Miss America 2009 Contestants - Page 3

On January 24, 2009, the Miss America 2009 Beauty Contest will takes place at Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The reigning Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund of Farmington Hills, Michigan will crown her successor. The Pageant will be broadcasted live on TLC from the Theatre for the Performing Arts at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino and hosted by Mario Lopez.

All 51 delegates will compete in an interview competition with the judges, based on their platform issue, and also in the swimsuit, evening gown and talent competitions.

Prior to the televised competition, the delegates will participate in three nights of preliminary competition, where the preliminary awards will be given to the winners in each category.

During the final telecast, following the announcement of the semi-finalists, the top ten compete in swimsuit and evening gown competitions. Then, the top five go on to compete in the talent competition, and the top three face a final interview round.

Meet the 51 Official Candidates:

Miss North Dakota Hometown: West Fargo Tessie Jones, 21 Talent: Piano	Miss Ohio Hometown: Woodsfield Karissa Martin, 21 Talent: Vocal
Miss Oklahoma Hometown: Collinsville Kelsey Cartwright, 20 Talent: Lyrical Dance	Miss Oregon Hometown: Beaverton Danijela Krstic, 24 Talent: Belly Dance
Miss Pennsylvania Hometown: Nazareth Kendria Perry, 23 Talent: Piano	Miss Rhode Island Hometown: North Smithfield Francesca Simone, 23 Talent: Vocal
Miss South Carolina Hometown: Florence Anna Perry, 23 Talent: Piano	Miss South Dakota Hometown: Eureka Alexandra Hoffman, 20 Talent: Vocal (Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2006)
Miss Tennessee Hometown: Jackson Ellen Carrington, 21 Talent: Classical Vocal	Miss Texas Hometown: Buffalo Rebecca Robinson, 24 Talent: Tap Dancing (Graduate of Texas A&M University)
Miss Utah Hometown: Manti Kayla Barclay, 18 Talent: Piano	Miss Vermont Hometown: Lyndonville Ashley Wheeler, 21 Talent: Vocal
Miss Virgin Islands Hometown: St. Thomas Shamika K. Thomas, 23 Talent: Vocal	Miss Virginia Hometown: Woodbridge Tara Wheeler, 24 Talent: Vocal
Miss Washington Hometown: Yelm Janet Harding, 21 Talent: Piano	Miss West Virginia Hometown: Short Gap Kayla Lynam, 21 Talent: Piano
Miss Wisconsin Hometown: Racine Briana Lipor, 22 Talent: Vocal	Miss Wyoming Hometown: Sheridan Courtney Gifford, 19 Comedic Vocal

Official Candidates:   Page 1   Page 2
Preliminary Awards:   January 20   January 21   January 22
Winners:   Top 15   Top 12   Top 10   Top 7   Crowning