[ad_1]
Miss New York, Nia Franklin, reacts after winning Miss America 2019 on stage in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Carlo Allegri / Reuters)
Although there was a lot of drama surrounding the Miss America organization this year, Sunday night, the TV competition was virtually unchallenged.
Miss New York, Nia Franklin, was named winner of the Miss America Contest in 2019 and was awarded a $ 50,000 scholarship. Franklin, 24, whose social platform defends the arts, hopes to obtain a doctorate in music composition at Princeton University or Juilliard. His victory marks the seventh title for New York, the largest number of states in the almost 100-year history of the contest.
Franklin, who went through the re-enactment circuit of his home state of North Carolina, sang "Quando m'Vo" by Puccini in the talent section. "I want the United States to see that classical music is still alive and prosperous, especially when an African-American woman sings opera," she said. "Because there are so many kids out there who do not know they can do classical music."
Franklin performs an opera song during the talent part. (Carlo Allegri / Reuters)
Aside from the actual competition, all eyes were on Miss America. in the aftermath of the chaos that began last December, when two executives resigned after the revelation of raw e-mails sent by contest officials to candidates. Gretchen Carlson, former presenter of Fox News and Miss America 1989, took office as president. Then, this summer, the reorganization of the contest (which included the elimination of the swimsuit competition) triggered an exodus of council members and calls for Carlson's resignation. Miss America 2018, Cara Mund of North Dakota, wrote a scathing letter last month about her unhappy year in the organization.
Here are some of the best, worst and strangest moments of the two-hour telecast – and, as promised, the movie was without a bikini.
[Stripped of bikinis, Miss America teeters on. For now, anyway.]
BETTER
* Miss Michigan immediately caused a viral moment.
The beginning of the show began, as usual, with all the competitors proudly presenting themselves and their states. The intros were extremely docile – until Miss Michigan attracted the attention of viewers when she launched a stern call to the Flint water crisis.
"From the state with 84% of the US freshwater, but none for its inhabitants," she said, "I'm Miss Michigan, Emily Sioma.
* Miss Connecticut killed the talent contest.
Some participants sang songs, others played piano, a couple gave monologues on spoken words. and Moonwalked. The moonwalk really sent it overboard; Alas, it was not enough for the win, as she was named the first finalist behind New York.
Miss Connecticut, Bridget Oei, kills him in the talent contest. (Noah K. Murray / AP)
* Miss Florida's answer during Q & A
Miss America now has two interview segments, so there are even more opportunities to turn around for all the wrong reasons. Miss Florida, Taylor Tyson, avoided this fate, even with a common thread on the classic question of the difficult interview: "What is your greatest weakness?" Bobby Bones, host of country radio, asked Tyson to name it "the most difficult and difficult failure."
"Failure is a funny word because it implies defeat. And I've had a lot of setbacks in my life, but I firmly believe that every setback is a setup for your return, "said Tyson, skilfully avoiding a specific answer. "And from all the tribulations that I have faced, every rejection that I have had; I used it to learn to be a better version of myself. "
The audience roars. "Well said!" Said host Carrie Ann Inaba.
Miss Florida, Taylor Tyson, during the preliminary competition of the Miss America contest. (Wayne Parry / AP)
WORST
* The constant promotion of "Miss America 2.0".
Earlier this year, when Carlson announced the elimination of the swimsuit contest, she said, "Miss America will represent a new generation of women leaders focused on scholarship, social impact, talent and empowerment. . a pre-recorded segment and pronounced phrases that describe themselves as competitors in the new "empowered" version of the show: "Smart. Confident. Fort. Talented. Accomplished. Of principle. Commanding officer. Impactant Diverse. Inclusive. "And again and again.
Admirable, of course – but the show has started to congratulate itself too often, with the repeated phrase "Miss America 2.0" and to say that Miss America is still extremely relevant in our culture. (According to Mund's letter, this is a topic of discussion really wants to get through.)
And in case you could miss the news of the swimsuit, the series pointed out that the segment is dead. Miss Alabama, Callie Walker, confessed to being shocked when she heard the news, but assured the audience that it was for the better: "Sometimes change is difficult, but change is good . 1948, Bebe Shopp, who was sitting in the crowd to remind everyone that the competition evolved over time, from "swimsuits to educational programs". More swimsuits!
Carrie Ann Inaba and Ross Matthews organize the Miss America contest. (Noah K. Murray / AP)
* Miss New York's answer to Q & A
Nia Franklin won the contest, so who cares whether her answer in the last segment of the interview was not the best? However, we can not take it out of our minds. Judge and boxer Laila Ali asked, "How did the New York candidate prepare you for the Miss America post?
A question of softball, but Franklin went with this: "I have the New York wind. I have moved more than five times due to the subletting. In New York, this can be a little difficult because of the high rent, but I have overcome it. "
Hey, the Washingtonians understand the nightmares of sublets and the ridiculously expensive rents, but is there not a better example of "grit"? Whatever the case may be, she quickly managed to save the answer with much better follow-up: "And then, as a New Yorker, I understand what it takes to work hard. I came across a Lincoln Center Scholarship because I am an artist. And I am very excited to share my platform, my social impact, my advocacy for the arts and to ensure that all students have access to quality education.
THE WEIRDEST
* The last march of Cara Mund as Miss America.
It is likely that many viewers were unaware that Mund had criticized the Miss America organization in his recent letter, saying that officials "silenced me, reduced my situation, marginalized me and essentially erased my role as Miss America." ".
But for those who knew about the drama, it was embarrassing to see Mund make happy waves while she was walking on stage at the end of the night – and declared in an already recorded voice message: "The night where I've had this important job, I knew that I could accomplish just about anything. This has opened the door to innumerable possibilities. " As she said last year, she went to law school and worked on her dream of becoming the first female governor of North Dakota.
"Miss America gave me the platform," she said, "and I'm just starting."
Read more:
It's not just bikinis: in the battle for Miss America's future
The swimsuits are from Miss America, but the relationship was always complicated
Miss America eliminates swimsuit competition and will not judge competitors on physical appearance
[ad_2]
Source link
