Ultimately, the victor was announced, and it was Miss Georgia, Betty Cantrell (photographed below), who quickly took to Twitter to share her excitement and announce the first program she would be participating in as Miss America.
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After being forced to resign as Miss America over three decades ago, Vanessa Williams, now 52, finally received a formal apology from the pageant at the 2016 competition, according to The New York Times. Though none of us now in the organization were involved then, on behalf of today’s organization, I want to apologize.
FOX25 spoke with Meagan Fuller, Miss Massachusetts, who said that while she supports Betty Cantrell as the newly crowned Miss America, she’s a Patriots fan and believes Tom Brady.
In the end, Williams won out and graciously accepted Haskell’s apology, saying his words were “so unexpected, but so handsome “. I did the best that I could as my reign as Miss America from 1983 to ’84.
“I’d have to see the ball and feel it” she said, before adding, “If there’s any question, then yes, he cheated”. “I got a chance to be on the stage and represent what I represented back in 1984”. On Sunday night, she rode an opera performance in Boardwalk Hall of Atlantic City and won the title of Miss America.
Still, Cantrell was able to secure her win. Williams sued both Chiapel and Penthouse, but dropped her suit a year later in order to put it past her. And while Miss New Jersey didn’t advance to the finals, she walked away with the quality of life award and the experience of a lifetime.
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Other panelists included Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years), Zendaya, Kevin O’Leary (Shark Tank), Amy Purdy (Dancing with the Stars), country singer Brett Eldredge, and Taya Kyle, the widow of Navy SEAL and American Sniper author, Chris Kyle.
