The 23-year-old made national news when she was crowned Miss Missouri back in June. “I knew going in that I had the opportunity to make history”.
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“I certainly hope my presence will help people open up a little bit more”.
“I think what my message really is is that I had dreams, and goals and I was very scared at first to become who I am, but once I stepped in to who I was is when I became most successful”, O’Flaherty said on “Good Morning America”.
The competition to select the new Miss America is set to start in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Tuesday night.
Erin O’Flaherty, who was crowned Miss Missouri, will run on the platform of suicide prevention. Djuan Trent competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss Kentucky in 2011, when she finished in the top 10.
A former Miss America pageant victor has scored another honor. The first night of preliminary competition in this year’s pageant will be held Tuesday, Sept. 6. She didn’t come out until 2014.
But the long-thought archaic world of pageants has finally stepped into the 21st century, with a contestant who will have the attention of women who bat for the other team.
Josh Randle, chief operating officer of the Miss America Organization, said the pageant reflects an evolving America.
‘Through every major milestone of our nation’s evolution, Miss America has provided a voice for women from all walks of life, and, this year, we welcome our first openly gay contestant, ‘ he said.
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