The Miss America 2022 competition was held on December 16, 2021. This was the 94th Miss America competition and was held at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, as the Miss America Organization celebrated its 100th anniversary. It was the first Miss America since 1954 that was not televised, but it was streamed on Peacock. There were several technical glitches within the stream throughout the show, causing many viewers to complain on social media about the production value.
Miss America 2020, Camille Schrier of Virginia crowned her successor, Emma Broyles of Alaska, at the end of the event. Broyles is Alaska's first Miss America title in the history of the pageant and the third Asian American to win the Miss America title, following Angela Perez Baraquio in 2001 and Nina Davuluri in 2014 and the first of Korean descent to win the Miss America title.
Background On April 8, 2021, the Miss America Organization announced a three-year contract with Mohegan Sun to host the national competition which would be held in December.
On November 22, 2021, it was announced that the competition would be exclusively streamed on Peacock.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic affected the planning of the 2021 event, known as Miss America 2021, which was initially scheduled for December 2020 and was to be hosted at the pageant's headquarters in Atlantic City, New Jersey. That was set to air on NBC but was cancelled on May 8, 2020, due to the onset of the pandemic. The other missing years are because there was no pageant held from 1928 to 1932 or in 1934 because of the Great Depression. Miss America Organization opted to postpone the 94th edition or the 100th anniversary of the pageant to the latter part of 2021.
The state pageant competitions had been planned for April to June 2020. However, they were postponed for a year, rescheduled for April and July 2021 or cancelled outright. The pageant allowed a one-time only grandfather clause on eligibility for state qualifying pageants. The exception was Montana, which held its pageant as planned on July 25, 2020. As with restrictions implemented in all 50 states (including Montana) and District of Columbia, numerous health and safety guidelines have been implemented for contestants, production members, and audiences at state pageants, such as taking a negative COVID-19 test and following social distancing. Additionally, a number of state pageants have had to alter their initial venue choices due to shut-downs implemented by their governors. Some state pageants had to push further a month after they were originally intended to schedule in typical April to June schedule to avoid scheduling conflicts with the Miss USA 2021 state pageants, which were rescheduled into most of 2021 due to the pandemic.
On December 13, 2021, Miss Maine Mariah Larocque tested positive for COVID-19, despite being fully vaccinated, and had to withdraw for the remainder of the competition including the final show. As a result, 50 delegates were still able to participate in the final competition as planned.
Overview
Judges
Preliminary Judges On December 12-13, 2021, the judges for the preliminary competition selected the preliminary winners as well as the finalists for the final night. The panel included co-founder and president of BossBabe, Danielle Canty; performing artist, Kevin Davis; founder and CEO of Rae Model & Talent Agency, LLC, Jessica Rae; fashion designer, Paige Mycoskie; and artist and singer-songwriter, John Gurney.
Final Night Judges On December 15, the judges for the final competition were announced. For the 100th anniversary, the panel consisted of former Miss Americas. They were Miss America 1990, Debbye Turner Bell; Miss America 2000, Heather French Henry; and Miss America 2009, Katie Stam Irk.
Results
Placements Placement ContestantMiss America 2022 – Emma Broyles1st Runner-Up – Lauren Bradford2nd Runner-Up – Elizabeth Pierre3rd Runner-Up – Sydney Park4th Runner-Up – Abigail HayesTop 10 – Andolyn Medina – Leah Roddenberry – Isabelle Hanson – Mallory Fuller – Sasha Sloan
Preliminary awards
Awards Candidates On Stage Interview (Social Impact Pitch) Alaska – Emma Broyles Texas – Mallory Fuller Talent Illinois – Isabelle Hanson New York – Sydney Park
Equity and Justice Scholarship awards Results Contestant Winner Utah – Sasha Sloan 1st runner-up Georgia – Karson Pennington Finalists Delaware – Sophie Phillips Florida – Leah Roddenberry Pennsylvania – Meghan Sinisi
Forever Miss America Scholarship Results Contestant Winner Tennessee – Tally Bevis
Jean Bartel Military Awareness Scholarship Results Contestant Winner District of Columbia – Andolyn Medina
Jean Bartel Social Impact Initiative Scholarship Results ContestantSocial Impact Pitch Winner Alabama – Lauren BradfordUNPLUG: The Digital Diet Plan 1st runner-up Utah – Sasha SloanRISE for Refugees: Refugee Inclusivity, Support, and Education 2nd runner-up New Jersey – Alyssa SullivanPeer Challenge Commit2Character Finalists Florida – Leah RoddenberryBe a LeadHER: Ignite the Spark Within Mississippi – Holly BrandVolunteerism: If You See a Need, Take the Lead
South Dakota University STEM Scholarship Results Contestant Winner Alabama – Lauren Bradford
STEM Scholarship Results Contestant Winner Michigan – Vivian Zhong 1st runner-up Louisiana – Julia Claire Williams 2nd runner-up Wisconsin – Jennifer Schmidt Finalists Minnesota – Elle Mark Vermont – Danielle Morse
Top Fundraisers Results Contestant Winner South Carolina – Julia Herrin 1st runner-up Alabama – Lauren Bradford 2nd runner-up North Carolina – Carli Batson 3rd runner-up Tennessee – Tally Bevis 4th runner-up District of Columbia – Andolyn Medina
Women in Business Scholarship Results Contestant Winner Pennsylvania – Meghan Sinisi 1st runner-up Nebraska – Morgan Holen 2nd runner-up Tennessee – Tally Bevis Finalists Alabama – Lauren Bradford Utah – Sasha Sloan
Other awards Awards Contestant(s) Miss Congeniality Maine – Mariah LarocqueAmerica's Choice Michigan – Vivian ZhongNon-Finalist Talent Arizona -- Amber Barto Arkansas -- Whitney Williams Michigan – Vivian Zhong Mississippi – Holly Brand Nebraska – Morgan Holen
Candidates 51 state or district titleholders participated.
State or district Name Age Hometown Talent "Social Impact Initiative" Placement Special awards NotesAlabamaLauren Bradford21Gulf ShoresViolin, "Symphony No. 5, in C minor" by Ludwig van BeethovenUNPLUG: The Digital Diet Plan1st runner-upJean Bartel Social Impact Initiative Winner South Dakota University STEM Scholarship Top Fundraiser 2nd Place Women in Business FinalistPreviously Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2017AlaskaEmma Broyles20AnchorageVocal, “Let Me Be Your Star” from TV show SmashBuilding Community Through Special OlympicsMiss America 2022Preliminary Social Impact Pitch AwardPreviously Miss Alaska's Outstanding Teen 2017ArizonaAmber Barto23ScottsdaleContemporary Dance, "Dream Chasers" By Future World MusicLeadership through Service: Awareness, Action, ResultsPreviously Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2014Arkansas Whitney Williams23 ConwayBaton Twirling, "Conga" by Miami Sound MachineHeart for the ArtsCaliforniaJazmin Avalos24Garden GroveVocal, "Astonishing" from Little WomenEnding Substance AbuseColoradoMaura Spence-Carroll21Fort CarsonVocal “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman #EndTheStigma Surrounding Military Mental HealthcareFirst active-duty soldier to become Miss ColoradoConnecticut Sapna Raghavan 22 Ellington Indian Classical Dance Overcoming Adversity: Embracing Diversity Previously Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen 2015DelawareSophie Phillips25BearPianoEnvironmental JusticeEquity and Justice FinalistDistrict of ColumbiaAndolyn Medina25Chesapeake, VAVocal, "Summertime" By The Paul Smith QuartetDemand an End: Stop Child Exploitation and Human TraffickingTop 10Jean Bartel Military Awareness Scholarship Top Fundraiser 5th PlacePreviously Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2012 Previously District of Columbia Sweetheart 2019 Is an officer in the United States NavyFloridaLeah Roddenberry22BradentonDanceBe a LeadHER: Ignite the Spark Within Top 10Equity and Justice Finalist Jean Bartel Social Impact Initiative FinalistPreviously Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2013 and 2015 Georgia Karson Pennington 23 Augusta Tap Dance ROAR: Reach Out and ReadEquity and Justice Scholarship 1st runner-upHawaii Courtney Choy 25 Ewa Beach Hula Auana Female Empowerment Through Partnership Idaho Ayriss Torres 21 Pocatello Ballet en Pointe The Equity Project Civil Affairs Specialist in the United States ArmyIllinois Isabelle Hanson 25 Glen Ellyn Violin The Media Literacy MovementTop 10Preliminary Talent AwardPreviously Miss Illinois' Outstanding Teen 2013 Indiana Braxton Hiser 24 Indianapolis Vocal Love Thy NeighborIowaGrace Lynn Keller23Island Lake, ILBallet en PointeRead to Succeed: Promoting Literacy in Grades K-3Eligible as a student and recent graduate of the University of IowaKansasTaylor Clark21St. JohnDrumsBand Together: Music Education for AllPreviously Miss Kansas' Outstanding Teen 2017Kentucky Haley Wheeler 23 Clay City Vocal A Stitch of Hope: Alzheimer's Awareness Louisiana Julia Claire Williams 22 Monroe Dance Find your FREDDY: Fostering Rewarding Engagements with Disabled and Disadvantaged YouthSTEM Scholarship 1st runner-up Previously Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen 2015 Maine Mariah Larocque 25 Portland Vocal A Survivors Purpose: End Child Sexual Abuse Withdrew prior to the final competition after tested positive from COVID-19Miss Congeniality MarylandLydia Sohn25HanoverCelloArtworks: Promoting Arts Integration in Education and Engagement in Communities MassachusettsElizabeth Pierre23North CambridgeDanceWe Hear You: Empowering Youth Voices2nd runner-up Michigan Vivian Zhong24Northville Piano Golden Warriors of Pediatric Cancer - Fight Like a KidSTEM Scholarship Winner