The final night of competition in the 2016 Miss America pageant was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey late Sunday.
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© AP Photo / Mel Evans
Betty Cantrell, representing the southern US state of Georgia, was crowned Miss America 2016.
Above: Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell greets a fan after being crowned Miss America 2016 at the 2016 Miss America pageant.
Above: Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell greets a fan after being crowned Miss America 2016 at the 2016 Miss America pageant.
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© AP Photo / Mel Evans
A total of 52 women competed for the crown. They represented all fifty US states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Above: Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson is congratulated as she moves on in the 2016 Miss America pageant.
Above: Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson is congratulated as she moves on in the 2016 Miss America pageant.
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© AP Photo / Mel Evans
Cantrell received her crown from last year’s winner Kira Kazantsev of New York.
Above: Workers stand on the stage during preparations for the 2016 Miss America pageant.
Above: Workers stand on the stage during preparations for the 2016 Miss America pageant.
The preliminary rounds in talent, interviews, evening wear and swimsuit categories were held on Thursday.
Above: Miss Nevada, Katherine Kelley, competes in the talent competition during the first night of preliminaries of Miss America at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Above: Miss Nevada, Katherine Kelley, competes in the talent competition during the first night of preliminaries of Miss America at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
"I'm still so overwhelmed; I don't know what to say other than thank you!" Cantrell told journalists after receiving the crown.
Above: Attendees review a program in Boardwalk Hall, the venue for the 95th Miss America Pageant.
Above: Attendees review a program in Boardwalk Hall, the venue for the 95th Miss America Pageant.
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© AP Photo / Noah K. Murray
Cantrell is a 21-year-old student at Mercer University in the town of Macon, Georgia. She is studying to be a music teacher.
Above: Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell participates in the swimsuit competition during the 2016 Miss America pageant.
Above: Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell participates in the swimsuit competition during the 2016 Miss America pageant.
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© AP Photo / Mel Evans
Above: A group of Miss America Outstanding Teens cheers during the 2016 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Above: Miss Louisiana April Nelson competes in the evening gown competition during the first night of preliminaries of Miss America at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, September 8, 2015.
Above: A beauty pageant winner wearing a crown ascends an escalator into Boardwalk Hall, the venue for the 95th Miss America Pageant.
During the competition in talent, Cantrell performed an operatic aria which was highly acclaimed by the judges.
Above: Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell (left) reacts after winning Miss America 2016 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Above: Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell (left) reacts after winning Miss America 2016 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Miss Mississippi Hannah Roberts was runner-up, and Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson was second runner-up.
Above: Rachel Hansen (left), 14, the Northern States Junior Teen American Coed winner, gathers with a group of women for a television broadcast in front of Boardwalk Hall, the venue for the 95th Miss America Pageant.
Above: Rachel Hansen (left), 14, the Northern States Junior Teen American Coed winner, gathers with a group of women for a television broadcast in front of Boardwalk Hall, the venue for the 95th Miss America Pageant.
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© AP Photo / Wayne Parry
The Miss America contest was first held in 1921. Young ladies between the ages of 17 and 24 are allowed to participate.
Above: Miss Puerto Rico Destiny Noelle Velez plays the drums during the third night of preliminary competition in the 2016 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Above: Miss Puerto Rico Destiny Noelle Velez plays the drums during the third night of preliminary competition in the 2016 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
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© AP Photo / Wayne Parry
During the event, judges assess not only the contestants’ appearance and dresses but also their talents and intellect.
Above: Contestants compete in the swimsuit competition in the third night of preliminary competition in the 2016 Miss America competition in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Above: Contestants compete in the swimsuit competition in the third night of preliminary competition in the 2016 Miss America competition in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Last year, the Miss America crown was awarded to Kira Kazantsev, the daughter of Russian immigrants.
Above: Miss Alabama, Meg McGuffin competes in the talent competition during the first night of preliminaries of Miss America at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Above: Miss Alabama, Meg McGuffin competes in the talent competition during the first night of preliminaries of Miss America at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The US has another pageant called Miss USA, which competes with the Miss America in significance, interest from the public, and media coverage.
Above: Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell (left) huddles with Miss South Carolina Daja Dial and Miss Tennessee Hannah Robison before being crowned Miss America 2016 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Above: Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell (left) huddles with Miss South Carolina Daja Dial and Miss Tennessee Hannah Robison before being crowned Miss America 2016 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
