America's Beauty 2018

**The 8th America's Beauty** Competition was held in Charleston on March 16, 2018. **Laura Katherine Jones** of **Kentucky** crowned her succesor **Kaitlyn Schoeffel** of **New Jersey** at the end of the event .

Contestants from 50 states , plus **District Of Columbia** competed in this event.

## Results

 **2nd Runner Up** | * Georgia - Alyssa Beasley
 **3rd Runner Up** | * Louisiana - Laryssa Bonacquisti
 **Top 8** | * District of Columbia - Briana Kinsey
* Nevada - Andrea Martinez
* North Dakota - Cara Mund
* Oklahoma - Triana Browne
 **Top 12** | * California - Jillian Smith (⋄)
* Hawaii - Kathryn Teruya (§)
* Texas - Margana Wood (⋄)
* Utah - JessiKate Riley
 **Top 16** | * Colorado - Meredith Winnefeld (¶)
* Connecticut - Eliza Kanner
* Michigan - Heather Kendrick
* North Carolina - Victoria Huggins (⋄)

* **Missouri** Placed For The Fifth Consecutive Time.
* **California** & **Utah** Placed For The Second Consecutive Time.
* **Colorado**, **Lousiana** & **New Jersey** Placed For The First Time Since 2016.
* **Connecticut**, **District Of Columbia**, **Nevada** & **Texas** Placed For The First Time Since 2015.
* **Oklahoma** Placed For The First Time since 2014.
* **Georgia**, **North Carolina** & **North Dakota** Placed For The First Time since 2012.
* **Hawaii** Placed For The First Time Since 2011.
* **Michigan** Placed For The First Time Ever.

**Automatic Spots :**
 Top 4
* Florida - Sara Zeng
* New Mexico - Taylor Rey
 **Contestant's Choice (¶)** | * **Colorado - Meredith Winnefeld**
 Top 4
* Idaho - Taylor Lance
* South Carolina - Suzi Roberts
 **Jury's Wild Cards (⋄)** | * **California - Jillian Smith**
* **North Carolina - Victoria Huggins**
* **Texas - Margana Wood**

(§) Voted by the public to advance to the Top 16 from Round 2.

(¶) Voted by the contestants to advance to the Top 26 from Round 1.

(⋄) Selected by the final's judges to advance to the Top 16, from either rounds.

## Preliminary Awards

### Competition Awards :

* **Louisiana - Laryssa Bonacquisti**
* **New Jersey - Kaitlyn Schoeffel**
 **Talent** | * **Alabama - Jessica Procter**
* **Florida - Sara Zeng**
* **Oregon - Harley Emery**

 2nd Place
 3rd Place
 Finalists
* Georgia - Alyssa Beasley
* Louisiana - Laryssa Bonacquisti

### Other Awards :

 **STEM Scolarship Award** | *

## Preliminary Rounds

### Round 1 : Lifestyle & Fitness / Talent

Contestants were divided into 9 geographical divisions , and then competed in 2 events :

1. **Lifestyle & Fitness** : Contestants wore activewear and walked the stage , showing their fitness & athletic lifestyle. Scores attributed consisted of half the overall score.
2. **Talent** : Contestants performed their chosen talent , to showcase their artistry & creativity. Scores attributed consisted of half the overall score.

The average of the 2 scores determines which 26 delegates will advance to **Round 2**, plus the **Contestant's Choice**.

#### **Northeast :**

New England :
  Massachusetts - Jillian Zucco
  Maine - Katie Elliott

Mid-Atlantic :
  Pennsylvania - Katie Schreckengast

#### **Midwest :**

East North Central :
  Indiana - Haley Begay

West North Central :
  Minnesota - Brianna Drevlow
  South Dakota - Miranda Mack
  Nebraska - Allison Tietjen

#### **South :**

South Atlantic :
  Virginia - Cecili Weber
  West Virginia - Tamia Hardy
  Delaware - Chelsea Bruce

East South Central :
  Kentucky - Molly Matney

West South Central :
  Arkansas - Maggie Benton

#### **West**

Mountain :
  Idaho - Taylor Lance
  Wyoming - Cheyenne Buyert

Pacific & Isles :
  Washington - Nicole Renard

### Round 2 : Quality Of Life

The Top 27 compete in 4 geographical regions, and present to the preliminary jury their "Quality Of Life" Project : A social platform they wish to advocate and have worked on as state titleholders. This Attributes to 85% of their Round 2 scores, while the other 15% consist of their Round 1 score.

12 contestants with the highest averages in their respective regions will qualifiy to the **Final Round**, plus **America's Choice**.

**Northeast :**
  Vermont - Erin Connor

**Midwest :**
  Ohio - Sarah Clapper
  Wisconsin - McKenna Collins

**South :**
  Florida - Sara Zeng
  Maryland - Kathleen Masek
  Tennessee - Caty Davis

**West :**
  Idaho - Taylor Lance
  Oregon - Harley Emery

### Round 3 : Final Night

* On the Coronation Night, the Top 16 contestants compete in front of the final jury panel in **Swimsuits**. 12 contestants with the highest marks advance.
* The Top 12 compete in **Evening Gowns,** and only 8 advance.
* The Top 8 compete in **Jury's Q&A**, and along with impressions from the entire competition, the jury determine the winner & final ranking.