Miss Tennessee Grace Burgess took home the talent award with her rendition of “Desperado” by The Eagles while Miss District of Columbia Cierra Jackson won the lifestyle and fitness competition.
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After a week of service and appearances around the area, the Miss America contestants took to the stage Tuesday night in the first preliminary of the competition.
Lewis was the recipient of the Gold Award presented on the Miss America stage for the Duke of Edinburgh’s worldwide program which is the world’s leading youth achievement program.
Lesbians have been more visible in pageants lately.
“I don’t know that I meant to be the first [openly gay winner], but I am”. In an interview with the Associated Press, O’Flaherty said, “Behind the scenes, we’ve been well-represented, but I’m the first openly gay title holder, so I’m very excited”.
The Miss America pageant has been around for close to a century, but this year’s event is going to be a first for the organization.
The “Show Us Your Shoes” parade that has become a fixture of Miss America, in which contestants ride in vehicles on the Boardwalk and show off their state-themed footwear, sprang from the interest of gay spectators, he said.
She admits to struggling for years to figure out who she was, but Erin O’Flaherty now knows exactly who she is – and that’s the first openly gay woman to be in the running to win Miss America.
It’s not the first time an openly gay woman has attempted to be in the running to nab the Miss America crown. O’ Flaherty, will compete for the Miss America crown on September 11, as the first openly lesbian contestant.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) – The second night of preliminary competition in the Miss America pageant is set for Wednesday in Atlantic City.
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30, 2016 photo shows Miss Vermont Rylee Field at a welcoming ceremony for the Miss America contestants in Atlantic City.
