Miss America 2017: Meet The 52 Ladies From Around The Nation Competing For The Crown [PHOTOS]

On Sept. 11, 52 pageant queens from around the country will represent their home state (and, in the case of Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, United States territory) in the hopes of being crowned Miss America 2017.

Each contestant will take the stage to showcase their talents, share their stances on important issues, show off their physical beauty and fashion sense at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. With less than two weeks until the highly anticipated competition, it’s anyone’s guess which state will win big and who will be sent packing during the 96th annual Miss America pageant.

In an interview with Yahoo News, Betty Cantrell — who took home the title in the 2016 pageant as Miss Georgia — suggested that the best way to stand out in the competition is to let your true self shine through. She noted that it’s easy to get lost in the crowd with 52 equally beautiful, smart and talented women competing for one title.

“It seems like you’re so small,” she said. “You’re one of 52 girls: how are you going to be noticed? The best thing you can do is just be yourself.”

So who is competing to take the title away from Cantrell? Check out photos and social channels of the 52 ladies vying for the title of Miss America 2017:

Miss Arkansas, Savvy Shields

Miss Alabama, Hayley Barber

Miss Alaska, Kendall Bautista

Miss Arizona, Katelyn Niemiec

Miss Delaware, Amanda Debus

Miss Connecticut, Alyssa Rae Taglia

Miss Colorado, Shannon Patilla

Miss California, Jessa Carmack

Miss District of Columbia, Cierra Jackson

Miss Florida, Courtney Sexton

Miss Georgia, Patricia Ford

Miss Hawaii, Allison Carol Nanea Chu

Miss Iowa, Kelly Koch

Miss Indiana, Brianna DeCamp

Miss Illinois, Jaryn Franklin

Miss Idaho, Kylee Solberg

Miss Kansas, Kendall Schoenekase

Miss Louisiana, Justine Ker

Miss Maine, Marybeth Noonan

Miss Massachusetts, Alissa Musto

Miss Minnesota, Madeline Van Ert

Miss Mississippi, Laura Lee Lewis

Miss Montana, Lauren Scofield

Miss Nevada, Bailey Gumm

Miss New Jersey, Brenna Weick

Miss New Mexico, Stephanie Chavez

Miss New York, Camille Sims

Miss North Carolina, McKenzie Faggart

Miss North Dakota, Macy Christianson

Miss Ohio, Alice Magoto

Miss Oklahoma, Sarah Klein

Miss Oregon, Alexis Mather

Miss Pennsylvania, Samantha Lambert

Miss Puerto Rico, Carole Rigual

Miss Rhode Island, Shruti Nagarajan

Miss South Carolina, Rachel Wyatt

Miss South Dakota, Julia Olson

Miss Tennessee, Grace Burgess

Miss Texas, Caroline Carothers

Miss Utah, Lauren Wilson

Miss Vermont, Rylee Field

Miss Virginia, Michaela Gabriella Sigmon

Miss Washington, Alicia Cooper

Miss West Virginia, Morgan Breeden

Miss Wisconsin, Courtney Pelot

Miss Wyoming, Jordyn Hall

Miss New Hampshire, Caroline Carter

Miss Nebraska, Aleah Peters

Miss Missouri, Erin O'Flaherty

Miss Michigan, Arianna Quan

Miss Kentucky, Laura Jones

Miss Maryland, Hanna Brewer

Which contestant would you like to see crowned Miss America 2017? Tune in Sept. 11 at 9 p.m. EDT on ABC to find out who wins!