Miss America 2008

Miss America 2008
Date	January 26, 2008
Presenters	Mark Steines
Venue	Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts|Performing Arts Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Broadcaster	TLC
Winner	Kirsten Haglund Michigan

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 has been held outside Atlantic City.

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

Selection of contestants

One delegate from each state was chosen in state pageants held in mid-2007. Prior to competing in state pageants, the majority of delegates first were required to win a local title. Each delegate's title is pre-dated to 2007, for example Jamie Langley is "Miss Alabama 2007" rather than "Miss Alabama 2008." Many contestants competed in state pageants in both the Miss America and Miss USA systems numerous times before they won titles. Some previously competed in states other than those where they won a state title.

All contestants had to be between 17 and 24 years old, unmarried, and a citizen of the United States. They had to meet residency and education requirements.

Miss America: Reality Check

The pageant's new network, TLC, premiered a four-week reality competition 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]

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.

Results

Judges

The seven judges for the competition were:^[4]

• fashion designer Trace Ayala
• magazine editor Sarah Ivens
• Olympic athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee
• casting director Jason La Padura
• personal trainer Kim Lyons
• television news anchor Robin Meade
• motivational speaker James Arthur Ray

Delegates

¹ Age as at January 2008

Crossovers

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

• Kari Virding (Oregon) - Miss Oregon Teen USA 2000
• Ashley Bickford (Rhode Island) - Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2002, Top 10 at Miss Teen USA 2002;^[5] Triple Crown winner
• Grace Gore (Tennessee) - Miss Mississippi Teen USA 2002^[6]
• Cari Leyva (Alaska) - Miss Alaska USA 2004
• Janeisha John (Virgin Islands) - Miss US Virgin Islands 2010, Miss Universe 2010 contestant

References

External links

• Miss America official website