Miss America 2015

Miss America 2015 was the 88th Miss America pageant, held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on September 14, 2014.^[2][3]

Miss America 2015
Date	September 14, 2014 (2014-09-14)
Presenters	Chris Harrison Lara Spencer
Venue	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Broadcaster	ABC
Entrants	53
Placements	16
Winner	Kira Kazantsev[1] New York
Congeniality	Jacky Arness, North Dakota
← 2014 2016 →

Nina Davuluri of New York crowned Kira Kazantsev of New York as her successor at the end of the event, making it the third consecutive year that a Miss New York won the Miss America crown; New York thus became the first state to have a Miss America winner three years in a row.^[4][5][5]

Results

Placements

Placement	Contestant
Miss America 2014	New York – Kira Kazantsev[4]
1st Runner-Up	Virginia – Courtney Garrett
2nd Runner-Up	Arkansas – Ashton Campbell
3rd Runner-Up	Florida – Victoria Cowen[6]
4th Runner-Up	Massachusetts – Lauren Kuhn
Top 10	Alabama – Caitlin Brunell  Mississippi – Jasmine Murray  Ohio – Mackenzie Bart  Oklahoma – Alexandra Eppler  Tennessee – Hayley Lewis
Top 12	Iowa – Alysa Olson[7]  Kentucky – Ramsey Carpenter
Top 16	Connecticut – Acacia Courtney[8]  Idaho – Sierra Sandison §  North Dakota – Jacky Arness ∆  Texas – Monique Evans

§ - America's Choice

∆ - Judge's Choice

Awards

Preliminary awards

Awards	Contestant
Lifestyle and Fitness	Florida - Victoria Cowen[9] Maryland - Jade Kenny Oklahoma - Alexandra Eppler
Talent	Kentucky - Ramsey Carpenter[citation needed] Ohio - Mackenzie Bart Pennsylvania - Amanda Smith

Contestants

53 contestants competed for the title.

State	Name	Hometown	Age	Talent	Placement	Awards	Notes
Alabama	Caitlin Brunell[10]	Tuscaloosa	22	Dance "Let It Go" from Frozen	Top 10	Quality of Life Award Winner	Daughter of former NFL quarterback, Mark Brunell Previously Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2007 Crowned Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008
Alaska	Malie Delgado[11]	Anchorage	19	Vocal			Contestant on The Price is Right, American Idol and The X Factor
Arizona	Alexa Rogers[12]	Scottsdale	23	Dance
Arkansas	Ashton Campbell[13]	Hindsville	20	Vocal "Via Dolorosa"	2nd runner-up		Previously Miss Arkansas's Outstanding Teen 2011
California	Marina Inserra[14]	San Diego	24	Vocal "Bring Him Home"
Colorado	Stacey Cook[citation needed]	Littleton	23	Tahitian Dance "Runaway Baby"			Contestant at National Sweetheart 2012
Connecticut	Acacia Courtney[15]	Hamden	21	Ballet en Pointe "Kitri's Variations" from Don Quixote	Top 16[8]		Previously Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen 2009[16] Later Miss Connecticut USA 2019 Currently a TV reporter and paddock analyst for Gulfstream Park
Delaware	Brittany Lewis[17]	Wilmington, Brigantine, NJ	24	Jazz Dance		Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up	1st runner-up at Miss Delaware 2014; Assumed title when Amanda Longacre was dethroned
District of Columbia	Teresa Davis[citation needed]	Hoschton, GA	23	Piano "Malaguena"			Born in South Korea
Florida	Victoria Cowen[18]	Panama City	21	Dance "Note to God"	3rd runner-up[6]	Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award[9]	Thought to be 1st runner-up at Miss Florida 2014; Assumed title one week later due to miscount on tabulation
Georgia	Maggie Bridges[19]	Brinson	21	Vocal "Bridge Under Troubled Water"		STEM Scholarship Award
Hawaii	Stephanie Steuri[20]	Kalaheo	20	Hula "The Prayer"			Mother competed as Miss Maui at Miss Hawaii 1977
Idaho	Sierra Sandison[citation needed]	Twin Falls	20	Vocal	Top 16 (America's Choice)		Is a Type 1 diabetic[21] 1st runner-up at Miss Idaho USA 2021 competition[22][citation needed]
Illinois	Marisa Buchheit[23]	Chicago	24	Operatic Vocal "Je veux vivre" from Roméo et Juliette			1st runner-up at Miss Illinois USA 2018 competition[citation needed]
Indiana	Audra Casterline[24]	Fishers	23	Vocal "Over the Rainbow"		Non-finalist Talent Award	Contestant at National Sweetheart 2012
Iowa	Alysa Lou Olson[25]	Des Moines	21	Vocal "If I Loved You" from Carousel / Vocal "How Will I Ever Know"	Top 12[7]		Previously Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen 2010[26]
Kansas	Amanda Sasek[27]	Moberly, MO	23	Vocal "I Don't Know My Own Strength"[28] / Vocal "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me"		Quality of Life Award Finalist
Kentucky	Ramsey Carpenter	Hartford	23	Fiddle "Sally Goodin'" and "Orange Blossom Special"	Top 12	Preliminary Talent Award	Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012
Louisiana	Lacey Sanchez[29]	Baton Rouge	24	Vocal		Non-finalist Interview Award
Maine	Audrey Thames[citation needed]	Topsham	18	Comedic Monologue "Yma Dream"
Maryland	Jade Kenny[30]	Madison	23	Contemporary Ballet en Pointe "Everybody Dance Now"		Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up	Washington Redskins cheerleader Semifinalist at Miss District of Columbia USA 2018[citation needed] 3rd runner-up at Miss Virginia USA 2019[citation needed]
Massachusetts	Lauren Kuhn[31]	Boston / Aberdeen, WA	23	Piano "Valse Dramatico" by Melody Bober	4th runner-up	STEM Scholarship Award
Michigan	Kaitlyn Maviglia[32]	Dundee	21	Dance "Be Italian" from Nine			Diagnosed with Sensorineural hearing loss at age 9
Minnesota	Savannah Cole[33]	Brainerd	18	Vocal "Somebody to Love" by Queen / Vocal "House of the Rising Sun"
Mississippi	Jasmine Murray[34]	Columbus	22	Vocal "Something's Got a Hold on Me"	Top 10	Quality of Life Award Finalist	Previously Miss Mississippi's Outstanding Teen 2007 Top 10 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 American Idol season 8 finalist
Missouri	Jessica Hartman[35]	Pueblo, CO	23	Dance "Steppin' Out with My Baby"			Previously Miss Colorado USA 2010 3rd runner-up at Miss USA 2010 pageant Miss Intercontinental 2011 representing United States
Montana	Victoria Valentine[36]	Missoula	22	Vocal "Danny Boy" and accompanied herself on the harp / Vocal & Harp "I Won't Give Up" (at Preliminaries)			Previously Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2008
Nebraska	Megan Swanson[37]	Omaha	21	Vocal "You Raise Me Up"		Quality of Life Award Finalist	Later Miss Nebraska USA 2020
Nevada	Ellie Smith[38]	Henderson	17	Vocal "Somebody to Love"		Non-finalist Talent Award	Sister of Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2014, Amy Smith Previously Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2012
New Hampshire	Megan Cooley[citation needed]	Auburn	19	Vocal "On My Way" written by Ali Tamposi and Fernando Garibay
New Jersey	Cierra Kaler-Jones[39]	Galloway	21	Dance "Listen" by Beyoncé		Quality of Life Award Finalist	Born with hip dysplasia
New Mexico	Jessica Burson[citation needed]	Roswell	20	Jazz Dance "Steam Heat" from 1954 Broadway musical The Pajama Game, written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross		STEM Scholarship Award
New York	Kira Kazantsev[40]	Manhattan	23	Vocal with Cup Percussion "Happy" by Pharrell Williams	Miss America 2015[1]		Previously Miss California Jr. and Miss California Preteen
North Carolina	Beth Stovall[41]	Goldsboro	20	Classical Vocal "Chi Bel Sogno di Doretta"		Non-finalist Talent Award
North Dakota	Jacky Arness[42]	Fargo	21	Vocal "Feeling Good" written by English songwriters Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse	Top 16 (Judges' Choice)	Miss Congeniality	Previously North Dakota's Junior Miss 2011 Top 10 at Miss America's Junior Miss 2011 1st runner-up at Miss North Dakota USA 2018 pageant[43]
Ohio	Mackenzie Victoria Bart[44]	Columbus	22	Ventriloquism "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from Mary Poppins	Top 10	Preliminary Talent Award STEM Scholarship Award	Contestant on Funny or Die Presents: America's Next Weatherman
Oklahoma	Alexandra Eppler[45]	Edmond	24	Dance "Wonderland" / Dance "Titanium" (at Preliminaries)	Top 10	Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Quality of Life Award Finalist
Oregon	Rebecca Anderson[46]	Oregon City	23	Vocal
Pennsylvania	Amanda Fallon Smith[47]	Dade City, FL	21	Vocal "Wishing You Were Somewhere Here Again" from The Phantom of the Opera		Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Talent Award
Puerto Rico	Yarelis Salgado[48]	Toa Alta	20	Flamenco Fusion			Later Miss International Puerto Rico 2018
Rhode Island	Ivy DePew[49]	Providence	23	Flute "Devil Went Down to Georgia" by the Charlie Daniels Band			Contestant at National Sweetheart 2013
South Carolina	Lanie Hudson[50]	Spartanburg	23	Clogging "Think" by Aretha Franklin			Competed on America's Got Talent with dance troupe
South Dakota	Meridith Gould[51]	Sioux Falls	19	Dance en Pointe "Hedwig's Theme"			Previously Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen 2012 Later Miss Minnesota USA 2017 and 2nd runner-up at Miss USA 2017
Tennessee	Hayley Lewis[52]	Nashville/ Independence, MO	21	Vocal "I (Who Have Nothing)"	Top 10
Texas	Monique Evans[53][54]	Austin	22	Ballet en Pointe "Requiem for a Tower"	Top 16		Later Miss Florida USA 2020
Utah	Karlie Major[citation needed]	Logan	20	Dance "Forget About the Boy" from Thoroughly Modern Millie
Vermont	Lucy Edwards[citation needed]	Burlington	19	Vocal "I Am Changing" from the Dreamgirls cast album / Vocal "You'll Never Walk Alone"		STEM Scholarship Award
Virgin Islands	Ashley Gabriel[citation needed]	Orlando, FL	19	Vocal "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele
Virginia	Courtney Paige Garrett[55]	Pamplin	21	Opera (Classical Vocal) "Parla Piu Piano" from The Godfather	1st runner-up	Quality of Life Award Finalist	Previously Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2009 Top 10 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2010
Washington	Kailee Dunn[citation needed]	Kennewick	22	Vocal "Someone Like You"
West Virginia	Paige Madden[56]	Moundsville	21	Vocal "Gravity"		Non-finalist Talent Award
Wisconsin	Raeanna Mary Johnson[57]	Holmen	24	Dance "Hallelujah" by Alexandra Burke			First woman to hold the Miss Wisconsin title two times; she had previously held the 2011 title after Laura Kaeppeler was crowned Miss America 2012 3rd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2011
Wyoming	Jessie Allen[58]	Lander	24	Dance			Younger sister of Miss Wyoming USA 2012, Holly Allen And on Big brother 21

References

1. "A threepeat: Miss New York Kira Kazantsev crowned Miss America". CNN. September 15, 2014.
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50. "Miss Anderson is 2014 Miss S.C." www.greenvilleonline.com. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
51. "Meridith Gould crowned Miss South Dakota 2014". www.mitchellrepublic.com. June 26, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
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External links

• Miss America official website