Miss America 2007
Miss America 2007, the 80th Miss America pageant, was held on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada on Monday, January 29, 2007, making it the first time that the pageant was held on a weekday, rather than the traditional Saturday since 1927's contest.
Miss America 2007 | |
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Date | January 29, 2007 |
Presenters | Mario Lopez |
Venue | Aladdin Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada |
Broadcaster | CMT |
Winner | Lauren Nelson Oklahoma |
The pageant was broadcast live on CMT from the Theatre for the Performing Arts at the Aladdin Resort and Casino, only the second time that the pageant has been held outside Atlantic City.
At the conclusion of the final night of competition, outgoing titleholder Jennifer Berry crowned Lauren Nelson as her successor. Both titleholders are from Oklahoma, only the second occurrence of two consecutive winners from one state. The last time that two titleholders from the same state won in consecutive years was 1959 and 1960, when Mississippi did the honor.
Selection of contestants
One delegate from each state was chosen in state pageants held in mid-2006. Prior to competing in state pageants, the majority of delegates first were required to win a local title. Each delegates title is pre-dated to 2006, for example Melinda Toole is "Miss Alabama 2006" rather than "Miss Alabama 2007".
Many contestants competed in state pageants in both the Miss America and Miss USA systems numerous times before winning titles, and some had previously in other states to those which they won their state title.
All contestants were required to be between the ages of 17–24, unmarried and a citizen of the United States. They were also required to meet residency and education requirements.
Competition
All delegates compete in an interview competition with the judges, based on their platform issue, and also in the swimsuit, evening gown and talent competitions.
Prior to the nationally televised competition, the delegates participate in three nights of preliminary competition, where preliminary award winners are chosen in each category.
During the final telecast, following the announcement of the semi-finalists, the top ten compete in swimsuit and evening gown. The top five go on to compete in the talent competition, and the top three face a final interview round.
Results
Placements
Final results | Contestant |
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Miss America 2007 | |
1st runner-up | |
2nd runner-up | |
3rd runner-up | |
4th runner-up | |
Top 10 |
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Preliminary awards
Awards | Contestant |
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Lifestyle and Fitness |
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Talent |
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Quality of Life awards
Results | Contestant | Platform |
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Winner |
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Go Green! Global Warming Awareness |
1st runner-up |
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Strength Over Silence: Rape Awareness And Recovery |
2nd runner-up |
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Character Education |
Finalists |
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Various |
Other awards
Awards | Contestant |
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Miss Congeniality |
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Non-finalist Talent Award |
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Judges
The six judges for the competition were:[2]
- Entertainer, Debbie Allen
- Photographer and television personality, Nigel Barker
- Actress and Miss Florida 1974, Delta Burke
- Musician, Michael Feinstein
- Television personality, Chris Matthews
- Television personality and Miss America 1981, Susan Powell
Contestants
State | Name | Hometown | Age1 | Talent | Placement | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Melinda Toole | Birmingham | 23 | Vocal | 4th runner-up | Miss Congeniality Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up | |
Alaska | Stephanie Wonchala | Eagle River | 21 | Piano | |||
Arizona | Hilary Griffith | Glendale | 21 | Vocal | Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up | Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2005 pageant | |
Arkansas | Amber Bennett | Carlisle | 23 | Vocal | |||
California | Jacquelynne Fontaine | Moorpark | 24 | Operatic Vocal | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
Colorado | Janie Allen | Arvada | 23 | Piano | |||
Connecticut | Heidi Alice Voight | New Haven | 24 | Vocal | |||
Delaware | Jamie Ginn | Wilmington | 25 | Dance | 4th runner-up at National Sweetheart 2005 pageant | ||
District of Columbia | Kate Michael | Washington, D.C. | 24 | Dance | 2nd runner-up at Miss District of Columbia USA 2008 pageant | ||
Florida | Allison Kreiger | Miami | 23 | Dance / Twirl | Later Miss Florida USA 06 | ||
Georgia | Amanda Kozak | Warner Robins | 22 | Tap Dance | 2nd runner-up | Quality of Life Award Finalist | 1st runner-up at National Sweetheart 2005 pageant Later Miss Georgia USA 2008 |
Hawaii | Pilialoha Gaison | Kaneohe | 23 | Tahitian Dance | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
Idaho | Katherine Crouch | Rexburg | 19 | Piano | |||
Illinois | Heidi Ekstrom | Mundelein | 22 | Ballet | |||
Indiana | Betsy Uschkrat | Bloomington | 24 | Classical Opera | Quality of Life Award Finalist | ||
Iowa | Emily Nicholas | Clear Lake | 21 | Vocal | |||
Kansas | Michelle Walthers | Towanda | 21 | Vocal | |||
Kentucky | Rachelle Phillips | Princeton | 24 | Vocal | |||
Louisiana | Jamie Wilson | Minden | 23 | Vocal | |||
Maine | Karissa Staples | Biddeford | 19 | Vocal | |||
Maryland | Brittany Lietz | Edgewater | 21 | Dance | |||
Massachusetts | Michaela Gagne | Fall River | 24 | Vocal | |||
Michigan | Angela Corsi | Farmington Hills | 24 | Contemporary Ballet En Pointe | Quality of Life Award Finalist | 3rd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2005 pageant | |
Minnesota | Nicole Swanson | Lakeville | 24 | Classical Viola | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
Mississippi | Taryn Foshee | Clinton | 21 | Piano | 3rd runner-up | ||
Missouri | Sarah French | Columbia | 21 | Vocal | Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2004 | ||
Montana | Christie Hageman | Billings | 23 | Vocal | |||
Nebraska | Molly McGrath | Omaha | 23 | Dance | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | Previously Nebraska's Junior Miss 2001 | |
Nevada | Caydi Cole | Las Vegas | 22 | Vocal | Previously Nevada's Junior Miss 2003 | ||
New Hampshire | Emily Hughes | Gilmanton | 23 | Tap Dance | |||
New Jersey | Georgine DiMaria | Lodi | 22 | Violin | Georgine M. DiMaria died at home in Lodi, N.J. at age 37 on August 28, 2021. | ||
New Mexico | Christina Hall | Albuquerque | 23 | Vocal | |||
New York | Bethlene Pancoast | Brooklyn | 24 | Tap Dance | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
North Carolina | Elizabeth Horton | High Point | 23 | Vocal | |||
North Dakota | Annette Olson | Baldwin | 23 | Vocal | |||
Ohio | Melanie Murphy | Brook Park | 20 | Dance | |||
Oklahoma | Lauren Nelson | Lawton | 20 | Vocal, "You'll Be In My Heart" | Winner[1] | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | Previously Oklahoma Teen 2004 |
Oregon | Donilee McGinnis | Scappoose | 24 | Tap Dance | |||
Pennsylvania | Emily Wills | Beaver | 24 | Vocal | Top 10 | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | Previously Pennsylvania's Jr. Miss 2001 2nd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2005 pageant |
Rhode Island | Allison Rogers | Providence | 25 | Piano | Quality of Life Award Winner | ||
South Carolina | Shelley Benthall | Florence | 21 | Vocal | Non-finalist Talent Award | Previously Miss South Carolina's Teen 2003 | |
South Dakota | Callee Bauman | Huron | 21 | Vocal | |||
Tennessee | Blaire Pancake | Chattanooga | 24 | Vocal | |||
Texas | Shilah Precious Phillips | Plano | 25 | Vocal | 1st runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | |
Utah | Katie Millar | Highland | 20 | Violin | Top 10 | ||
Vermont | Sarah Watson | Enosburgh | 20 | Piano | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
Virginia | Adrianna Sgarlata | Fairfax Station | 24 | Vocal | Quality of Life Award Finalist | ||
Virgin Islands | Stacy Smith | 24 | Steel Pan / Vocal | ||||
Washington | Kristen Eddings | Silverdale | 20 | Vocal | Top 10 | ||
West Virginia | Tiffany Lawrence | Shepherdstown | 24 | Vocal | |||
Wisconsin | Meghan Marie Coffey | New Berlin | 22 | Dance | |||
Wyoming | Jenileigh Sawatzke | Cheyenne | 24 | Aerial Artist |
- 1 Age as of January 2007
Crossovers
Unusually, no former Miss USA delegates competed in this pageant, although Sarah French, formerly Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2004 (and Miss Photogenic at Miss Teen USA) competed as Miss Missouri. Later on Amanda Kozak, Miss Georgia won the Miss Georgia USA 2008 title and competed at Miss USA 2008.
References
- "Miss Oklahoma Lauren Nelson Wins Miss America 2007 Pageant". FOX News.com. Associated Press. January 30, 2007.
- "Miss America: Press Releases: MAO Announces Judges for the 2007 Miss America Pageant". Miss America Organization. October 19, 2006. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-22.