, there are no holes in her competition. I would have her neck and neck with OH as far as competition.
ND-Very pretty, regal in her evening gown, her talent was her weakest competition, and I hate to say this, but she was probably near the bottom of the pack with talent being overall better this year. She does have a seemingly kind and nice spirit about her, seemed very down-to-earth.
TX-Naturally confident and not overpowering. Fantastic speaker. She had to have interviewed well. Her talent is strong and I could easily see her working with organizations like Autism Speaks. Let's face it-TX can do no wrong lately and this year is no exception.
TN-Dynamic singer, probably the best of the pageant. She did not quite stand out in other categories, she has a more subdued presentation. She kind of reminds me of a DeMarcus Tennessee winner, and they have fared well at Miss America over the years.
NC-Also good talent and she has a very relevant platform which could very well usher in a better direction for Miss America. She did well in fitness and was good in the other categories as well.
PA-She's not the next Miss America. What she is a seasoned competitor with experience in either Alabama or Florida and I think she placed in the top 5. Those are great experiences which will help you succeed at Miss America. I can see that she has that experience and everything she has done, she has done well. She was above average in all categories.
This year, I think that Miss America is one of these winners. 9 out of 10 are not going to make the top 10. That being the case, TN and ND are the ones I could see missing the call. TN has strong talent but blended in to other competitions. ND would be perfect for USA or Volunteer America, and she might help North Dakota get on the map at VA. Her talent is a bit weaker and I am not sure she has the spark that I have seen in others, but this is just one system.
Of the ones I think are a good bet to get into the top 10 are: SC, WI, NC, and PA. I think WI could be top 5 if all went together for her.
The ones I think are all but certain to make the top 10 are OH, FL, and TX. Of these, I think any could be Miss America. OH and FL are top notch in competitions and if they are going by interview, TX is a superior speaker. With her platform and sadly with autism being such a common diagnosis, I think she would keep very busy and bring positive attention to the program. I would also love if she won because of the 50 year history of WI/CO/TX. We have had WI and CO and to crown her would complete that really cool significance. Then NY won the following year, so you never know!
FL and OH, I am not quite sure what their platforms are. But I remember THEM. Going by not overthinking it this year, I am looking at both of them as showing up in a format where you need to show up. Both have had amazing competitions. If I had to give the edge I would give it to OH. There's something about her-a spark, an unforgettability, and something raw. She's young and modern, she looks like what a young woman in America looks like-relatable. Right now my pick is OH.
But we'll see! Who are your favorites? Who are your dark horses?
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