ORLANDO — The Miss America competition kicked off Tuesday in Orlando with the first day of preliminary competition for teen contestants and Miss North Carolina’s Teen clinched two top awards as the 51 contestants vie for the title of Miss America’s Teen. Hanley House, who won the Miss NC Teen title in June at a state competition in High Point, emerged victorious in both the fitness and evening gown categories. House and Texas teen Natalie Poveda were both double preliminary winners which show their strength in two important phases of competition as the event heads towards the finals on Saturday.
The fitness category, sponsored by Rebel Athletic, resulted in three prelimary winners, with Florida’s Teen, Anna-Katherine Risalvato, joining House and Poveda. In evening gown, presented by Jovani Fashions, House and Poveda were joined by Miss Oklahoma’s Teen, Aubrey Bartmann. Each preliminary winner earned a $3,000 scholarship for each win, meaning House and Poveda took home $6,000 each Tuesday night.
The Miss America Organization offers more than five million dollars in cash scholarships annually. This year, the competition is being staged at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando after several years at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.
The week-long event, started Monday with personal interviews with teen preliminary rounds featuring talent, fitness, and evening wear starting Tuesday. The first public round of Miss America competition begins Wednesday night. The competition will culminate in the crowning of two young women on the final days of the event — Miss America’s Teen and Miss America.
