“It’s such an honor to be able to walk on that stage in the first place”, Burgess said after her successful performance under the giant Miss America crown that hangs over the stage at Boardwalk Hall.
Advertisement
Shields, 21, of Fayetteville, was named Wednesday night’s preliminary Talent victor for her jazz dance performance to the song “Just Keep Moving the Line” from the former TV show “Smash”.
As far as “Smash”, Shields still has the soundtrack in her vehicle.
“From the state with the highest number of lightning strikes in the nation, I’m comin’ in hot!” said Miss Florida, Courtney Sexton. Also capturing the spotlight was Miss District of Columbia, Cierra Jackson, who was the preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness victor in a pink Irene West swimsuit.
“From the state that gave you your first phone exchange – America, can you hear me now?” asked Miss Connecticut Alyssa Rae Taglia.
Jackson, Miss District of Columbia, got a rousing ovation for her rendition of “Natural Woman”, the Carole King song made most famous by Aretha Franklin. The new Miss A. Miss Nebraska Aleah Peters was the lone outlier and twirled a baton for the audience at Boardwalk Hall.
‘As we’ve all seen with this election year, a talk about immigration has been extremely painful, ‘ she said.
“It pays for those mortgages and auto payments so all their attention is on these children who have cancer”, she said.
“The greatest casualty is being forgotten”, she said.
The pageant began in 1921 as a way to extend the summer tourist season beyond Labor Day weekend.
Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields has won a preliminary talent competition at the 2017 Miss America pageant.
The contestants participate in the swimsuit portion of the Miss America pageant.
Advertisement
As for the swimsuit competition, that was won by Miss District of Columbia, Cierra Jackson.
