Miss America 2017

Miss America 2017, the 90th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Sunday, September 11, 2016.^[2][3] The event was broadcast by ABC in the United States, the first in the network's newest agreement to carry the pageant until 2019, with Dick Clark Productions producing the ceremony.^[4][5]

Miss America 2017
Date	September 11, 2016 (2016-09-11)
Presenters	Chris Harrison Sage Steele
Venue	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Broadcaster	ABC
Winner	Savvy Shields[1] Arkansas
← 2016 2018 →

Betty Cantrell (Miss Georgia 2015) crowned her successor, Miss Arkansas 2016, Savvy Shields, at the end of the two-hour nationally televised event.

Overview

Preliminary judges

The panel of preliminary competition judges included actress, Katherine Bailess; Miss America 1966, Debby Bryant Berge; musician, Rob Bowman; Jennifer Caudle; television host, Nicole Lapin; strategist, Deanna Siller; and CEO of Galvanized Media, David Zinczenko.^[6]

Final night judges

The panel of judges on the final night of competition included singer, Ciara; businessman, Mark Cuban; Olympic gold medalist, Gabby Douglas; actress, Sara Foster; actress, Laura Marano; country singer, Cole Swindell; and Miss America 1985, Sharlene Wells Hawkes.^[7]

Results

Placements

Placement	Contestant
Miss America 2017	Arkansas – Savvy Shields[1]
1st Runner-Up	South Carolina – Rachel Wyatt[1]
2nd Runner-Up	New York – Camille Sims[8]
3rd Runner-Up	Washington – Alicia Cooper
4th Runner-Up	Mississippi – Laura Lee Lewis
Top 7	Maryland – Hannah Brewer Texas – Caroline Carothers
Top 10	California – Jessa Carmack Iowa – Kelly Koch Tennessee – Grace Burgess
Top 12	Kentucky – Laura Jones*[9] Oklahoma – Sarah Klein
Top 15	Idaho – Kylee Solberg Louisiana – Justine Ker[10] Massachusetts – Alissa Musto

• - America's Choice

Awards

Preliminary awards

Awards	Contestant
Lifestyle and Fitness	District of Columbia - Cierra Jackson[11] Maryland - Hannah Brewer Ohio - Alice Magoto
Talent	Arkansas - Savvy Shields[1] Michigan - Arianna Quan Tennessee - Grace Burgess[11]

Children's Miracle Network (CMN) National Miracle Maker awards

Results[12]	Contestant
Winner	Alabama - Hayley Barber
1st runner-up	South Carolina - Rachel Wyatt
2nd runner-up	Kansas - Kendall Schoenekase

Quality of Life awards

Results	Contestant	Platform
Winner	Alabama - Hayley Barber[12]	Sight for Small Eyes
1st runner-up	Kansas - Kendall Schoenekase[12]	Stay Alive – Don’t Text and Drive
2nd runner-up	Maryland - Hannah Brewer[12]	Hannah's Heroes
Finalists[13]
	Mississippi - Laura Lee Lewis	Mentoring Matters
	Nevada - Bailey Gumm	Autism Through a Different Lens
	Oklahoma - Sarah Klein	Supporting Our Troops from Deployment to Employment
	Tennessee - Grace Burgess	Ready, Set, Read! Encouraging A Love for Reading

STEM Scholarship awards

Results	Contestant
Winners	Alabama - Hayley Barber[12] Illinois - Jaryn Franklin[12] Kansas - Kendall Schoenekase[12]
Finalists
	Hawaii - Allison Chu[13] Montana - Lauren Scofield[13]

Other awards

Awards	Contestant(s)
Miss Congeniality	Minnesota - Madeline Van Ert[14]
Non-Finalist Interview Award	Florida - Courtney Sexton[15]
Non-Finalist Talent Award[15]	Colorado - Shannon Patilla Michigan - Arianna Quan New Hampshire - Caroline Carter North Carolina - McKenzie Faggart
John Curran Non-Finalist Communications Journalism Interview Award	Nebraska - Aleah Peters[16]
Louanne Gamba Instrumentalist Scholarship	Michigan - Arianna Quan[17]
Women in Business Scholarship Award	Georgia - Patricia Ford[12] Rhode Island - Shruti Nagarajan[12]

Contestants

• The Miss America 2017 contestants were:^[18]

State/district/terr.	Name	Hometown	Age	Talent	Platform	Placement	Special awards	Notes
Alabama	Hayley Barber[19]	Pelham	22	Tap Dance "Dibidy Do" by Club des Belugas	Sight for Small Eyes		Quality of Life Award Winner[12] STEM Scholarship Award[12] Children's Miracle Network Hospitals National Maker Award[12]	Contestant at National Sweetheart 2013 pageant
Alaska	Kendall Bautista[20]	Eagle River	23	Piano "Tarantelle" by Frédéric Chopin	The Power of One - Making a Difference			Previously Miss Alaska USA 2014
Arizona	Katelyn Niemiec[21]	Scottsdale	22	Twirl Routine "Wings" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis	Bullying S.T.O.P.S. Here			Previously Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2009 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2013 pageant
Arkansas	Savvy Shields[22]	Fayetteville	21	Jazz Dance "They Just Keep Moving the Line" from the television show Smash	Eat Better, Live Better	Miss America 2017[1]	Preliminary Talent Award	Previously Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen 2009 Previously Miss Collegiate America 2013
California	Jessa Carmack	Santa Clara	22	Gymnastics Dance, "Little Less Conversation" by Elvis Presley	Building a Healthy Future by Instilling a Health Lifestyle for Our Youth	Top 10		Previously Miss California's Outstanding Teen 2011 Top 15 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2012 pageant
Colorado	Shannon Ebony Patilla	Denver	24	R&B / Soul Vocal "Something's Gotta Hold On Me" by Etta James	Learning Through Serving		Non-finalist Talent Award
Connecticut	Alyssa Rae Taglia[23]	Wolcott	22	Tap Dance	"Smiles for Seniors" - Enriching the Lives of Seniors Across America			Previously Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2010
Delaware	Amanda Debus[24]	Middletown	24	Contemporary Ballet "Fight Song"[25]	All Aware, Allergy Awareness			Previously Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2008 Previously Miss Delaware Teen USA 2011
District of Columbia	Cierra Dena'e Jackson[26]	Columbus, GA	24	Gospel Vocal, "Alabaster Box" by CeCe Winans	Behind the Frontline: Supporting Military Children		Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award[11]	Later Miss District of Columbia USA 2020 and top 16 at Miss USA 2020
Florida	Courtney Sexton	Starke	23	Modern Dance "I Got Love"	Get Up! Get Moving! Volunteer!		Non-finalist Interview Award	Previously Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2008 Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant
Georgia	Patricia Ford[27]	Johns Creek	20	Ballet en Pointe "Explosive" by Bond	Promoting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals		Women in Business Scholarship Award[12]	1st runner-up at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant
Hawaii	Allison Chu[28]	Kahala	22	Operatic vocal "O Mio Babbino Caro" from Gianni Schicchi	Safe in the Sun		STEM Scholarship Finalist[13]	Sister of Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2010, Julianne Chu Later Miss Hawaii USA 2021
Idaho	Kylee Solberg[29]	Coeur d'Alene	21	Classical Ballet en Pointe to Don Quixote[30]	Our Words Have Power	Top 15		Previously National Sweetheart 2015
Illinois	Jaryn Franklin[31]	East Moline	23	Jazz Vocal, "Dream a Little Dream of Me"	Advocating for Individuals with Disabilities		STEM Scholarship Award
Indiana	Brianna DeCamp[32]	Kendallville	22	Tap Dance, "Dr. Jazz" from Jelly Last Jam	Ray of Hope: Medical Missions			Previously Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen 2011
Iowa	Kelly Koch[33]	Waukee	20	Ballet en pointe, "Curse of the Black Pearl"[34]	Pinky Swear Foundation	Top 10
Kansas	Kendall Ellen Schoenekase[35]	Overland Park	22	Vocal, "Ain't no Sunshine" by Bill Withers	Stay Alive - Don't Text and Drive		Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up STEM Scholarship Award Children Miracle Network National Miracle Maker 2nd runner-up	Previously Miss Missouri United States 2010
Kentucky	Laura Katherine Jones[36]	Fisherville	23	Violin, "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson	W.A.I.T.	Top 12[9]	America's Choice	Previously Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen 2010[37] Top 10 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2011[38]
Louisiana	Justine Ker[39]	Choudrant	22	Classical Piano	A Beautiful Mind: Promoting Positive Mental Health	Top 15[10]		Previously Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen 2011[40]
Maine	Marybeth Noonan[41]	Raymond	20	Show Tune Vocal, "I Got Rhythm" from Girl Crazy	"Be Their Voice" - Fundraising for Childhood Cancer Research and Providing Assistance for Families Affected			Previously Miss Maine's Outstanding Teen 2010 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant
Maryland	Hannah Brewer[42]	Manchester	18	Vocal "God Bless America"	Hannah's Heroes	Top 7	Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award	Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 2013 Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2013 Sister of Miss Pennsylvania 2005, Nicole Brewer
Massachusetts	Alissa Musto	Rehoboth	21	Piano	Changing Keys - Connecting Kids with Keyboards	Top 15
Michigan	Arianna Quan[43]	Bloomfield Hills	23	Classical Piano, Mily Balalkirev's transcription of Mikhail Glinka's "L'Alouette (The Lark)"	Being American: Immigration and Citizenship Education		Louanne Gamba Instrumentalist Scholarship Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Talent Award
Minnesota	Madeline Taylor Van Ert[44]	Rochester	19	Piano/Vocal, "What a Wonderful World"	Fine Arts for Kids		Miss Congeniality[14]	Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant
Mississippi	Laura Lee Lewis[45]	Brookhaven	23	Show Tune Vocal, "A Piece of Sky" by Barbra Streisand from "Yentl"	Mentoring Matters	4th runner-up	Quality of Life Award Finalist[13]	Previously Miss Mississippi's Outstanding Teen 2009 3rd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant
Missouri	Erin O'Flaherty[46]	St. Louis	23	Vocal, "Mad Hatter", from Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure[47]	Suicide Prevention: We're All Responsible			First openly gay contestant to compete at Miss America[citation needed]
Montana	Lauren Scofield[48]	Havre	22	Piano, "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven[49]	Planting the Seeds of STEM		STEM Scholarship Finalist[13]	Niece of Miss Montana 1986, Kamala Compton
Nebraska	Aleah Peters[50]	Omaha	22	Baton Twirling "Wings"	Cyber-bullying Prevention - Make Kindness Viral		John Curran Non-finalist Communications Journalism Interview Award
Nevada	Bailey Gumm[51]	Minden	20	Tap Dance "Sax" by Fleur East	Autism Through a Different Lens		Quality of Life Award Finalist[13]	Previously Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2011 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant
New Hampshire	Caroline Carter[52]	Dover	18	Vocal, "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables	1, 2, We: Diabetes Advocacy		Non-finalist Talent Award	Previously Miss New Hampshire's Outstanding Teen 2014
New Jersey	Brenna Weick[53]	Mantua Township	22	Vocal	A World of Difference: Navigating the Cybersphere			Previously Miss New Jersey's Outstanding Teen 2009 1st runner-up at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2010 pageant Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2013 pageant
New Mexico	Stephanie Michelle Chavez[54]	Albuquerque	23	Vocal, "That's Life" by Frank Sinatra	Stephanie's Ponytail - How I Learned to Read			Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant
New York	Camille Sims[55]	Ithaca	23	Vocal, "Sway"	Encouraging Wellness and Fostering Food Dignity	2nd runner-up[8]		Previously Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen 2010 2nd runner-up at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2011 pageant[38] 4th runner-up at Miss Georgia 2015 pageant
North Carolina	McKenzie Faggart[56]	Concord	21	Lyrical Dance, "Rise Up"	The SAFE Project		Non-finalist Talent Award	Previously Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen 2011
North Dakota	Macy Christianson[57]	Minot	20	Contemporary Ballet	You Decide the Road Ahead: Don't Drink and Drive			Later Miss North Dakota USA 2020[58]
Ohio	Alice Louisa Magoto[59]	Cincinnati	18	Vocal, "Astonishing" from Little Women	Beauty Unedited - Redefining Beauty for the Next Generation		Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award	Later Miss Ohio USA 2019 and Top 10 at Miss USA 2019
Oklahoma	Sarah Klein[60]	Tulsa	24	Piano	Supporting our Troops from Deployment to Employment	Top 12	Quality of Life Award Finalist[13]	2nd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant
Oregon	Alexis Mather	Astoria	21	Bravura Performance "Nessun Dorma" from Giacomo Puccini's Turandot	Mentoring to Develop Leaders
Pennsylvania	Samantha Lambert	Pittsburgh	22	Acrobatic Dance	Heads Up: Brain Injury Awareness
Puerto Rico	Carole Rigual	Bayamón	22	Monologue, "Crossroads"	Children Victims of Sexual Abuse			Top 30 at Nuestra Belleza Latina 2013
Rhode Island	Shruti Nagarajan[61]	Providence	24	Bollywood-fusion dance	Upward Mobility: College Access for Low Income and Minority Students		Women in Business Scholarship Award[12]
South Carolina	Rachel Wyatt[62]	Clemson	21	Jazz Dance, "Something in the Water" by Carrie Underwood	Autism Speaks	1st runner-up[63]	CMN Miracle Maker Award 1st runner-up[12]	Previously Miss South Carolina Teen 2012 Previously Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2013[64]
South Dakota	Julia Olson[65]	Sioux Falls	23	Operatic Vocal "Omio Bino Caro" [66]	Worth It			Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant
Tennessee	Grace Burgess[67]	Memphis	22	Vocal "Desperado" by The Eagles	Ready, Set, Read! Encouraging a Love for Reading	Top 10	Preliminary Talent Award[11] Quality of Life Award Finalist[13]	Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant
Texas	Caroline Carothers	San Antonio	20	Baton Twirling, "Hot Honey Rag" from Chicago	With + Math = I Can	Top 7
Utah	Lauren Wilson[68]	Pleasant Grove	21	Dance, "Libertango"	With Help Comes Hope: Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Vermont	Rylee Field[69]	Montpelier	24	Spoken Word Poetry, "Mockingbird" by Rives	Find a Happy Place - Positive Mental Health and Wellness
Virginia	Michaela Gabriella Sigmon	Chesapeake	21	Tap Dance	Making it Matter
Washington	Alicia Nicole Cooper	Vancouver	21	Tap Dance "Let's Get Loud" by Jennifer Lopez[70]	Live on Purpose: Defining Your Legacy	3rd runner-up
West Virginia	Morgan Breeden[71]	Charles Town	21	Piano, "From Hurt to Heart" (Original composition)[72]	Bullies Beware: I Have a Lion in My Heart
Wisconsin	Courtney Jean Pelot[73]	Manitowoc	22	Jazz Dance, "Burnin' Up" by Jesse J. Cornish	Open Books, Open Opportunity: Promoting Literacy in Our Communities
Wyoming	Jordyn Hall	Laramie	23	Lyrical/Jazz dance	Shatter the Silence - Stop the Violence