# Miss America 2018

Miss America 2018, the 91st Miss America pageant, though the Miss America Organization celebrated its 97th anniversary in 2017. This discrepancy is due to no national pageants being held from 1928 to 1932 or in 1934 because of financial problems associated with the Great Depression. The 2018 pageant was held in Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Sunday, September 10, 2017. This was the first Miss America pageant to be held in Atlantic City since the Miss America Organization headquarters relocated to Boardwalk Hall.
The event was broadcast by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC).
On July 24, 2017, it was announced that Chris Harrison and Sage Steele would be returning to co-host the Miss America pageant for the second year in a row.
Cara Mund of North Dakota became Miss America 2018 at the end of the event.

## Overview
### Judges
#### Preliminary judges

From September 6–8, 2017, judges for the preliminary competition selected the winners of the preliminary talent and lifestyle and fitness competitions as well as the top 15 finalists for the final night of competition on September 10, 2017. The panel included entertainment lawyer, Carolyn Conrad; Global Government Affairs and Policy leader for Baker Hughes, Karen Knuston; CNN White House reporter, Kate Bennett; casting director, Patrick Rush; actor, Rusty Joiner; Miss America 1978, Susan Perkins Botsford; and dancer and actress, Vivian Nixon.

#### Final night judges

The panel of judges on the final night of competition on September 10, 2017 included country singer, Thomas Rhett; actress, author, and model, Molly Sims; Grammy-nominated singer and actress, Jordin Sparks; People Magazine's Editor in Chief, Jess Cagle; journalist, actress, and CEO of AfterBuzz TV, Maria Menounos; Miss America 2014, Nina Davuluri; and Olympic gold medalist, Tara Lipinski.

## Results
### Placements

| Placement | Contestant |
| Miss America 2018 | North Dakota – Cara Mund |
| 1st Runner-Up | Missouri – Jennifer Davis |
| 2nd Runner-Up | New Jersey – Kaitlyn Schoeffel |
| 3rd Runner-Up | District of Columbia – Briana Kinsey |
| 4th Runner-Up | Texas – Margana Wood |
| Top 7 | Alabama – Jessica Procter  Louisiana – Laryssa Bonacquisti |
| Top 10 | Pennsylvania – Katie Schreckengast  South Carolina – Suzi Roberts  Virginia – Cecili Weber |
| Top 12 | Georgia – Alyssa Beasley  Tennessee – Caty Davis |
| Top 15 | Alaska – Angelina Klapperich  Illinois – Abby Foster §  New Mexico – Taylor Rey |
§ America's Choice

### Awards
#### Preliminary awards

| Awards | Contestants |
| Lifestyle and Fitness | Florida - Sara Zeng Louisiana - Laryssa Bonacquisti Texas - Margana Wood |
| Talent | Louisiana - Laryssa Bonacquisti Minnesota - Brianna Drevlow Utah - JessiKate Riley |

#### Quality of Life awards

| Results | Contestant | Platform |
| Winner | Alabama - Jessica Procter | Step Up to the Plate: Decreasing Food Insecurity |
| 1st runner-up | North Dakota - Cara Mund | A Make-A-Wish Passion with Fashion |
| 2nd runner-up | South Carolina - Suzi Roberts | Children's Advocacy: Ensuring the Rights of Every Child |
| Finalists |
| Finalists | District of Columbia - Briana Kinsey | Daring to Defeat Diabetes |
| Finalists | Kansas - Krystian Fish | Remove the Labels: Be Unstoppable |
| Finalists | Minnesota - Brianna Drevlow | Brenna's Brigade: Juvenile Arthritis Awareness |
| Finalists | Mississippi - Anne Elizabeth Buys | Water for Life |

#### Children's Miracle Network (CMN) National Miracle Maker awards

| Results | Contestant |
| Winner | South Carolina - Suzi Roberts |
| 1st runner-up | North Carolina - Victoria Huggins |
| 2nd runner-up | Massachusetts - Jillian Zucco |

#### STEM Scholarship awards

| Results | Contestant |
| Winners | District of Columbia - Briana Kinsey Kentucky - Molly Matney Massachusetts - Jillian Zucco |
| Finalists |
| Finalists | Nebraska - Allison Tietjen Nevada - Andrea Martinez |

#### Women in Business Scholarship awards

| Results | Contestant |
| Winners | Colorado - Meredith Winnefeld Ohio - Sarah Clapper |
| Finalists | Maryland - Kathleen Masek Wyoming - Cheyenne Buyert |

#### Other awards

| Awards | Contestant(s) |
| Miss Congeniality | Alaska - Angelina Klapperich |
| Dr. Marcia L. Leek Scholarship | New Hampshire - Lauren Percy |
| Non-finalist Talent Award | Colorado - Meredith Winnefeld Iowa - Chelsea Dubczak Minnesota - Brianna Drevlow Utah - JessiKate Riley |

## Contestants

| State or district | Name | Hometown | Age | Talent | Placement | Special awards | Notes |
| Alabama | Jessica Procter | Tuscaloosa | 21 | Vocal, "Over the Rainbow" | Top 7 | Quality of Life Award Winner | Previously Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2013 2nd runner-up at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2014 pageant |
| Alaska | Angelina N. Klapperich | Wasilla | 23 | Piano, "Bumble Boogie" | Top 15 | Miss Congeniality | Previously Miss Alaska's Outstanding Teen 2010 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2013 pageant |
| Arizona | MaddieRose Holler | Phoenix | 19 | Vocal, "I'd Give My Life For You" | | | Previously Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2013 |
| Arkansas | Maggie Benton | Jonesboro | 22 | Vocal, "The Music of the Night" | | | |
| California | Jillian Smith | Grass Valley | 22 | Piano, "Malagueña" | | | |
| Colorado | Meredith Winnefeld | Highlands Ranch | 23 | Dance Twirl, "He's a Pirate" | | Non-finalist Talent Award Women in Business Scholarship Winner | Blind in right eye since birth Previously Miss Colorado's Outstanding Teen 2011 Former featured twirler at Arizona State University |
| Connecticut | Eliza Lynne Kanner | Hamden | 21 | Operatic Vocal, "Memory" from Cats | | | |
| Delaware | Chelsea Bruce | Manasquan, New Jersey | 21 | Dance | | | Eligible as a student at the University of Delaware |
| District of Columbia | Briana Kinsey | Birmingham, Alabama | 24 | Pop Vocal, "Born for This" | 3rd runner-up | Quality of Life Award Finalist STEM Scholarship Winner | |
| Florida | Sara Zeng | Palm Coast | 22 | Classical Piano, "Fantaisie-Impromptu" in C Sharp minor by Frédéric Chopin | | Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award | |
| Georgia | Alyssa Beasley | Brunswick | 19 | Lyrical Dance, "When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground" | Top 12 | | Later Miss Georgia USA 2020 and Top 16 Miss USA 2020 |
| Hawaii | Kathryn Teruya | Honolulu | 21 | Jazz Dance, "I Want to be a Rockette" | | | Sister of Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2017, Lauren Teruya Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2012 Winner of the Miss Teen USA Fan Vote, earning her a spot in the Top 16 |
| Idaho | Taylor Lance | Boise | 23 | Vocal, "So Small" by Carrie Underwood | | | |
| Illinois | Abby Foster | Danville | 21 | Jazz Dance to Grease medley | Top 15 | America's Choice | Currently an NFL cheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts |
| Indiana | Haley Begay | Pittsboro | 19 | Vocal, "Hallelujah" | | | |
| Iowa | Chelsea Dubczak | Holmen, Wisconsin | 23 | Operatic Vocal, "Sempre Libera" from La traviata | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| Kansas | Krystian Fish | Wichita | 21 | Vocal, "They Just Keep Moving the Line" from Smash | | Quality of Life Award Finalist | |
| Kentucky | Molly Matney | Center | 20 | Vocal, "He Taught Me to Yodel" | | STEM Scholarship Winner | |
| Louisiana | Laryssa Bonacquisti | Monroe | 22 | Ventriloquism, "I Wanna Be a Cowboy Sweetheart" | Top 7 | Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Preliminary Talent Award | Daughter of Miss New Jersey 1990, Lynette Falls Bonacquisti |
| Maine | Katie Elliott | Scarborough | 22 | Vocal, "Someone to Watch Over Me" | | | Previously Miss Maine's Outstanding Teen 2012 |
| Maryland | Kathleen Masek | Westminster | 22 | Theatrical Dance | | Women in Business Scholarship Finalist | |
| Massachusetts | Jillian Zucco | Mattapoisett | 24 | Vocal, "The Impossible Dream" | | CMN Miracle Maker Award 2nd runner-up STEM Scholarship Winner | Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant |
| Michigan | Heather Kendrick | Marysville | 23 | Violin, "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga | | | Appeared on America's Got Talent with electro-pop violin group, Nuclassica |
| Minnesota | Brianna Drevlow | Thief River Falls | 23 | Classical Piano, Rhapsody in Blue | | Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Talent Award Quality of Life Award Finalist | |
| Mississippi | Anne Elizabeth Buys | Vicksburg | 21 | Ballet en Pointe, "Viva!" | | Quality of Life Award Finalist | Previously Miss Mississippi's Outstanding Teen 2013 |
| Missouri | Jennifer Davis | Saint Charles | 23 | Bollywood Dance, "Naacho Re" | 1st runner-up | | Published author of children's book, Diversity Matters |
| Montana | Maddie Murray | Corvallis | 18 | Vocal, "God Help the Outcasts" | | | |
| Nebraska | Allison Tietjen | Chester | 21 | Piano, "The Phantom of the Opera" | | STEM Scholarship Finalist | |
| Nevada | Andrea Martinez | Las Vegas | 23 | Vocal, "His Eye in on the Sparrow" | | STEM Scholarship Finalist | |
| New Hampshire | Lauren Percy | Bow | 23 | Broadway Jazz Dance, "Another Day in the Sun" from La La Land | | Dr. Marcia L. Leek Scholarship | Previously Miss New Hampshire's Outstanding Teen 2011 |
| New Jersey | Kaitlyn Schoeffel | Egg Harbor Township | 24 | Dance, "Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon | 2nd runner-up | | Previously Miss New Jersey's Outstanding Teen 2007 |
| New Mexico | Taylor Rey | Las Cruces | 22 | Vocal, "Art Is Calling for Me" | Top 15 | | |
| New York | Gabrielle Walter | Clarence | 24 | Broadway Vocal, "You'll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel | | | Current student at the University of Buffalo School of Law |
| North Carolina | Victoria Huggins | St. Pauls | 23 | Vocal, "I Will Always Love You" | | CMN Miracle Maker Award 1st runner-up | Former contestant on Star Search and American Idol Season 10 Top 15 at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant |
| North Dakota | Cara Mund | Bismarck | 23 | Jazz Dance, "The Way You Make Me Feel" | Miss America 2018 | Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up | Previously Miss North Dakota's Outstanding Teen 2010 Accepted to law school at Notre Dame University |
| Ohio | Sarah Clapper | Louisville | 23 | Piano, "White Water Chopped Sticks" | | Charles and Theresa Brown Scholarship Women in Business Scholarship Winner | |
| Oklahoma | Triana Browne | Oklahoma City | 24 | Vocal, "Summertime" | | | Later Miss Oklahoma USA 2019 2nd runner-up at Miss USA 2019 pageant |
| Oregon | Harley Emery | Springfield | 20 | Classical Piano, "Moonlight Escapade" | | | Previously Miss Oregon's Outstanding Teen 2013 |
| Pennsylvania | Katie Schreckengast | Palmyra | 21 | Alto Saxophone, "Listen" from Dreamgirls | Top 10 | | Previously Miss Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen 2013 |
| Rhode Island | Nicolette Peloquin | Newport | 21 | Acrobatics, "All That Jazz" | | | |
| South Carolina | Suzi Roberts | Pawleys Island | 24 | Lyrical Dance, "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" by Katie Thompson | Top 10 | CMN Miracle Maker Award Winner Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up | Former NFL cheerleader for the Atlanta Falcons Enrolled at the University of South Carolina School of Law |
| South Dakota | Miranda Mack | Redfield | 21 | Operatic Vocal, "Habanera" from Carmen | | | |
| Tennessee | Caty Davis | Knoxville | 22 | Vocal, "I Have Nothing" | Top 12 | | |
| Texas | Margana Wood | Houston | 22 | Contemporary Dance, "When We Were Young" by Adele | 4th runner-up | Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award | Previously Miss Texas' Outstanding Teen 2012 |
| Utah | JessiKate Riley | Beaver | 20 | Classical Violin, "Praeludium and Allegro" by Fritz Kreisler | | Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Talent Award | Previously Miss Utah's Outstanding Teen 2014 Later Miss Utah USA 2021 and Top 16 Miss USA 2021 |
| Vermont | Erin Connor | Bridport | 22 | American Sign Language, "The Greatest Love of All" | | | Previously Miss Vermont's Outstanding Teen 2010 Obtained pilot's license at age 16 and piloted plane to Atlantic City for Miss America pageant |
| Virginia | Cecili Weber | Roanoke | 22 | Contemporary Jazz Dance, "Last Dance" | Top 10 | | Previously Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen 2010 |
| Washington | Nicole Renard | Kennewick | 22 | Jazz Dance, "I Love Me" by Meghan Trainor | | | Previously Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2011 Previously crowned Distinguished Young Woman of America 2013 |
| West Virginia | Tamia Hardy | Martinsburg | 22 | Hip Hop Dance, "Burnitup!" by Janet Jackson | | | First African American woman crowned Miss West Virginia |
| Wisconsin | McKenna Holly Collins | Waunakee | 21 | Ballet en Pointe, "Habanera" from Carmen | | | Previously a company member at the Madison Ballet |
| Wyoming | Cheyenne Buyert | Sheridan | 19 | Vocal, "Puttin' on the Ritz" | | Women in Business Scholarship Finalist | |