Miss America 2006, the 79th Miss America pageant, was held on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada on Saturday, January 21, 2006.
The pageant was broadcast live on CMT from the Theatre for the Performing Arts at the Aladdin Resort and Casino, the first time that the pageant was held outside Atlantic City. The pageant was held four months later than usual.
At the conclusion of the final night of competition, Deidre Downs, Miss America 2005, crowned Jennifer Berry of Oklahoma as her successor. This was the first time since 2001 that the pageant winner was not a vocalist; Berry was also the first titleholder since to also win a preliminary talent award.
Selection of contestants
One delegate from each state was chosen in state pageants held in mid-2005. Prior to competing in state pageants, the majority of delegates first were required to win a local title. Each delegates title is pre-dated to 2005, for example Alexa Jones was Miss Alabama 2005 rather than Miss Alabama 2006. Many contestants competed in state pageants in both the Miss America and Miss USA systems numerous times before winning titles, and some had previously in states other than those where they won a state title.
All contestants were required to be between the ages of 17–24, unmarried and a citizen of the United States. They were also required to meet residency and education requirements.
Competition
All delegates 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 nationally televised competition, the delegates participate in three nights of preliminary competition, where preliminary award winners are chosen in each category.
During the final telecast, following the announcement of the semi-finalists, the top ten compete in swimsuit and evening gown. The top five go on to compete in the talent competition, and the top three face a final interview round.
Results Placements Final results Contestant Miss America 2006 Oklahoma - Jennifer Berry 1st runner-up Georgia - Monica Pang 2nd runner-up Alabama - Alexa Jones 3rd runner-up Virginia - Kristi Lauren Glakas 4th runner-up District of Columbia - Shannon Schambeau Top 10 Arkansas - Eudora Moseby Florida - Mari Wilensky Pennsylvania - Nicole Brewer South Carolina - Erika Powell Texas - Morgan Matlock
Awards Preliminary awards
Awards Contestant Lifestyle and Fitness District of Columbia - Shannon Schambeau Virginia - Kristi Lauren Glakas Utah - Julia Bachison Talent South Carolina - Erika Grace Powell Oklahoma - Jennifer Berry California - Dustin-Leigh Konzelman
Quality of Life awards
Results Contestant Platform Winner Idaho - Tracey Brown Breast Cancer Awareness: Education, Support and Research 1st runner-up Oklahoma - Jennifer Berry Building Intolerance to Drunk Driving and Underage Drinking 2nd runner-up Alabama - Alexa Jones Arts Education
Other awards Awards Contestant Miss Congeniality Hawaii - Malika Dudley Bernie Wayne Scholarship Award for the Performing Arts South Carolina - Erika Grace Powell Non-finalist Talent Awards California - Dustin-Leigh Konzelman Delaware - Rebecca Bledsoe Minnesota - Karyn Stordahl Tennessee - Tara Burns
Delegates
State Name Hometown Age Talent Placement Awards Notes1 Alabama Alexa Jones Andalusia 24 Ballet en Pointe 2nd runner-up Quality of Life 2nd runner-up Alaska Rebecca Hayes Anchorage 24 Ballet en Pointe Arizona Audrey Sibley Sierra Vista 20 Vocal Arkansas Eudora Moseby Hazen 23 Vocal Top 10 California Dustin-Leigh Konzelman Carlsbad 23 Fiddle Preliminary Talent, Non-finalist Talent Contestant on The Amazing Race 10 and The Amazing Race 11 Colorado Jessica Urban Colorado Springs 24 Vocal & Harp Connecticut Dianna Baitinger Norwich 23 Vocal Delaware Rebecca Bledsoe Newark 23 Vocal Non-finalist Talent District of Columbia Shannon Schambeau Washington, D.C. 25 Tap Dance 4th runner-up Preliminary Swimsuit 1st RU at Miss DC USA 2007 Florida Mari Wilensky Jacksonville 21 Vocal Top 10 Georgia Monica Pang Atlanta 25 Piano 1st runner-up Hawaii Malika Dudley Papaikou 23 Vocal Miss Congeniality Idaho Tracey Brown Post Falls 19 Ballet en Pointe Miss Idaho USA 2008 Illinois Lauren Allen Batavia 21 Freestyle Gymnastics Indiana Susan Guilkey Noblesville 22 Vocal Later married Micah Beckwith Iowa Kay Pauszek Bettendorf 23 Irish Step Dance Kansas Adrienne Rosel Liberal 23 Vocal Kentucky Kerri Mitchell Barbourville 21 Vocal Louisiana Molly Causey Ruston 22 Piano Maine Megan Beals Ludlow 22 Vocal Maryland Rachel Ellsworth Fort Ashby, WV 21 Tap Dance Massachusetts Kristin Gauvin Worcester 23 Tap Dance Michigan Octavia Reese Detroit 23 Cello Minnesota Karyn Stordahl Owatonna 22 Classical Piano Non-finalist Talent Mississippi Kristian Dambrino Grenada 20 Piano / Vocal Missouri Stacie Cooley Liberty 22 Jazz Dance Montana Sophia Steinbeisser Sidney 21 Tap Dance Nebraska Kelly Keiser Gothenburg 21 Piano Nevada Crystal Wosik Las Vegas 23 Lyrical Dance New Hampshire Audra Paquette Merrimack 24 Lyrical Ballet Miss New Hampshire USA 2002 New Jersey Julie Robenhymer Moorestown 24 Dance New Mexico Ane Cristal Romero Las Vegas 25 Vocal New York Kandice Pelletier New York City 24 Musical Theatre Dance National Sweetheart 2003, Contestant on The Amazing Race 10 and The Amazing Race 11 North Carolina Brooke McLaurin Fayetteville 24 Vocal North Dakota Jacqueline Johnson Fargo 20 Cello Ohio Marlia Fontaine Massillon 23 Vocal T10 05 Oklahoma Jennifer Berry Tulsa 22 Ballet en Pointe Winner Preliminary Talent Oregon Lucy Fleck Portland 20 Tap Dance T10 04, NF 05 Pennsylvania Nicole Brewer Philadelphia 22 Vocal Top 10 Rhode Island Jessica Samson Newport 23 Vocal South Carolina Erika Powell Easley 20 Vocal Top 10 Preliminary Talent Miss South Carolina USA 2012 South Dakota Nikki Grandpre Pierre 23 Vocal Tennessee Tara Burns Nashville 22 Classical Vocal Non-finalist Talent Texas Morgan Matlock Lamesa 24 Vocal Top 10 Utah Julia Bachison North Ogden 22 Vocal Preliminary Swimsuit Miss Utah USA 2008 Vermont Megan Plebani Weybridge 24 Jazz Dance / Gymnastics Virginia Kristi Lauren Glakas Centreville 24 Vocal 3rd runner-up Preliminary Swimsuit Miss Virginia USA 2004 Virgin Islands Allison Bourne-Vanneck Saint Thomas 22 Steel Pan Washington Tina Marie Mares Lynnwood 25 Piano West Virginia Kimberly Goodwin Morgantown 21 Tap Dance Wisconsin Tracy Gest Menomonee Falls 20 Piano Wyoming Heather Jackelen Jackson 24 Acrobatic Dance Miss Wyoming USA 2001
1 Abbrevs: NF = Non-finalist, RU = Runner-up, T = Top, Nat Sweetheart = National Sweetheart (competition for Miss America runners-up)
References
External links Miss America official website