Miss America 2008 Explained

Image Size:200
Date:January 26, 2008
Presenters:Mark Steines
Venue:Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas, Nevada
Broadcaster:TLC
Winner:Kirsten Haglund
Represented:Michigan
Entrants:53
Placements:16
Before:2007
Next:2009

Miss America 2008, the 81st Miss America pageant, was held on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, on Saturday, January 26, 2008.

The pageant was broadcast live on TLC from the Theatre for the Performing Arts at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, only the third time that the pageant had been held outside Atlantic City.

Kirsten Haglund (Michigan) was crowned Miss America 2008 by Miss America 2007, Lauren Nelson.

Miss America: Reality Check

The pageant's new network, TLC, premiered a four-week reality competition, titled Miss America: Reality Check, on January 4, 2008, hosted by Ugly Betty actor Michael Urie. The premise of the show is to show the contestants preparing for the pageant and to update the image of the Miss America pageant, which had seen a decline in popularity over the last few decades. In addition, viewers were able to vote online and choose one of the delegates to be a finalist in the pageant.[1]

Judges

The seven judges for the competition were fashion designer Trace Ayala, magazine editor Sarah Ivens, Olympic athlete and gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, casting director Jason La Padura, personal trainer Kim Lyons, television news anchor Robin Meade, and motivational speaker James Arthur Ray.[2]

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.

For the first time, sixteen semi-finalists were chosen (fifteen based on the judges' vote and one extra "People's Choice" contestant based on internet voting). The top sixteen competed in the swimsuit competition, after which judges eliminated six contestants. This was the first time the eliminated contestants were called, rather than contestants called to progress to the next round. The top ten contestants competed in the evening gown competition, and then prepared for the talent competition. Eight contestants participated in Talent, and two were eliminated in the midst of the competition. The top eight then participated in a quickfire interview competition. In a return to past proceedings, the runners-up and winner were called out of the top eight.

Delegates

State/districtNameHometownAgeTalentPlacementSpecial awardsNotes
AlabamaJamie Langley[3] 24Vocal, "Listen"CMN Miracle Maker Award 2nd runner-up

Quality of Life Award Finalist
Cari Leyva[4] Anchorage23Vocal, "Habanera" from CarmenPreviously Miss Alaska USA 2004[5]
ArizonaNicole Turner 24 Jazz Dance, "Proud Mary"
Katie Bailey 25 Vocal, "Feeling Good" Top 16
Melissa Chaty[6] Ukiah23 Operatic Vocal, "The Jewel Song" from FaustTop 8 Previously Miss Teenage California 2003
Maggie Ireland 22 Irish Step Dance, "Dueling Violins" & "Footloose"
Dana Daunis 22 Vocal, "Let Him Fly"Non-finalist Talent Award

Preliminary Talent Award
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2006 pageant
DelawareBrittany Dempsey 20Jazz Dance, "Rhythm of the Night"Previously Delaware's Junior Miss 2005
District of ColumbiaShayna Rudd 22 Jazz Dance, "Feeling Good"Non-finalist Talent Award
Kylie Williams[7] Jasper24Country Vocal, "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart"Top 16 Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up[8]
GeorgiaLeah Massee 22 Vocal, "If I Had My Way"Top 10
Ashley Layfield[9] 21 Lyrical Dance, "Listen" from Dreamgirls Sister of Miss Hawaii USA 2008, Jonelle Layfield

2nd runner-up in Miss New York USA 2012 and 2013 pageants[10]
IdahoSadie Quigley 19 Piano, "Devilish Inspiration, Op. 4, No. 4" by Sergei ProkofievNon-finalist Talent Award
IllinoisAshley Hatfield[11] 24 Vocal, "To Love You More"
IndianaNicole Rash[12] 23 Vocal, "Bandito"1st runner-up Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2006 pageant

Later Ms. America 2012[13]

Later Mrs. America 2018 (under married name, Nicole Cook)[14]
Top 6 at Mrs. World 2018 pageant
Diana Reed[15] Norwalk23 Baton, "You Can't Stop the Beat" from HairsprayTop 10 Preliminary Talent Award
Alyssa George[16] 21 Classical Piano
KentuckyKaitlynne Postel[17] 21 Vocal, "So Much Better" from Legally BlondeDaughter of Miss Maryland 1982, Lynne Graham Postel
LouisianaAmanda Joseph 21 Ballet en Pointe, "Canned Heat"
MaineTara Allain[18] 22 Dance, "Hangin' By a Thread"
MarylandShana Powell[19] 22 Classical Vocal, "Glitter and Be Gay" from Candide
MassachusettsValerie Amaral[20] Acushnet22 Vocal, "Anyway"CMN Miracle Maker Award

Non-finalist Talent Award

Preliminary Talent Award

Quality of Life Award Finalist
Previously Miss Massachusetts' Outstanding Teen 2001[21]

Contestant at National Sweetheart 2006 pageant
19 Vocal, "Over the Rainbow"Winner[22] Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness AwardGranddaughter of Miss Detroit 1944, Iora June Victor[23]
MinnesotaJennifer Hudspeth[24] 23 Vocal, "Life of the Party" from The Wild PartyQuality of Life Award Finalist
MississippiKimberly Morgan[25] 24 Vocal, "God Bless the Child"Top 16
MissouriLindsay Casmaer Florissant24Ballet en Pointe, "Piano Fantasy"
MontanaKristen Mantooth 22 Lyrical Dance, "Beauty from Pain"
NebraskaAshley Bauer 21 Vocal, "This Is My Life"'Contestant at National Sweetheart 2006 pageant
NevadaCaleche Manos 23 Vocal, "Love Is a Battlefield"Quality of Life AwardContestant at National Sweetheart 2006 pageant
New HampshireRachel Barker20Ballet en Pointe, "Someone Like You" from Jekyll & HydePyramid Scholarship for Public Relations & Marketing
New JerseyAmy Polumbo[26] 22 Vocal, "Astonishing" from Little WomenNon-finalist Talent Award
Jenny Marlowe 23 Vocal, "Born For This"
Elisabeth Baldanza 23 Contemporary Ballet, "Your Daddy's Son" from Ragtime
Jessica Jacobs 23 Ballet en pointe, "Spring" from The Four Seasons4th runner-up
North DakotaAshley Young[27] 20 Classical Vocal, "Adele's Laughing Song" from Die FledermausMiss Congeniality
OhioRoberta Camp 23 Vocal, "Blessed"
Makenna Smith 24 Vocal, "Wheels of a Dream" from RagtimeQuality of Life Award 2nd runner-up
Kari Virding[28] Portland24 Vocal, "The Girl in 14G"Non-finalist Talent AwardPreviously Miss Oregon Teen USA 2000
Rachel Brooks 24 Vocal, "Summertime"Non-finalist Talent Award
Ashley Bickford 22 Ballet en Pointe Miss Photogenic

Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award

Quality of Life Award Finalist
Previously Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2002
Top 10 at Miss Teen USA 2002 pageant

Later Miss Connecticut USA 2010
South CarolinaCrystal Garrett[29] 21 Vocal, "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from Sunset BoulevardTop 16
Kate Wismer 22 Classical Vocal, "The Doll Song" from The Tales of Hoffmann
Tennessee24 Vocal, "What a Wonderful Day" Top 16 Quality of Life Award Finalist Previously Miss Mississippi Teen USA 2002
Molly Hazlett[30] 21 Character Jazz en Pointe, "Rich Man's Frug" from Sweet CharityTop 8 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
24 Vocal, "Shy" from Once Upon a Mattress Top 16 America's Choice
Rachel Ann Cole 22Monologue, "Queen Hermione" from A Winter's Tale
Virgin IslandsJaneisha John20 Jazz Dance Later Miss US Virgin Islands 2010
VirginiaHannah Kiefer[31] High Point, NC21 Classical Ballet en Pointe, "The Chocolate Dance" from The Nutcracker3rd runner-up Charles and Theresa Brown Scholarship Eligible as a student at Hollins University
23 Popular Vocal, "Angels"2nd runner-up[32] [33] 3rd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2006 pageant

Contestant on
Summer Wyatt Athens21 Vocal, "Why Haven't I Heard from You"
WisconsinChristina Thompson[34] Pleasant Prairie23 Classical Violin, "Praeludium & Allegro" by Fritz KreislerTop 8
Jennifer McCafferty 23 Vocal, "Gimme, Gimme" from Thoroughly Modern MillieEligible to compete as a student at the University of Wyoming

Crossovers

For the first time since Miss America 2003, four former Miss Universe Organization titleholders competed at Miss America.They are:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Miss America: Reality Check. January 4, 2008. TV.com.
  2. Web site: Miss America: Press Releases: 2008 National Judges Announced for Miss America Live!. January 3, 2008. Miss America Organization. 2013-06-22. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130414114214/http://www.missamerica.org/news/press-releases.aspx?id=295. April 14, 2013.
  3. News: The Randolph Leader . Jamie Langley crowned Miss Alabama . June 13, 2007.
  4. News: A Big Night at the Miss America Prelims . Las Vegas Review-Journal . January 24, 2008 . Speaking of tough odds: Miss Alaska Cari Leyva....
  5. News: Paul C. . Curtis . Justine Michioka appears in 'Miss USA' tonight . The Garden Island . April 12, 2004 . ...her roommate is Miss Alaska, Cari Leyva....
  6. News: Miss North Coast Melissa Chaty wins 2007 Miss California crown. 2007-07-01. 2007-07-01. The Lompoc Record. Associated Press.
  7. News: Reigning Miss Tallahassee wins Miss Florida crown. Tallahassee Democrat. 2007-07-01. 2007-07-01.
  8. Web site: Shelly . Godefrin . Miss Florida 2007 tells students to make good decisions . News Chief . May 2, 2008.
  9. Web site: Ashley Layfield Crowned New Miss Hawaii . Hawaii News Now . June 18, 2007.
  10. Web site: Miss New York USA & Teen USA pageant results. Pageant Update.
  11. News: Downstater crowned Miss Illinois . Daily Herald . July 1, 2007 . Nancy . Gier .
  12. News: Nicole Rash is 2007 Miss Indiana . Zionsville Times Sentinel. June 27, 2007.
  13. News: Deb . Peterson . St. Louis' Nicole Rash crowned Ms. America. St. Louis Post-Dispatch . April 17, 2012.
  14. News: Chief Meteorologist places in Top 15 in Mrs. America Pageant . KGET News . August 27, 2018 . Nicole Elizabeth Cook of Illinois was crowned Mrs. America..
  15. News: Reed wins Miss Iowa competition . Geyer . Thomas . Fedderson . Dawn. The Quad-City Times . June 10, 2007.
  16. News: Karrey . Britt . New Miss Kansas seeks winning streak . Lawrence Journal-World . June 12, 2007.
  17. News: Melodie . Phelps . The Outlook . Miss Monticello Kaitlynne Postel wins Miss Kentucky . July 22, 2007.
  18. News: Betty Morrison: Miss Maine, an author and the 'Book Bandit' all visit Alfred Elementary School . Fosters.com . April 24, 2008 . ...discovered that Miss Maine, Tara Allain, a senior at Colby College....
  19. News: Miss Allegany County crowned Miss Maryland . WMDT. July 1, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170416142350/http://www.wmdt.com/wires/displaystory.asp?id=63216830 . dead . April 16, 2017.
  20. Web site: Jeffrey D. . Wagner . Acushnet resident Valerie Amaral crowned Miss Massachusetts . The Herald News . June 24, 2007.
  21. Web site: Former Titleholders. https://web.archive.org/web/20110415222243/http://www.missmaoutstandingteen.org/Formers.htm. dead. April 15, 2011. April 15, 2011.
  22. News: Miss Michigan Kirsten Haglund Crowned Miss America 2008 . Associated Press . January 26, 2008.
  23. News: Michigan pageant success is in genes . Las Vegas Review Journal . Norm . Clarke . January 24, 2008 .
  24. News: John . Molene . Talent and beauty reign in Eden Prairie . Eden Prairie News . June 22, 2007.
  25. Web site: Alcorn State Alumna Kimberly Morgan Becomes Miss Mississippi 2007 . August 2, 2007 . Weekly Bulletin Online . Alcorn State University . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081120012949/http://www.alcorn.edu/Bulletin/20070802/spotlight.htm . November 20, 2008.
  26. Web site: Keith . Hagarty . Howell College Student Crowned Miss New Jersey . The Howell Times . September 21, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070921034813/http://howelltimes.micromediapubs.com/news/2007/0622/Front_Page/002.html . September 21, 2007.
  27. News: Crysta . Parkinson . Ashley Young crowned Miss N.D. 2008 . June 16, 2007 . Williston Daily Herald.
  28. News: Miss Portland Crowned Miss Oregon 2007. Salem News. July 1, 2007. July 1, 2007.
  29. Web site: Miss Charleston wins Miss SC pageant. TheTandD.com. July 8, 2007.
  30. Web site: Miss Longview crowned Miss Texas . My Plainview . July 7, 2007.
  31. News: The Roanoake Times . Miss Virginia's on top of the world . July 13, 2007 . Whitney. Mitchell. dead . https://archive.today/20120914012336/http://www.roanoke.com/extra%5Cwb/124091 . September 14, 2012.
  32. News: Miss Washington is second runner-up for Miss America . January 28, 2008 . Seattle Post.
  33. News: Miss Washington snags 2nd runner-up spot . KIMA TV . January 28, 2008.
  34. News: Miss Madison is new Miss Wisconsin . Appleton Post Crescent . July 1, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928135913/http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070701%2FAPC0101%2F707010572%2F1979 . 2007-09-28 . dead .
  35. Web site: Ashley Bickford Biography. Miss Rhode Island. 2008-01-24. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080202161853/http://missri2007.com/bio.asp. 2008-02-02.
  36. News: New Miss Tennessee plans to maintain strong Vanderbilt ties. 2007-07-20. The Reporter (Vanderbilt Medical Center). Brandy. Willenburg.