When the winner is crowned, "There She Is, Miss America" is played.
The Miss America Pageant is as American as apple pie. Over the years, young women around the nation have competed in the pageant; however, it's about more than just the glitz and glam. In fact, the Miss America Organization is the largest provider of scholarship assistance for college-age women in the world. One of the highlights of the Miss America Pageant is the talent competition: from the local level to the national pageant, it's a mandatory phase of the Miss America competition.
History of the Talent Competition
The Miss America Pageant was first staged in 1921 as strictly a beauty contest. That changed in 1935 when talent was introduced to the pageant. That year, Miss Pennsylvania, Henrietta Leaver, performed a song and dance routine to "Living in a Great Big Way" in an evening gown. In 1938, the talent competition became a required part of the pageant, and Miss Ohio Marilyn Meseke tap danced her way to the title.
Choice of Talent
Many contestants choose singing for the talent portion of the Miss America competition.
While contestants choose a routine that showcases their talent, they don't have to be an expert in the field. Contestants must demonstrate skill with their chosen talent. The most frequently performed talents are singing and dancing, although contestants have been known to juggle, play a musical instrument and perform ventriloquism acts.
Talent Competition Rules
A performance must not be harmful to the contestant or the audience.
The talent portion of the Miss America competition is guided by certain rules. The performance must be 1 minute and 30 seconds or less, and live. The performance must not be harmful to the contestant or the audience. The performance must not involve live animals. Contestants must not disrobe. These rules are also in place for the state and local competitions.
Talent Competition Judging
Judges results are all that matter in the competition.
The talent competition comprises 35 percent of the contestant's overall score. In scoring the performance, the judges look for stage presence; use of key elements such as voice, music, body and costume; execution; and interpretation. Contestants must display these combined elements convincingly to produce a winning score.
