May the finest diamantes win.
Last night's official proceedings showed only the top 10 finalists sashaying across the stage in their evening gowns. The remaining 41 contestants — eliminated either by the preliminary judges or after the evening's swimwear competition — popped up all too briefly in the background in a terrible choreographed dance number. (Florence Welch's vocals will never quite be the same.)
Fortunately, all the queens previewed their senior prom finest in the preliminary round of competition, as well as for a special glam gown photoshoot. This means we get to rank ALL FIFTY ONE. And this is significant because — spoiler alert — most of the top 10's looks pale in comparison to the rest.
Note: while some of the contestants wore the same look for both their photoshoot and preliminary showcase, others changed. (Tactics, tactics!) Where one queen wore two different dresses during the pageant's proceedings, we're averaging out the fabulousness.
Also, there's a reason we start the list at #52. It's not a typo, promise.
Suggested soundtrack:
Source: w.soundcloud.com
Miss Maine, Ali Clair.
Miss Maine is not even trying.