Okay ladies, the time has come. This Sunday, put down your textbooks, take a break from studying and put off your homework for a few hours. Instead, grab your friends, some snacks and tune in to see who will be crowned Miss America 2015.
The final night of the Miss America 2015 pageant airs on ABC Sunday, September 14 at 8 p.m. EST. The competition has already begun and preliminary competition winners have been chosen over three days of competition.
Miss Maryland, Jade Kenny was Thursday night’s lifestyle & fitness winner and won a $1,000 scholarship. Miss Pennsylvania Amanda Fallon Smith took home the preliminary talent award with her vocal performance and with it, a $2,000 scholarship.
Additional preliminary competition winners include: Miss Oklahoma Alex Eppler for Lifestyle & Fitness, Miss Kentucky Ramsey Carpenter for her talent on the fiddle, Miss Ohio Mackenzie Bart for her ventriloquism talent and Miss Florida Victoria Cowen for lifestyle & Fitness.
Of course, the competition isn’t all about talent and fitness, Miss America is also one of the largest providers of school scholarships for women. In 2013, the organization provided more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance to participants. And while only a few women will take home awards during Sunday night’s contest, scholarship assistance is open to more than 12,000 women across the country who compete in state and local competitions.
Miss America also runs The Outstanding Teen program, which provides $1,000 in scholarship funds to all state pageant winners. Winners who advance to compete for the national title can also be in the running for more than just a crown and a beauty sash, they can also win up to $30,000 in scholarship and prizes.
While Miss America maybe be one of the most well-known scholarship programs for young women, there are others available for those who are interested in earning money to help pay for their education.
America’s Junior Miss (AJM) and Cinderella Pageant are also two larger organizations that provide pageants and scholarships for participants.
Still not convinced that a pageant isn’t right for you? Check out all of the other benefits of entering a beauty pageant.
Photo Credit: http://www.missamerica.org/