Well, I am just as tickled as I can be about tonight’s big event. I’ll continue to update this same post throughout the pageant, so just be aware that between the updates and everyone’s comments, we’re all going to have to refresh our browsers in order to keep up with the conversation. I’ve changed my comment settings so that we can have more comments on the main page, so hopefully that will help.
I know that it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: let’s absolutely embrace the fun of the pageant – but without being mean-spirited. Because I’m pretty sure that we would all be about sixteen kinds of mortified if some contestant (or, heaven forbid, her MAMA) accidentally ran across this post and felt like we’d been unkind. So let’s have a blast and laugh like crazy and start a slow clap during talent and take a moment to marvel at how many squats and lunges are represented on that stage during the swimsuit competition.
I’m fairly certain that I will experience significant ab envy during that swimsuit competition.
All righty – see y’all in just a little bit. Thanks so much for being here!
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By the way, some folks on Twitter were just talking about what their Miss America talent would be. Mine would either be cooking bacon (also: eating bacon) or answering Real Housewives trivia questions. SKILLS. I got ’em.
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One more thing. A few days ago my friend Heather informed me that one of the girls in the pageant is an artistic rollerskater. I have very humbly asked the Lord to give her favor. SO THAT WE CAN SEE IT.
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Well, it should start off with the National Anthem. IT’S BETTER THAN A FOOTBALL GAME.
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I adore a Parade of States. Especially when girls are pretending to dance in a carefree fashion in the background.
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WELL PLAYED, MISS ARKANSAS.
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Very sweet, Miss Connecticut. So sensitive and appropriate.
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I AM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW.
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Oh. The puns are so delightful.
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CAREFREE. DANCING. CAREFREE! DANCING!
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Y’all, do you think they were dancing without music? Seriously.
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I love Miss North Carolina’s red hair.
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I like Miss South Carolina – “y’all are the ones with the accent.” She’s my new BFF.
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Miss Virginia has one of my favorite names: Rosemary. Love it.
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Oh, the dancing is so delightful.
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Semi-finalists: Miss Montana (AND WE’RE GETTING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE VOTING?!?!!?) (AND A SHOCKING TWIST), Miss Texas (I AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ANY MENTION OF “SEXINESS”), Miss Utah, Miss Oklahoma (WE HAVE A TAP DANCER), Miss Wyoming, Miss South Carolina (LOVE HER), Miss Tennessee, Miss Alabama (OH YES MA’AM!!!!!), Miss Maryland, Miss Illinois, Miss Indiana (I BELIEVE SHE TWIRLS THE BATON), Miss New York, Miss Florida, Miss Kentucky, Miss Iowa, and IN A SPECIAL SURPRISE SELECTION, Miss Washington
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My friend Amie Beth’s faves so far: South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Wyoming
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Swimsuit is next…I will pause from my commentary for a brief season of humbling.
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Miss Alabama’s quads have convinced me that I need not ever show my legs in public again.
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I am intrigued by Miss Wyoming’s decision to go with the big necklace. She’s so gorgeous that I don’t think she needed the bling.
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If Mariah Cary sings “Vison of Love” for a talent, my life will be complete.
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I really, really like Miss SC and Miss Wyoming (love Miss Alabama, of course).
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AMWAY CHANGING TENT = GOLD
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Finalists: Miss Washington, Miss Maryland, Miss Texas, Miss Alabama (GIDDY UP), Miss New York, Miss South Carolina, Miss Indiana (BATON TWIRLER), Miss Tennessee, Miss Oklahoma, Miss Wyoming (the necklace worked), Miss Illinois, Miss Iowa
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This Skechers commercial just made my whole life.
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Okay. Favorites so far? I think Miss Illinois is gorgeous. Still holding on to SC, Alabama, and Wyoming. What about y’all?
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I love that Miss Texas thinks that one of her best features is her back. I haven’t seen my back since 2004.
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I’m a fan of Miss New York’s dress and earrings.
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Miss Tennessee is stunning.
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Miss Illinois said she believed she’d wear a train.
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TEN PERFORMANCES – they added two!
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I just said “COME ON” out loud to my TV. Is anyone else thinking of Suzanne Sugarbaker?
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I clapped for that one. Spectacular.
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I have received approximately seven texts in the last 30 seconds.
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Interpretative ballet *and* Journey? Be still, my heart.
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Tap dances delight me. And oh, MISS OKLAHOMA HAS SKILLS.
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It wouldn’t be a pageant without a song from Les Mis.
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Well, I am captivated by Miss New York’s tap dance routine. Bringing a little sass (and soul) to the festivities.
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Well Miss South Carolina’s talent is delightful.
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Y’all, we have an abundance of tap dancing blessings tonight. I believe the Lord has given the Miss America pageant His favor.
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That was undoubtedly one of the finest talent competitions of my lifetime.
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I feel like this pageant has just FLOWN by.
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The judges got the Top 5 right, I think.
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AB thinks that Wyoming or SC will win. I think it’s Wyoming or NY. SC’s judge didn’t seem to like her answer.
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4th runner-up – Miss Iowa
3rd runner-up – Miss Wyoming
2nd runner-up – Miss Oklahoma
1st runner-up – Miss South Carolina (awwww – I am sad for her – she is darlin’)
Miss America 2013 – Miss New York (she’s originally from Alabama – yay!)
Well, y’all – that was just the most fun. And I think it was a great pageant! It was fast-paced, fun, and we got to see ten talents again.
Can’t wait to do this again next year!
Yes, I was just thinking of Suzanne Sugarbaker! Hilarious.
Soph, I thought of Suzanne Sugerbaker during the baton twirling too. Was hoping for fire.
me too!
I was thinking about Gracie Lou Freebush!
ha ha!
THE HAND GESTURES.
“They should do one of these without wearing make-up.” -my younger brother. YES.
Miss Tennesee’s talent dress looks like one of my mom’s old night gowns.
Journey and Donna Summer in one talent session? My heart can’t take it.
Well they are just moving this talent portion RIGHT ALONG, now aren’t they? I barely have time to recover.
twirling is winning, so far!
Hate to repeat myself but both TN and this dancer (missed her state) didn’t pick songs that seem to be very moving.
You know, I have to give Tennessee credit for choosing a song that was released after she was born.
This is a “speed talent” competition. It seems like they are all just little snippets of a larger routine/song.
I was just thinking the same thing- these are QUICK!!!
This is getting awkward. She’s looking dizzy.
Seriously awkward. And I thought the bun was gonna come loose too.
Go Texas!
I want a doughnut too!
I will never be able to hear the song Faithfully without picturing Angie Smith’s husband Todd, from Selah, singing part of it at the Women of Faith conference I went to this fall. He made a lot of ladies swoon!
Cheryl burke is trying not to fall out laughing at that dance to journey !! hilarious.
hmmm…doughnuts?
They’re stalling…someone must be changing into something new :)
Illinois is a beautiful lady, but her extensions were lame and POINT your toes…Mary Alpha would not be proud. Merci beaucoups. (I know BooMama gets this)
Agreed that was underwhelming.
Agreed! Def not a Mary Alpha student. (I get it too) Disappointing.
Don’t wave a doughnut in front if my face twice…
And THAT is why I’m not a pageant girl. #carbs #whitefood
This whole pageant is moving at breakneck speed. I haven’t relaxed a calf muscle in an hour.
Hydrate! (I’d hate to see you cramp up at a crucial time)
Twirling and Tap? Be still my heart!
Ugh George Harrison and John Lennon are rolling in their graves.
Tapping with Michael Buble’. Love it!!!!
Tap dancing!! Adorable!! She’s cute!
HER HAIR IS STUCK IN HER LIP GLOSS. Fix it fix it Fix it.
Lesson learned from Taylor Swift. NEVER wear lip gloss and fling your hair. Bless her!
EXCELLENT TAP ROUTINE…..
Agreed
I agree. I always love the tapper, but that was MOST EXCELLENT. She’s giving the twirler a run for her money!
I’m willing to bet that Project Runway Cayne was involved in Miss Oklahoma’s tap dancing outfit.
now that’s a dress!!!!
Oh now she was just the epitome of cute and sassy all at once.
Did the Beatles ever imagine Michael Buble covering their song? Did Michael Buble ever imagine someone tap dancing to it?
EMBELLISHED TAP SHOES!!!!!!!!!
Miss WY is all about the blang!
I like how Miss Wyoming gives little smirks to the judges. She plays piano with flair and I like that in a Miss America contestant. PIZAZZ.
Miss Wyoming’s dress is AH-Mazing….I love it!
I kinda love the old home videos they show.
Wyoming’s earring fell off. All that bling was just a little much…
Yes Miss Maryland! (I live in Baltimore)
My piano teacher would have slapped my arms down if I had waved them that high. And please, Miss MD don’t trip on the flying earring Miss WY left you!
Yes! I jut posted on Facebook that Suzanne Sugerbaker is back! If only they were on fire!
Can someone please explain the body movements during the piano playing? I’ve never seen so much upper body movement for something that only uses hands and feet.
That said, she did a good job, even when she lost the earring!
That was some mighty dramatic piano playing!
She looks so scared. I don’t think I would have tackled that song after the movie version.
Brave choice, Miss Maryland.
These girls have guts to sing on TV. so hard!
Miss Maryland’s dress was gorgeous.
LIP SYNCHING!! Oh my I am clapping my hands!!!!
Chris Harrison just said, “Get up off that THANG”. Dear. Me.
Oh, Miss New York, you ARE a sassy thing.
i AINT NEVA SEEN ANYONE TAP DANCE TO JAMES BROWN!
James Brown and tap dancing. Get down!
my vote is OK for the tapping…
No!!!!! Tap dancing to James Brown, bless her heart.
2013 will go down as the year pleather tap pants came to Miss America. I’d pay cash money to see Kathie Lee’s face right now.
Ha!
Pleather tap pants, dear me. I can only imagine what Miss America veterans think about this nonsense.
Is anyone else surprised SC hasn’t been called up yet?
Oklahoma’s tap was WAY better.
YES, it was!
I love Miss New York’s spunky attitude!
Miss NY has me dancing. Thank the Lord y’all can’t see me.
Confession: My sister went to college on a tap scholarship. Oklahoma is insanely good, but I’d rather go dancing with NY. :)
I prefer Miss OK’s tap dance routine. Miss Texas on the baton is still my favorite!
I liked that tap dance routine!
those judges seem to love NY. uh oh…
:EEK: Come on SC…. knock ’em off their seats!
Come on Alabama!!!!
Miss New York’s abs are making me seriously consider taking a tap class.
NY just pwned some girls, me thinks…
Make us proud Miss SC.
What?>>>> Jackson 5 on the piano
seriously jackson 5?
Love Jackson 5!
SC on the piano is adorable!
SC is just darlin’. Spunky even in her talent!
I adore Miss SC! And she has the self-confidence not to have a snazzy manicure! Sporty yet gorgeous!
I noticed her nails too. Loved her outfit!
Wow, classical music has changed. :)
Glad to see S Carolina can keep the piano head thrashing to a minimum- her earrings stayed in place…
No kidding! I was worried about Miss Wyoming.
My husband just declared SC the winner. I tend to agree.
Yup.
more tapping: Mariah Carey!
Lovin South Carolina!!!
3 tap dancers in the finals??
More tap dancing!! She seems pretty good!
This talent is sassy tonight…..love it!!!
She should have at least tap danced to a Mariah Carey song!
love it!
I would hate to tap after Miss OK!
SC is great. she just looks so relaxed and not trying too hard.
Sophie, The Lord gives tappers and takes away roller skaters. Blessed be His name. :)
If I’d been sipping when I read this I would have snorted water!!
cute dress Washington!
Judging talent is easy — Texas, Oklahoma, and South Carolina by a landslide.
yep!
Oh noooooo. Miss Alabama didn’t make it through. SO sad. Good job, Anna Laura. Can’t wait to see you back at school in a few weeks!
Tennessee sings Adele and Washington sings Rascal Flatts?
3 tappers and a baton twirler. Who could ask for anything more? This was great!
they were the best!
Someone should have counseled these gals to NOT choose Adele or Rascal Flats songs. You better have some pipes if you go down that road.
Oh my, that was a little hard to watch.
My son made me change the channel.
my husband changed it to the 49ers and packers on that last song
Mine too!
There are times when we are thankful the talent competition has been shortened.
Bless.
I think there have been multiple questionable song choices this evening. However not costuming. They nailed that!
That was unfortunate……
But ohhhh the tap and batons made me happy happy happy!
So sad Alabama didn’t make it… My vote for tallent is the baton twirler!
I was bummed too! Esp. after the girl that just sang got picked over her. And AL dress was beautiful!
*talent
Oh y’all, she’s one of my friends and her voice is AMAZING. So sad she didn’t make it through :(
I know.. That dress had me dying to see her talent!!!
It would only have been better if the roller skater had made it to talent. Some questionable song choices, but they looked amazing! Good costume choices!
miss America 2012 is a cross btw suzanne sugarbaker and wonder woman .
Ha! That is funny!
so sorry for Miss AL…..wonder what she is thinking as she is listening to Miss Washington try to sing?? Trying not to be negative, but that was baaaaadddd. Wish we could have seen AL’s talent.
I know but that was not good.
She’s one of my friends and her voice is SO GREAT. After hearing that last one, I know she must have cringed inside just a little bit. However, Anna Laura is incredibly classy, as shown when the judges asked how she was doing right before announcing she didn’t make it.
The talent competition has burned up my iPad battery.
Her voice was not the best…
Im new to the pageant watching so I thought I was being too hard on the girls w the bad singing. Is the talent competition really limited to dance, baton, piano or singing? Does no one have an unusual special talent? Stand up comedy? Basket weaving? Anything?!
I think Miss Montana had a stand-up comedy routine, but she didn’t make it this far. :(
I would have loved to see it! Sorry Montana…