# Miss America 2017

Miss America 2017, the 90th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Sunday, September 11, 2016. The event was broadcast by ABC in the United States, the first in the network's newest agreement to carry the pageant until 2019, with Dick Clark Productions producing the ceremony.
Betty Cantrell (Miss Georgia 2015) crowned her successor, Miss Arkansas 2016, Savvy Shields, at the end of the two-hour nationally televised event.

## Overview
### Preliminary judges

The panel of preliminary competition judges included actress, Katherine Bailess; Miss America 1966, Debby Bryant Berge; musician, Rob Bowman; Jennifer Caudle; television host, Nicole Lapin; strategist, Deanna Siller; and CEO of Galvanized Media, David Zinczenko.

### Final night judges

The panel of judges on the final night of competition included singer, Ciara; businessman, Mark Cuban; Olympic gold medalist, Gabby Douglas; actress, Sara Foster; actress, Laura Marano; country singer, Cole Swindell; and Miss America 1985, Sharlene Wells Hawkes.

## Results
### Placements

| Placement | Contestant |
| Miss America 2017 | Arkansas – Savvy Shields |
| 1st Runner-Up | South Carolina – Rachel Wyatt |
| 2nd Runner-Up | New York – Camille Sims |
| 3rd Runner-Up | Washington – Alicia Cooper |
| 4th Runner-Up | Mississippi – Laura Lee Lewis |
| Top 7 | Maryland – Hannah Brewer Texas – Caroline Carothers |
| Top 10 | California – Jessa Carmack Iowa – Kelly Koch Tennessee – Grace Burgess |
| Top 12 | Kentucky – Laura Jones* Oklahoma – Sarah Klein |
| Top 15 | Idaho – Kylee Solberg Louisiana – Justine Ker Massachusetts – Alissa Musto |
* - America's Choice

### Awards
#### Preliminary awards

| Awards | Contestant |
| Lifestyle and Fitness | District of Columbia - Cierra Jackson Maryland - Hannah Brewer Ohio - Alice Magoto |
| Talent | Arkansas - Savvy Shields Michigan - Arianna Quan Tennessee - Grace Burgess |

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

| Results | Contestant |
| Winner | Alabama - Hayley Barber |
| 1st runner-up | South Carolina - Rachel Wyatt |
| 2nd runner-up | Kansas - Kendall Schoenekase |

#### Quality of Life awards

| Results | Contestant | Platform |
| Winner | Alabama - Hayley Barber | Sight for Small Eyes |
| 1st runner-up | Kansas - Kendall Schoenekase | Stay Alive – Don’t Text and Drive |
| 2nd runner-up | Maryland - Hannah Brewer | Hannah's Heroes |
| Finalists |
| Finalists | Mississippi - Laura Lee Lewis | Mentoring Matters |
| Finalists | Nevada - Bailey Gumm | Autism Through a Different Lens |
| Finalists | Oklahoma - Sarah Klein | Supporting Our Troops from Deployment to Employment |
| Finalists | Tennessee - Grace Burgess | Ready, Set, Read! Encouraging A Love for Reading |

#### STEM Scholarship awards

| Results | Contestant |
| Winners | Alabama - Hayley Barber Illinois - Jaryn Franklin Kansas - Kendall Schoenekase |
| Finalists |
| Finalists | Hawaii - Allison Chu Montana - Lauren Scofield |

#### Other awards

| Awards | Contestant(s) |
| Miss Congeniality | Minnesota - Madeline Van Ert |
| Non-Finalist Interview Award | Florida - Courtney Sexton |
| Non-Finalist Talent Award | Colorado - Shannon Patilla Michigan - Arianna Quan New Hampshire - Caroline Carter North Carolina - McKenzie Faggart |
| John Curran Non-Finalist Communications Journalism Interview Award | Nebraska - Aleah Peters |
| Louanne Gamba Instrumentalist Scholarship | Michigan - Arianna Quan |
| Women in Business Scholarship Award | Georgia - Patricia Ford Rhode Island - Shruti Nagarajan |

## Contestants

* The Miss America 2017 contestants were:
| State/district/terr. | Name | Hometown | Age | Talent | Platform | Placement | Special awards | Notes |
| Alabama | Hayley Barber | Pelham | 22 | Tap Dance "Dibidy Do" by Club des Belugas | Sight for Small Eyes | | Quality of Life Award Winner STEM Scholarship Award Children's Miracle Network Hospitals National Maker Award | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2013 pageant |
| Alaska | Kendall Bautista | Eagle River | 23 | Piano "Tarantelle" by Frédéric Chopin | The Power of One - Making a Difference | | | Previously Miss Alaska USA 2014 |
| Arizona | Katelyn Niemiec | Scottsdale | 22 | Twirl Routine "Wings" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis | Bullying S.T.O.P.S. Here | | | Previously Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2009 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2013 pageant |
| Arkansas | Savvy Shields | Fayetteville | 21 | Jazz Dance "They Just Keep Moving the Line" from the television show Smash | Eat Better, Live Better | Miss America 2017 | Preliminary Talent Award | Previously Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen 2009 Previously Miss Collegiate America 2013 |
| California | Jessa Carmack | Santa Clara | 22 | Gymnastics Dance, "Little Less Conversation" by Elvis Presley | Building a Healthy Future by Instilling a Health Lifestyle for Our Youth | Top 10 | | Previously Miss California's Outstanding Teen 2011 Top 15 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2012 pageant |
| Colorado | Shannon Ebony Patilla | Denver | 24 | R&B / Soul Vocal "Something's Gotta Hold On Me" by Etta James | Learning Through Serving | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| Connecticut | Alyssa Rae Taglia | Wolcott | 22 | Tap Dance | "Smiles for Seniors" - Enriching the Lives of Seniors Across America | | | Previously Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2010 |
| Delaware | Amanda Debus | Middletown | 24 | Contemporary Ballet "Fight Song" | All Aware, Allergy Awareness | | | Previously Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2008 Previously Miss Delaware Teen USA 2011 |
| District of Columbia | Cierra Dena'e Jackson | Columbus, GA | 24 | Gospel Vocal, "Alabaster Box" by CeCe Winans | Behind the Frontline: Supporting Military Children | | Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award | Later Miss District of Columbia USA 2020 and top 16 at Miss USA 2020 |
| Florida | Courtney Sexton | Starke | 23 | Modern Dance "I Got Love" | Get Up! Get Moving! Volunteer! | | Non-finalist Interview Award | Previously Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2008 Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant |
| Georgia | Patricia Ford | Johns Creek | 20 | Ballet en Pointe "Explosive" by Bond | Promoting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals | | Women in Business Scholarship Award | 1st runner-up at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant |
| Hawaii | Allison Chu | Kahala | 22 | Operatic vocal "O Mio Babbino Caro" from Gianni Schicchi | Safe in the Sun | | STEM Scholarship Finalist | Sister of Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2010, Julianne Chu Later Miss Hawaii USA 2021 |
| Idaho | Kylee Solberg | Coeur d'Alene | 21 | Classical Ballet en Pointe to Don Quixote | Our Words Have Power | Top 15 | | Previously National Sweetheart 2015 |
| Illinois | Jaryn Franklin | East Moline | 23 | Jazz Vocal, "Dream a Little Dream of Me" | Advocating for Individuals with Disabilities | | STEM Scholarship Award | |
| Indiana | Brianna DeCamp | Kendallville | 22 | Tap Dance, "Dr. Jazz" from Jelly Last Jam | Ray of Hope: Medical Missions | | | Previously Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen 2011 |
| Iowa | Kelly Koch | Waukee | 20 | Ballet en pointe, "Curse of the Black Pearl" | Pinky Swear Foundation | Top 10 | | |
| Kansas | Kendall Ellen Schoenekase | Overland Park | 22 | Vocal, "Ain't no Sunshine" by Bill Withers | Stay Alive - Don't Text and Drive | | Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up STEM Scholarship Award Children Miracle Network National Miracle Maker 2nd runner-up | Previously Miss Missouri United States 2010 |
| Kentucky | Laura Katherine Jones | Fisherville | 23 | Violin, "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson | W.A.I.T. | Top 12 | America's Choice | Previously Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen 2010 Top 10 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2011 |
| Louisiana | Justine Ker | Choudrant | 22 | Classical Piano | A Beautiful Mind: Promoting Positive Mental Health | Top 15 | | Previously Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen 2011 |
| Maine | Marybeth Noonan | Raymond | 20 | Show Tune Vocal, "I Got Rhythm" from Girl Crazy | "Be Their Voice" - Fundraising for Childhood Cancer Research and Providing Assistance for Families Affected | | | Previously Miss Maine's Outstanding Teen 2010 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant |
| Maryland | Hannah Brewer | Manchester | 18 | Vocal "God Bless America" | Hannah's Heroes | Top 7 | Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award | Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 2013 Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2013 Sister of Miss Pennsylvania 2005, Nicole Brewer |
| Massachusetts | Alissa Musto | Rehoboth | 21 | Piano | Changing Keys - Connecting Kids with Keyboards | Top 15 | | |
| Michigan | Arianna Quan | Bloomfield Hills | 23 | Classical Piano, Mily Balalkirev's transcription of Mikhail Glinka's "L'Alouette (The Lark)" | Being American: Immigration and Citizenship Education | | Louanne Gamba Instrumentalist Scholarship Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Talent Award | |
| Minnesota | Madeline Taylor Van Ert | Rochester | 19 | Piano/Vocal, "What a Wonderful World" | Fine Arts for Kids | | Miss Congeniality | Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant |
| Mississippi | Laura Lee Lewis | Brookhaven | 23 | Show Tune Vocal, "A Piece of Sky" by Barbra Streisand from "Yentl" | Mentoring Matters | 4th runner-up | Quality of Life Award Finalist | Previously Miss Mississippi's Outstanding Teen 2009 3rd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant |
| Missouri | Erin O'Flaherty | St. Louis | 23 | Vocal, "Mad Hatter", from Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure | Suicide Prevention: We're All Responsible | | | First openly gay contestant to compete at Miss America |
| Montana | Lauren Scofield | Havre | 22 | Piano, "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven | Planting the Seeds of STEM | | STEM Scholarship Finalist | Niece of Miss Montana 1986, Kamala Compton |
| Nebraska | Aleah Peters | Omaha | 22 | Baton Twirling "Wings" | Cyber-bullying Prevention - Make Kindness Viral | | John Curran Non-finalist Communications Journalism Interview Award | |
| Nevada | Bailey Gumm | Minden | 20 | Tap Dance "Sax" by Fleur East | Autism Through a Different Lens | | Quality of Life Award Finalist | Previously Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2011 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant |
| New Hampshire | Caroline Carter | Dover | 18 | Vocal, "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables | 1, 2, We: Diabetes Advocacy | | Non-finalist Talent Award | Previously Miss New Hampshire's Outstanding Teen 2014 |
| New Jersey | Brenna Weick | Mantua Township | 22 | Vocal | A World of Difference: Navigating the Cybersphere | | | Previously Miss New Jersey's Outstanding Teen 2009 1st runner-up at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2010 pageant Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2013 pageant |
| New Mexico | Stephanie Michelle Chavez | Albuquerque | 23 | Vocal, "That's Life" by Frank Sinatra | Stephanie's Ponytail - How I Learned to Read | | | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant |
| New York | Camille Sims | Ithaca | 23 | Vocal, "Sway" | Encouraging Wellness and Fostering Food Dignity | 2nd runner-up | | Previously Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen 2010 2nd runner-up at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2011 pageant 4th runner-up at Miss Georgia 2015 pageant |
| North Carolina | McKenzie Faggart | Concord | 21 | Lyrical Dance, "Rise Up" | The SAFE Project | | Non-finalist Talent Award | Previously Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen 2011 |
| North Dakota | Macy Christianson | Minot | 20 | Contemporary Ballet | You Decide the Road Ahead: Don't Drink and Drive | | | Later Miss North Dakota USA 2020 |
| Ohio | Alice Louisa Magoto | Cincinnati | 18 | Vocal, "Astonishing" from Little Women | Beauty Unedited - Redefining Beauty for the Next Generation | | Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award | Later Miss Ohio USA 2019 and Top 10 at Miss USA 2019 |
| Oklahoma | Sarah Klein | Tulsa | 24 | Piano | Supporting our Troops from Deployment to Employment | Top 12 | Quality of Life Award Finalist | 2nd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant |
| Oregon | Alexis Mather | Astoria | 21 | Bravura Performance "Nessun Dorma" from Giacomo Puccini's Turandot | Mentoring to Develop Leaders | | | |
| Pennsylvania | Samantha Lambert | Pittsburgh | 22 | Acrobatic Dance | Heads Up: Brain Injury Awareness | | | |
| Puerto Rico | Carole Rigual | Bayamón | 22 | Monologue, "Crossroads" | Children Victims of Sexual Abuse | | | Top 30 at Nuestra Belleza Latina 2013 |
| Rhode Island | Shruti Nagarajan | Providence | 24 | Bollywood-fusion dance | Upward Mobility: College Access for Low Income and Minority Students | | Women in Business Scholarship Award | |
| South Carolina | Rachel Wyatt | Clemson | 21 | Jazz Dance, "Something in the Water" by Carrie Underwood | Autism Speaks | 1st runner-up | CMN Miracle Maker Award 1st runner-up | Previously Miss South Carolina Teen 2012 Previously Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2013 |
| South Dakota | Julia Olson | Sioux Falls | 23 | Operatic Vocal "Omio Bino Caro" | Worth It | | | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant |
| Tennessee | Grace Burgess | Memphis | 22 | Vocal "Desperado" by The Eagles | Ready, Set, Read! Encouraging a Love for Reading | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award Quality of Life Award Finalist | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant |
| Texas | Caroline Carothers | San Antonio | 20 | Baton Twirling, "Hot Honey Rag" from Chicago | With + Math = I Can | Top 7 | | |
| Utah | Lauren Wilson | Pleasant Grove | 21 | Dance, "Libertango" | With Help Comes Hope: Suicide Awareness and Prevention | | | |
| Vermont | Rylee Field | Montpelier | 24 | Spoken Word Poetry, "Mockingbird" by Rives | Find a Happy Place - Positive Mental Health and Wellness | | | |
| Virginia | Michaela Gabriella Sigmon | Chesapeake | 21 | Tap Dance | Making it Matter | | | |
| Washington | Alicia Nicole Cooper | Vancouver | 21 | Tap Dance "Let's Get Loud" by Jennifer Lopez | Live on Purpose: Defining Your Legacy | 3rd runner-up | | |
| West Virginia | Morgan Breeden | Charles Town | 21 | Piano, "From Hurt to Heart" (Original composition) | Bullies Beware: I Have a Lion in My Heart | | | |
| Wisconsin | Courtney Jean Pelot | Manitowoc | 22 | Jazz Dance, "Burnin' Up" by Jesse J. Cornish | Open Books, Open Opportunity: Promoting Literacy in Our Communities | | | |
| Wyoming | Jordyn Hall | Laramie | 23 | Lyrical/Jazz dance | Shatter the Silence - Stop the Violence | | | |