Subject: My favorite post every year—and once again, totally worth the read. I’m hoping to be able to post more of my thoughts before showtime but am running like crazy to finish several things around here. Your top 3 are the same as mine. I think TX and OH are more likely than FL, though she has performed just as well or better. She is a bit more “old school,” while the other two bring something fresh and modern. I think Texas is the most likely winner, and she would be deserving. Ohio is the winner I prefer. We will see how things shake out. My home state girl is Alabama, and I could easily see her in the 5 too. With a different set of judges, it’s hard to say anything with confidence, but she knows how to turn it on when it counts. I don’t think she’s the winner, though. Thanks again for taking the time to do this every year. So much of the MA pageantry fun has fallen to the wayside over the years, so I’m especially thankful for little indulgences I can count on. ☺️
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] Date Posted:17:01:41 01/05/25 Sun In reply to:
Owner/Moderator
's message, "THE BIG PREDICTION POST" on 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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[> [> Subject: Thank you! That means a lot to me that you look forward to this every year :) Some people call football; I call pageants lol. You have quite a lovely Miss this year. If there was anyone who I would say could win that was a non-preliminary winner it would be her. Great thoughts on who the eventual winner might be! If they are the same judges as last night I think they stayed away from the "traditional" like MS and went with someone a little more refreshing, as it were. So we will see who fits that bill in less than an hour!
Date Posted:18:16:51 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 co
