The Miss America pageant has been around for 90 years, but a Miss Nebraska had never won the title -- until last night when Teresa Scanlan was announced Miss America 2011.
At 17, Scanlan is also the youngest Miss America since Margaret Gorman, the pageant's first winner, won at the age of 16 way back in 1921.
Scanlan showed her confidence early on in the program. She predicted that she'd win the top prize in a short pre-taped video that was shown after she was announced as the second semi-finalist.
"I'm going to be the next Miss America because I know I can make a difference and change lives and the next Miss America needs to be able to inspire and restore hope," Scanlan said.
Producers invited past winners to participate in the show's 90th contest. An impressive 43 former Miss Americas showed up, including Lee Meriwether (1955) and Phyllis George (1971). George, celebrating the 30th anniversary of her win, presented roses to Scanlan after her name was read as the winner.
Pageant judges included Joy Behar ('The View'), Marc Cherry (creator/executive producer, 'Desperate Housewives'), Marilu Henner ('Taxi') and Tony Dovolani ('Dancing With the Stars.') Though they were introduced, they didn't really get a chance to say a few words. Behar still got some laughs in by Tweeting throughout the evening. She responded to questions sent in by her followers.
One read: Q: Are the girls nice or bitchy from food deprivation?
Joy: All seem nice. I'm the one bitchy from food deprivation.
Behar also joked in a Tweet that she couldn't find any cellulite during the swimsuit competition.
Songs 'Dynamite' by Taio Cruz, 'Just the Way You Are' by Bruno Mars and a pulsating remix of '(I've Had) The Time of My Life' were used during the program, but fortunately, the show kept the tradition of playing 'There She Is, Miss America' after Scanlan was crowned the winner.
Each of the 53 contestants introduced themselves at the beginning of the show. Many of the intros were cheese-tastic. To wit: "From the state that touches more than any of the others -- but never inappropriately, I am Alicia Grove, Miss Wyoming!"
Hosts Brooke Burke ('DWTS') and Chris Harrison ('The Bachelor'), no strangers to live TV, kept the action moving. Harrison's used to being around a bevy of beautiful women, though these ladies were chasing a crown -- not a husband. Burke could easily win next year's Miss America since she has a habit of winning and hosting live shows on ABC.
The show interviewed past winners during the broadcast. While this was a great idea, the questions all revolved around shoes to accommodate Designer Shoes Warehouse, a sponsor of the program, which was actually titled 'DSW Presents the Miss America Pageant.'
