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I am a little bit late with my time frame, but here is probably the competition with the most to say. If anyone wants more information than what I provided, I can go back and take a look at a specific contestant. I did my very best to remember on the notes that I took as well what I remembered. So here goes. First of all, let me say that I cannot totally fault the contestants for trying to jam their "pitch" into a short segment. If the goal is to make your quick pitch as to why you should be Miss America, this is it. That being said, so many contestants try and jam statistics into their answers. If I were coaching, I would advise the contestants to limit that. This year, it seemed like contestants were asked to provide what national organizations they would pair with as Miss America, because there were quite a few answers with that. Quite a few contestants went over the time limit and kept talking. Also, the questions the hostess MAOT Hanley House asked were VERY long. They felt as long as some of the answers. I think they could do a better job of asking more concise questions, especially given the limited amount of time the contestants had. I must commend Hanley; she was very poised an articulate as she asked the questions. Honestly, I have seen adult titleholders do much worse.
AL-because she was the first one out, I didn't pay attention to the questions as it seemed too long. She answered solidly, she spoke natural, not hurried.
AK-I didn't quite get her platform either. She sounded a bit rehearsed, and she rambled a bit, especially towards the end.
AZ-She has anxiety and has a pet therapy program for it. She seemed very sweet and compassionate. I liked the humanity of her answer, and I think it is a great platform.
AR-She was well-spoken, albeit a bit to the point she sounded rehearsed. Her platform is volunteerism. She tied it in with being open to organizations that work with Miss America.
CA-I didn't quite get her platform, but she sounded very natural and conversational. Unfortunately, she did go over her time. She finished her thought but did not go on after that.
CO-Mental health issues. She sounded like she was reading from a script or that it was memorized. Even though I appreciated the sentiment of her platform, I did not feel like I connected with her.
CT-Communication disorders. She spoke about her own experience and about how other forms of communication could be used. I felt like I wanted to know more about her platform, and I felt like I could connect with her.
DE-I am not sure what her platform was, but she had a "word salad" kind of answer where she just sort of threw a lot of words out there that might have sounded like they were making sense, but it was hard to follow.
DC-I wasn't wild about her answer. It was about women and financial literacy. It's hard to explain, but she came across like she implied that women were incapable or did not understand how to be financially literate. Maybe it is a good platform, but I think could be presented in a more positive light.
FL-She is a natural communicator. She made a lot of good points without seeming rehearsed or like she was throwing out talking points. Good job.
GA-She and AZ were the only ones in this early grouping that I felt really personally connected. Her platform is at-risk schools. She said she would be an effective advocate since she went to such a school. I appreciated her sharing her experience and she seemed authentic. I thought it was the best communicated answer up to that time.
HI-Heart healthy/healthy lifestyle. She shared how her partner's mother passed at age 45 due to sudden heart failure. I appreciated her compassion, and she was soft-spoken and didn't have to be over-animated to get her point across. Sometimes, a nice answer like that helps you connect.
ID-I think her platform was about healthy body image. She sounded very rehearsed and pageanty. She also said something about a hashtag relating to Miss America.
IL-She has her Juris Doctorate and talked about her service as Miss Illinois. I thought she was very articulate and knowledgeable. It is the kind of answer that drew you in.
IN-I mentioned that I liked her, and she is so darned cute, but she gave a really pageanty and fluffy answer.
IA-She spoke passionately in her voice about the need for inclusivity. She did a very good job of closing her answer in a timely way without rambling.
KS-She disclosed that she was a survivor of abuse which started when she was 14. She said that she spoke to thousands of people about the issue already. She started to say that she partnered with the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which I think it is amazing. However, she went over time and didn't try to curtail her speaking until she was finished with her thoughts. That was the only thing that concerned me. I really wanted to learn more about her.
KY-She opened with a very nice statement about how veterans write a blank check with their service and also talked about her grandfather. It was very nice and she spoke from her own experience. She was very warm and relatable.
LA-She was very well-spoken, just sort of like I mentioned before-she's so subdued and quiet. I want her to come out a little more.
ME-She spoke about her own experience in the field of STEAM and having to overcome prejudices, discrimination, etc. She seems like a fighter and I thought she did a very nice job connecting with everyone.
MD-She spoke with a lot of personal passion and her voice was enthusiastic. Although she was a bit pageanty I thought she did a good job.
MA-She talked about either positive self-esteem or self-image. She was very natural and was a very convicing speaker. I thought she did a nice job.
MI-I wrote, "How cool!" She works in the NBA, although I am not sure in what capacity. She shared her experience as a woman in the NBA and I want to hear all about it. She spoke very well, very articulate, and she answered the question directly.
MS-She spoke about her own experience with her grandparents and one needing to become physically active. She adapted a program of seniors becoming active. The only drawback is that she spoke a bit rapidly.
MO-People are going to mention her voice, I can hear it now (no pun intended.) She does have a young voice, but she is an effective and passionate speaker. She kept pleasantly surprising me all night and this is another good example.
MT-I thought she did a good job, was convincing. I forget her platform, though.
NE-I thought that she was natural and spoke effectively, I forget her platform though.
NV-engaging youth in voting/civic engagement. I think she spoke very logically but she did speak rather rapidly. I appreciated her passion for voting and getting everyone involved.
NH-Like ND, she spoke in a very natural and conversational way. She doesn't jump out at you, but she speaks to you. She also seems very warm and likeable.
NJ-Like I mentioned before, she has a unique personality. But when she spoke about overcoming an eating disorder, she was very passionate about it and convincing. She had a lot of confidence and a need to get her message out. It just depends, but I could see her being the dark horse this year.
NM-Her platform is medical workers burnout. That is a FANTASTIC platform that I am not sure we ever heard before. She shared her own experience working during COVID. I hope she continues to work with this.
NY-Very natural, soft spoken. She talked about how she worked with her platform all over New York, she gave a lot of good examples without rambling. I felt like she got a lot into her time.
NC-I wrote down "listen to her" as she spoke about inclusivity in the Miss America Organization. She shared her own experience about how she was recruited and I forget if it was during this or her evening gown statement, she had $40 to start competing. It's a really great story. I think if she personally connects with the judges that she could go really far.
ND-She seems very sweet and humble. I forgot her platform but she speaks in a way that is very natural and conversational. You feel like you are sitting just having a conversation with her rather than being spoke at.
OH-Once again, she stood out. She spoke about her cultural background and what it took to make it to Miss America. She was very convincing. The only drawback is that she sounded a bit too perhaps animated or overdramatic, but if you're going to stand out, you're going to do everything big.
OK-Probably the most touching of all the contestants. She talked about adoption and how her adoptive parents as well as her biological mother being in the audience to support her. She spoke very softly, very peaceable, and just very sweet. It really resonated with me.
OR-I thought she was well-spoken and articulate, although I wasn't quite sure what her platform was or how it tied in.
PA-Her platform involved either kids or adults with intellectual disabilities, said it affected 15 percent of the competition. Her platform involves giving makeup to those with intellectual disabilities. Maybe it was just me, but she went on to equate her giving that makeup to societal changes. It didn't come off very well. It seemed like she lacked humility with that response. I think if she said how much it made the recipients smile, or how it lifted their self-esteem, etc. it would have sounded a bit more authentic. Overall, it was pageanty and again, maybe it was just me, but I felt a sense of off putting after I heard it.
PR-I thought she did a very nice job with her answer. She has STEAM platform, shared her own educational experience, and spoke very passionately. Very good job.
RI-She's another one that is so damned cute, but she had a flat tone of voice when she spoke, It kind of came off like she was disconnected emotionally.
SC-Platform about parental incarceration. She said that it was her experience, did not ramble about it, but said that her parents were in the audience. She talked about how many families she was able to reunite as Miss SC. Overall, a good night for her she really made me fall in love with her. She has a real humility about her and it draws you to her. My guess is she did very well in interview.
SD-I really, really like her. She has a nature-related platform and spoke about how she spends time in nature and encourages others to do so. She was very convincing as she spoke passionately. I am hoping that she is one of our surprise finalists on Sunday.
TX-Platform is about autism; her brother is autistic. She has such a clear, confident speaking voice. If this is going to come down to interview, she's your winner. She was very specific, she provided two national organizations she would work with, and she was able to describe some of her work. She sounds like a professional. I am guessing that she did very well in her interview. It was very concise, convincing, and she is an absolute natural. Very well done.
UT-She is a child life specialist. I love it. She spoke about working with sick children and their emotional needs. She was so authentic and really conveyed her heart for kids. She'd be a fantastic Miss America.
VT-I LOVE her platform! It is about sustainability related to garments and wearable items. She mentioned that her shoes and much of her wardrobe was repurchased items. I love going to thrift stores so this is someone after my own heart.
VA-She spoke very lovingly about her grandparents and how that helped develop her platform. I thought she was very well-spoken and you could connect with her.
WA-She had a great story as well about her family's journey to being a citizen, spoke about her own success here in the U.S. She was very well-spoken and I found myself wanting to learn more about her and her family.
WV-She is either a physician's assistant or in PA school. While she didn't "stand out" in other categories, she did very well here. She was very eloquent, natural, and I felt like I immediately knew her as if we were old friends. She will be a great advocate for PAs.
WI-I thought she spoke very naturally and logically. I forgot what her platform is unforunately.
WY-She spoke about being a coach for youth athletics. It was slightly pageanty at times with a bad pun and cliche, but I really felt like I got to know her. She's very unique and has a positive, uplifting personality. It makes me want to learn more about her.
One thing that was a bit off putting-several times Madison and the teen Miss said that contestants have been "working for months" to get there. For most of them it is their entire adult lives so far and so many of them competed at the teen level, it is not just a few months. Probably not the best choice of words.
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[> Subject: Good lord! This is onstage question. I hope inquiring minds figured it out.
Date Posted:19:31:58 01/02/25 Thu
>Good afternoon!
>
>I am a little bit late with my time frame, but here is
>probably the competition with the most to say. If
>anyone wants more information than what I provided, I
>can go back and take a look at a specific contestant.
>I did my very best to remember on the notes that I
>took as well what I remembered. So here goes. First of
>all, let me say that I cannot totally fault the
>contestants for trying to jam their "pitch" into a
>short segment. If the goal is to make your quick
>pitch as to why you should be Miss America, this is
>it. That being said, so many contestants try and jam
>statistics into their answers. If I were coaching, I
>would advise the contestants to limit that. This
>year, it seemed like contestants were asked to provide
>what national organizations they would pair with as
>Miss America, because there were quite a few answers
>with that. Quite a few contestants went over the time
>limit and kept talking. Also, the questions the
>hostess MAOT Hanley House asked were VERY lo
Date Posted:13:34:47 01/05/25 Sun
>Good afternoon!
>
>I am a little bit late with my time frame, but here is
>probably the competition with the most to say. If
>anyone wants more information than what I provided, I
>can go back and take a look at a specific contestant.
>I did my very best to remember on the notes that I
>took as well what I remembered. So here goes. First of
>all, let me say that I cannot totally fault the
>contestants for trying to jam their "pitch" into a
>short segment. If the goal is to make your quick
>pitch as to why you should be Miss America, this is
>it. That being said, so many contestants try and jam
>statistics into their answers. If I were coaching, I
>would advise the contestants to limit that. This
>year, it seemed like contestants were asked to provide
>what national organizations they would pair with as
>Miss America, because there were quite a few answers
>with that. Quite a few contestants went over the time
>limit and kept talking. Also, the questions the
>hostess MAOT Hanley House asked were VERY long. They
>felt as long as some of the answers. I think they
>could do a better job of asking more concise
>questions, especially given the limited amount of time
>the contestants had. I must commend Hanley; she was
>very poised an articulate as she asked the questions.
>Honestly, I have seen adult titleholders do much
>worse.
>
>AL-because she was the first one out, I didn't pay
>attention to the questions as it seemed too long. She
>answered solidly, she spoke natural, not hurried.
>AK-I didn't quite get her platform either. She
>sounded a bit rehearsed, and she rambled a bit,
>especially towards the end.
>AZ-She has anxiety and has a pet therapy program for
>it. She seemed very sweet and compassionate. I liked
>the humanity of her answer, and I think it is a great
>platform.
>AR-She was well-spoken, albeit a bit to the point she
>sounded rehearsed. Her platform is volunteerism. She
>tied it in with being open to organizations that work
>with Miss America.
>CA-I didn't quite get her platform, but she sounded
>very natural and conversational. Unfortunately, she
>did go over her time. She finished her thought but
>did not go on after that.
>CO-Mental health issues. She sounded like she was
>reading from a script or that it was memorized. Even
>though I appreciated the sentiment of her platform, I
>did not feel like I connected with her.
>CT-Communication disorders. She spoke about her own
>experience and about how other forms of communication
>could be used. I felt like I wanted to know more
>about her platform, and I felt like I could connect
>with her.
>DE-I am not sure what her platform was, but she had a
>"word salad" kind of answer where she just sort of
>threw a lot of words out there that might have sounded
>like they were making sense, but it was hard to follow.
>DC-I wasn't wild about her answer. It was about women
>and financial literacy. It's hard to explain, but she
>came across like she implied that women were incapable
>or did not understand how to be financially literate.
>Maybe it is a good platform, but I think could be
>presented in a more positive light.
>FL-She is a natural communicator. She made a lot of
>good points without seeming rehearsed or like she was
>throwing out talking points. Good job.
>GA-She and AZ were the only ones in this early
>grouping that I felt really personally connected. Her
>platform is at-risk schools. She said she would be an
>effective advocate since she went to such a school. I
>appreciated her sharing her experience and she seemed
>authentic. I thought it was the best communicated
>answer up to that time.
>HI-Heart healthy/healthy lifestyle. She shared how
>her partner's mother passed at age 45 due to sudden
>heart failure. I appreciated her compassion, and she
>was soft-spoken and didn't have to be over-animated to
>get her point across. Sometimes, a nice answer like
>that helps you connect.
>ID-I think her platform was about healthy body image.
>She sounded very rehearsed and pageanty. She also
>said something about a hashtag relating to Miss
>America.
>IL-She has her Juris Doctorate and talked about her
>service as Miss Illinois. I thought she was very
>articulate and knowledgeable. It is the kind of
>answer that drew you in.
>IN-I mentioned that I liked her, and she is so darned
>cute, but she gave a really pageanty and fluffy
>answer.
>IA-She spoke passionately in her voice about the need
>for inclusivity. She did a very good job of closing
>her answer in a timely way without rambling.
>KS-She disclosed that she was a survivor of abuse
>which started when she was 14. She said that she
>spoke to thousands of people about the issue already.
>She started to say that she partnered with the
>National Domestic Violence Hotline, which I think it
>is amazing. However, she went over time and didn't
>try to curtail her speaking until she was finished
>with her thoughts. That was the only thing that
>concerned me. I really wanted to learn more about her.
>KY-She opened with a very nice statement about how
>veterans write a blank check with their service and
>also talked about her grandfather. It was very nice
>and she spoke from her own experience. She was very
>warm and relatable.
>LA-She was very well-spoken, just sort of like I
>mentioned before-she's so subdued and quiet. I want
>her to come out a little more.
>ME-She spoke about her own experience in the field of
>STEAM and having to overcome prejudices,
>discrimination, etc. She seems like a fighter and I
>thought she did a very nice job connecting with
>everyone.
>MD-She spoke with a lot of personal passion and her
>voice was enthusiastic. Although she was a bit
>pageanty I thought she did a good job.
>MA-She talked about either positive self-esteem or
>self-image. She was very natural and was a very
>convicing speaker. I thought she did a nice job.
>MI-I wrote, "How cool!" She works in the NBA, although
>I am not sure in what capacity. She shared her
>experience as a woman in the NBA and I want to hear
>all about it. She spoke very well, very articulate,
>and she answered the question directly.
>MS-She spoke about her own experience with her
>grandparents and one needing to become physically
>active. She adapted a program of seniors becoming
>active. The only drawback is that she spoke a bit
>rapidly.
>MO-People are going to mention her voice, I can hear
>it now (no pun intended.) She does have a young voice,
>but she is an effective and passionate speaker. She
>kept pleasantly surprising me all night and this is
>another good example.
>MT-I thought she did a good job, was convincing. I
>forget her platform, though.
>NE-I thought that she was natural and spoke
>effectively, I forget her platform though.
>NV-engaging youth in voting/civic engagement. I think
>she spoke very logically but she did speak rather
>rapidly. I appreciated her passion for voting and
>getting everyone involved.
>NH-Like ND, she spoke in a very natural and
>conversational way. She doesn't jump out at you, but
>she speaks to you. She also seems very warm and
>likeable.
>NJ-Like I mentioned before, she has a unique
>personality. But when she spoke about overcoming an
>eating disorder, she was very passionate about it and
>convincing. She had a lot of confidence and a need to
>get her message out. It just depends, but I could see
>her being the dark horse this year.
>NM-Her platform is medical workers burnout. That is a
>FANTASTIC platform that I am not sure we ever heard
>before. She shared her own experience working during
>COVID. I hope she continues to work with this.
>NY-Very natural, soft spoken. She talked about how
>she worked with her platform all over New York, she
>gave a lot of good examples without rambling. I felt
>like she got a lot into her time.
>NC-I wrote down "listen to her" as she spoke about
>inclusivity in the Miss America Organization. She
>shared her own experience about how she was recruited
>and I forget if it was during this or her evening gown
>statement, she had $40 to start competing. It's a
>really great story. I think if she personally
>connects with the judges that she could go really far.
>
>ND-She seems very sweet and humble. I forgot her
>platform but she speaks in a way that is very natural
>and conversational. You feel like you are sitting
>just having a conversation with her rather than being
>spoke at.
>OH-Once again, she stood out. She spoke about her
>cultural background and what it took to make it to
>Miss America. She was very convincing. The only
>drawback is that she sounded a bit too perhaps
>animated or overdramatic, but if you're going to stand
>out, you're going to do everything big.
>OK-Probably the most touching of all the contestants.
>She talked about adoption and how her adoptive parents
>as well as her biological mother being in the audience
>to support her. She spoke very softly, very
>peaceable, and just very sweet. It really resonated
>with me.
>OR-I thought she was well-spoken and articulate,
>although I wasn't quite sure what her platform was or
>how it tied in.
>PA-Her platform involved either kids or adults with
>intellectual disabilities, said it affected 15 percent
>of the competition. Her platform involves giving
>makeup to those with intellectual disabilities. Maybe
>it was just me, but she went on to equate her giving
>that makeup to societal changes. It didn't come off
>very well. It seemed like she lacked humility with
>that response. I think if she said how much it made
>the recipients smile, or how it lifted their
>self-esteem, etc. it would have sounded a bit more
>authentic. Overall, it was pageanty and again, maybe
>it was just me, but I felt a sense of off putting
>after I heard it.
>PR-I thought she did a very nice job with her answer.
>She has STEAM platform, shared her own educational
>experience, and spoke very passionately. Very good
>job.
>RI-She's another one that is so damned cute, but she
>had a flat tone of voice when she spoke, It kind of
>came off like she was disconnected emotionally.
>SC-Platform about parental incarceration. She said
>that it was her experience, did not ramble about it,
>but said that her parents were in the audience. She
>talked about how many families she was able to reunite
>as Miss SC. Overall, a good night for her she really
>made me fall in love with her. She has a real
>humility about her and it draws you to her. My guess
>is she did very well in interview.
>SD-I really, really like her. She has a
>nature-related platform and spoke about how she spends
>time in nature and encourages others to do so. She
>was very convincing as she spoke passionately. I am
>hoping that she is one of our surprise finalists on
>Sunday.
>TX-Platform is about autism; her brother is autistic.
>She has such a clear, confident speaking voice. If
>this is going to come down to interview, she's your
>winner. She was very specific, she provided two
>national organizations she would work with, and she
>was able to describe some of her work. She sounds
>like a professional. I am guessing that she did very
>well in her interview. It was very concise,
>convincing, and she is an absolute natural. Very well
>done.
>UT-She is a child life specialist. I love it. She
>spoke about working with sick children and their
>emotional needs. She was so authentic and really
>conveyed her heart for kids. She'd be a fantastic
>Miss America.
>VT-I LOVE her platform! It is about sustainability
>related to garments and wearable items. She mentioned
>that her shoes and much of her wardrobe was
>repurchased items. I love going to thrift stores so
>this is someone after my own heart.
>VA-She spoke very lovingly about her grandparents and
>how that helped develop her platform. I thought she
>was very well-spoken and you could connect with her.
>WA-She had a great story as well about her family's
>journey to being a citizen, spoke about her own
>success here in the U.S. She was very well-spoken and
>I found myself wanting to learn more about her and her
>family.
>WV-She is either a physician's assistant or in PA
>school. While she didn't "stand out" in other
>categories, she did very well here. She was very
>eloquent, natural, and I felt like I immediately knew
>her as if we were old friends. She will be a great
>advocate for PAs.
>WI-I thought she spoke very naturally and logically.
>I forgot what her platform is unforunately.
>WY-She spoke about being a coach for youth athletics.
>It was slightly pageanty at times with a bad pun and
>cliche, but I really felt like I got to know her.
>She's very unique and has a positive, uplifting
>personality. It makes me want to learn more about
>her.
>
>
>
>One thing that was a bit off putting-several times
>Madison and the teen Miss said that contestants have
>been "working for months" to get there. For most of
>them it is their entire adult lives so far and so many
>of them competed at the teen level, it is not just a
>few months. Probably not the best choice of words.
[> [> Subject: Oops! I sure did. In gown, she had on a beaded either white or pale blue beaded dress. I thought that she had some elegance, although her walk was a little slow. I gave her a 6 in gown. In OSQ, I wrote that she was strong at the end and ended with a good close. Hope that helps!
Date Posted:16:27:52 01/05/25 Sun
>>Good afternoon!
>>
>>I am a little bit late with my time frame, but here is
>>probably the competition with the most to say. If
>>anyone wants more information than what I provided, I
>>can go back and take a look at a specific contestant.
>>I did my very best to remember on the notes that I
>>took as well what I remembered. So here goes. First of
>>all, let me say that I cannot totally fault the
>>contestants for trying to jam their "pitch" into a
>>short segment. If the goal is to make your quick
>>pitch as to why you should be Miss America, this is
>>it. That being said, so many contestants try and jam
>>statistics into their answers. If I were coaching, I
>>would advise the contestants to limit that. This
>>year, it seemed like contestants were asked to provide
>>what national organizations they would pair with as
>>Miss America, because there were quite a few answers
>>with that. Quite a few contestants went over the time
>>limit and kept talking. Also, the questions the
>>hostess MAOT Hanley Hou
Feedback: 