Miss America

Miss America

11:36 pm, September 7th, 2013

PHOTOS

(Miss America Organization)

The Miss America 2014 pageant will be broadcast live from Atlantic City on September 15.

53 contestants (one from each state, plus the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) will compete for the prestigious crown, currently worn by Mallory Hagan of New York.

Celebrity judges for the event include Lance Bass, Miss America 2005 Deidre Downs Gunn, Carla Hall, Barbara Corcoran, Amar’e Stoudemire, Joshua Bell, and Mario Cantone.

So who are the ladies vying for the title?

Meet the 2014 Miss America contestants below!

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1. 1.Miss Alabama – Chandler Champion, 20 Platform Issue: Chandler’s Challenge: Reading is Believing – Don’t Stop Believing Talent: Ballet en Pointe Career Ambition: To become a Broadcast Journalist
2. 2.Miss Alaska – Michelle Taylor, 20 Platform Issue: Youth Involvement in the Political Process Talent: Piano Performance Career Ambition: To obtain a hospitality management position.
3. 3.Miss Arizona – Jennifer Smestad, 20 Platform Issue: Tourette Syndrome Awareness and Advocacy Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To pursue a career in media with a focus on exercise and nutrition.
4. 4.Miss Arkansas – Amy Crain, 23 Platform Issue: Bullying: Prevention and Recovery Talent: Contemporary Clogging Career Ambition: To start a non-profit organization to benefit young women.
5. 5.Miss California – Crystal Lee, 22 Platform Issue: Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Talent: Ballet En Pointe Career Ambition: To start my own technology company
6. 6.Miss Colorado – Meg Kardos, 23 Platform Issue: Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To become a journalist and news anchor.
7. 7.Miss Connecticut – Kaitlyn Tarpey, 21 Platform Issue: Our Time To Serve: Hiring and Housing Our Veterans Talent: Irish Step Dance Career Ambition: To become a Human Resources Manager of a Global Corporation
8. 8.Miss Delaware – Rebecca Lee Jackson, 21 Platform Issue: Fostering Music Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To perform as a World Class Vocalist.
9. 9.Miss District of Columbia – Bindhu Pamarthi, 23 Platform Issue: Makeup’s Should Be Makeup Talent: Bollywood Dance Career Ambition: To practice law as a compassionate and highly regarded attorney
10. 10.Miss Florida – Myrrhanda Jones, 20 Platform Issue: Comfort For Kids, Inc. Talent: Baton Twirling Career Ambition: To work in a hospital setting as a pediatric nurse
11. 11.Miss Georgia – Carly Mathis, 22 Platform Issue: Heart Health and Heart Safety Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To become a political or legal correspondent for a national news network
12. 12.Miss Hawaii – Crystal Lee, 22 Platform Issue: Promoting the Gift of Life: Educating the Public of the Importance of Giving Blood Talent: Contemporary Dance Career Ambition: To become an Advertising/Promotions Executive
13. 13.Miss Idaho – Sarah Downs, 23 Platform Issue: Promoting Nutrition: Taking Back Our Health Talent: Violin Career Ambition: To conduct food/nutrition research
14. 14.Miss Illinois – Brittany Smith, 23 Platform Issue: STEM – Taking the PULSE of American Healthcare Talent: Irish Dance Career Ambition: To become a Physician Assistant
15. 15.Miss Indiana – Terrin Zoe Thomas, 21 Platform Issue: Promoting Service-Learning: Connecting Academics & Volunteerism Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To become a journalist for a major television network
16. 16.Miss Iowa – Nicole Kelly, 23 Platform Issue: The Power of One Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To work in a management position on Broadway
17. 17.Miss Kansas – Theresa Vail, 22 Platform Issue: Empowering Women; Overcoming Stereotypes and Breaking Barriers Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To become a prosthodontist for the Army
18. 18.Miss Kentucky – Jenna Day, 21 Platform Issue: Improving the Lives of Special Needs Children Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To establish a career in public service
19. 19.Miss Louisiana – Jaden Leach, 21 Platform Issue: Children at Risk Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To become a family attorney
20. 20.Miss Maine – Kristin Korda, 21 Platform Issue: The Light Within: Self Esteem and Success Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To perform on Broadway
21. 21.Miss Maryland – Christina Denny, 21 Platform Issue: Special Deeds for Special Needs Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To open a preschool for children with developmental delays
22. 22.Miss Massachusetts – Amanda Narciso, 22 Platform Issue: Best Buddies Talent: Tap Dance Career Ambition: To become a Dance Therapist.
23. 23.Miss Michigan – Haley Williams, 20 Platform Issue: Through a Child’s Eyes: Conquering Childhood Grief Talent: Baton Twirling Career Ambition: To obtain a leadership role in the nonprofit, public, or private sector
24. 24.Miss Minnesota – Rebecca Yeh, 20 Platform Issue: My Voice for Philip Talent: Violin Career Ambition: To become a clinical pharmacist and violin instructor
25. 25.Miss Mississippi – Chelsea Rick, 23 Platform Issue: Full Plates, Healthy States Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To become a Neurologist specializing in Pain Management
26. 26.Miss Missouri – Shelby Ringdahl, 21 Platform Issue: CASA: Home, Safe, Home Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To perform on Broadway.
27. 27.Miss Montana – Sheridan Pope, 21 Platform Issue: Possibilities for Disabilities: Inclusion Education Talent: Tap Dance Career Ambition: To become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst
28. 28.Miss Nebraska – JaCee Pilkington, 21 Platform Issue: Operation Remember Me – Supporting our Military and Veterans Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To open my own non-profit to help military personnel
29. 29.Miss Nevada – Diana Sweeney, 20 Platform Issue: Special Olympics: Special Deeds for Special Needs Talent: Lyrical Dance Career Ambition: To become a college math professor.
30. 30.Miss New Hampshire – Samantha Russo, 23 Platform Issue: Kick Butts: Tobacco Education and Prevention Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To work in the sports industry as a reporter or agent.
31. 31.Miss New Jersey – Cara McCollum, 21 Platform Issue: Giving the Gift of Reading Talent: Piano Career Ambition: To become a broadcaster and writer.
32. 32.Miss New Mexico – Alexis Victoria Duprey, 22 Platform Issue: The Power of One: Single Parent Families Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To obtain a career in public relations.
33. 33.Miss New York – Nina Davuluri, 24 Platform Issue: Celebrating Diversity through Cultural Competency Talent: Classical Bollywood Fusion Career Ambition: To become a physician.
34. 34.Miss North Carolina – Johna Edmonds, 24 Platform Issue: Readers to Leaders Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To become CFO of a Fortune 500 Company
35. 35.Miss North Dakota – Laura Harmon, 24 Platform Issue: Energy Kids: Raising Responsible Energy Users Talent: Operatic Vocal Career Ambition: To become an environmental consultant.
36. 36.Miss Ohio – Heather Wells, 23 Platform Issue: Divorce Recovery for Youth Talent: Lyrical Dance Career Ambition: To work as a health correspondent for a major news network.
37. 37.Miss Oklahoma – Kelsey Griswold, 21 Platform Issue: A.R.T – Artists Reaching Together Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To become a professional entertainer.
38. 38.Miss Oregon – Allison Elizabeth Cook, 19 Platform Issue: Brain Injury Awareness Talent: Electro-Acoustic Violin Career Ambition: To become an MRI Tech and specialize in brain trauma.
39. 39.Miss Pennsylvania – Annie Rosellini, 21 Platform Issue: Heart Disease Awareness and Prevention for our Future Talent: Lyrical Dance Career Ambition: Public Relations/ Media Communications Specialist
40. 40.Miss Puerto Rico – Shenti Lauren, 23 Platform Issue: Children’s Neglect and Abuse, Preventing with Love Talent: African Folkloric Dance Career Ambition: To be a broadcast meteorologist.
41. 41.Miss Rhode Island – Jessica Marfeo, 19 Platform Issue: B.F.F: Be Friends First – Promoting Health Relationship Education and Mentoring Talent: Jazz Vocal Career Ambition: To become the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health
42. 42.Miss South Carolina – Brooke Mosteller, 24 Platform Issue: GO HIGHER! College Application Day Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To become a Chief Prosecutor of the Attorney General’s Office
43. 43.Miss South Dakota – Tessa Dee, 22 Platform Issue: Project Bookworm Talent: Gymnastics Dance Career Ambition: To become a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
44. 44.Miss Tennessee – Shelby Thompson, 23 Platform Issue: Big Brothers Big Sisters: The Power of Mentoring Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To become the CEO of a Nonprofit organization.
45. 45.Miss Texas – Ivana Hall, 23 Platform Issue: HIV/AIDS Education and Resources Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To become a political moderator and lobbyist.
46. 46.Miss Utah – Ciera Pekarcik, 23 Platform Issue: Child Sexual Abuse; Recognition and Recovery Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To become a news anchor
47. 47.Miss Vermont – Jeanelle Achee, 22 Platform Issue: Stop the Silence: Advocating for Survivors of Sexual Violence and Promoting Healthy Relationships Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To open a women’s clinic and support survivors of violence.
48. 48.Miss Virgin Islands – Ashley Massiah, 21 Platform Issue: Breaking The Silence to Violence: Addressing the Violence in Our Community Talent: Baton, Hoop and Flag Twirling Career Ambition: To become a criminal attorney.
49. 49.Miss Virginia – Desiree Williams, 24 Platform Issue: Fighting Childhood Obesity: Let’s Move! Talent: Contemporary Piano Career Ambition: To work as a physical therapist.
50. 50.Miss Washington – Reina Almon, 21 Platform Issue: Sustain-Ability: Impacting Tomorrow, Today Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To practice as an environmental attorney.
51. 51.Miss West Virginia – Miranda Renee Harrison, 19 Platform Issue: Never Say Never: Support for Children and Families Coping With Childhood Cancer Talent: Vocal Career Ambition: To work as a sports reporter/anchor or as an attorney.
52. 52.Miss Wisconsin – Paula Mae Kuiper, 20 Platform Issue: Breaking the Age Barrier Talent: Piano Career Ambition: To become a pediatrician or a geriatrician.
53. 53.Miss Wyoming – Rebecca Podio, 23 Platform Issue: Community in the Classroom Talent: Piano Career Ambition: To own my own engineering consulting firm.

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