Miss Georgia, Betty Cantrell, Crowned Miss America 2016

Last year’s winner Kira Kazantsev passed on the title during live broadcast

| September 13, 2015 @ 8:03 PM Last Updated: September 14, 2015 @ 12:18 PM

Betty Cantrell, representing the state of Georgia, was named Miss America 2016 on Sunday.

She was crowned by last year’s winner Kira Kazantsev during ABC’s live broadcast of the 2016 competition from Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.

First, second, third and fourth runners-up were Miss Mississippi Hannah Roberts, Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson, Miss Louisiana April Nelson and Miss Alabama Meg McGuffin, respectively.

Also read: Miss America Pageant Apologizes to Vanessa Williams 32 Years After Yanking Her Crown

During the talent portion of the competition, Cantrell impressed the judges with her performance of an aria from the opera “Madame Butterfly,” but stumbled during the question round when talking about Tom Brady‘s Deflategate scandal, having to ask the judge to repeat his question.

“Did he cheat? Um, that’s a really good question,” she said. “I’m not sure. I think I’d have to be there to see the ball, and feel it to make sure it was deflated or not deflated … If there were any question to be had, I think that he definitely cheated, and he should’ve been suspended for that. That’s not fair.”

Also read: Miss America From 1921 to Present: Meet the Past Winners (Photos)

The winner was chosen by a panel of judges led by former Miss America Vanessa Williams. The panel also included country musician Brett Eldredge; wife of the U.S. Navy Seal portrayed in “American Sniper,” Taya Kyle; actress Danica McKellar; “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary; Paralympian Amy Purdy; and Disney Channel star Zendaya.

The broadcast, hosted by “The Bachelor’s” Chris Harrison and Brooke Burke-Charvet, also saw the Miss America Organization offer a formal apology to Williams 32 years after she was forced to resign, when nude photos from her past were published in Penthouse magazine.

See some of the best Twitter reactions to Cantrell’s win below:

Miss America From 1921 to Present: Meet All the Winners (Photos)

1 of 92

A look back at the beauty queens who have taken home the crown

1921 
Margaret Gorman 
District of Columbia

Also Read: Miss America Pageant Apologizes to Vanessa Williams 32 Years After Yanking Her Crown

 

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