Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell Named Miss America

The Scenic City’s Miss Tennessee Hannah Robison was America’s Choice and a top seven finalist but Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell was the judges’ choice as she became Miss America 2016 on Sunday night in Atlantic City and just the second winner from the Peach State in the pageant’s 95-year history in ending a three year victory streak for New York entrants.

Miss Cantrell, who is a vocal performance major at Mercer University, won Thursday’s night talent preliminary with her rendition of “Tu Tu Piccolo Iddio” from Madame Butterfly.  Among the judges she impressed was Vanessa Williams, who made her first appearance on the Miss America stage in 32 years after resigning her Miss America 1984 title due to a photo scandal.

Miss Williams and her mother received an apology from CEO Sam Haskell for the actions of the pageant board at the time which led to her relinquishment of the title.

Miss Cantrell, who is from Warner Robins, joins the late Neva Langley who was Miss America 1953 as the only Georgians to take the victory walk down the famed runway at Boardwalk Hall.  She receives a $50,000 scholarship and will promote her platform of “Healthy Children Strong America” and serves as the national goodwill ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network during her year of service.

Miss Robison, who is the second straight Scenic City Pageants winner to finish in the top seven at Miss America following Hayley Lewis a year ago, added the America’s Choice victory to an already stellar week.  The America’s Choice winner was decided strictly by social media voting for the first time and as a result, she was the first called into the top 15 by pageant host Chris Harrison.   The UT-Martin chemistry student who wants to become a university professor has won $35,000 in scholarships at the state and national level since becoming Miss Tennessee in June.  She received $16,000 at Miss America as a result of her top 7 placement ($7,000), being selected as one of the five STEM scholarship recipients ($5,000) and was the first runner-up for the Quality of Life Award ($4,000)  for outstanding community service in promoting her platform of Arthritis Awareness.   She won a total of $19,000 in scholarships at the state pageant - $18,000 in becoming Tennessee and a $1,000 for winning the state community service award.

Miss Alabama Meg McGuffin was the fourth runner-up.  

Video on Facebook can be seen by clicking here.