Miss America 2018
On Sept. 9, 2018, the new Miss America will be crowned, succeeded Cara Mund in the role. In this picture, Mund is seen after winning the Miss America title on Sept. 10, 2017 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Dick Clark Productions

The Miss America 2019 pageant won’t air until September on ABC, but women from all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C., are getting ready to compete for the national title.

The competition, which will once again take place in Atlantic City and will air live on Sunday, Sept. 9, will be undergoing some new changes as part of its revamp, now known as “Miss America 2.0.”

According to an ABC press release about the competition, the new contest no longer allows the competitors to be judges on outward physical appearances, which signals the end of the swimsuit competition and a change to the evening gown competition as well.

“In its place, each candidate will participate in a live interactive session with the judges, where she will highlight her achievements and goals in life, and how she will use her talents, passion and ambition to perform the job of Miss America,” the statement reads about what will happen in place of the swimsuit round.

As for the evening gown competition, the participants are now able to wear any evening attire of their choice, as they discuss how they hope to advance their individual social impact initiatives.

So who are the women who are participating in this newly evolved competition? Check the list below for more information and fun facts about the women competing in this year’s pageant.

Miss Alabama-Callie Regan Walker

  • College: University of Alabama
  • Major: Musical Theater
  • Social Impact Initiative: “Let’s Talk Trash!”- Green Kids for a Green Planet
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaAL

Miss Alaska-Courtney Anne Schuman

  • College: University of Alaska-Anchorage
  • Major: Environment and Society
  • Social Impact Initiative: Empowering Youth for a Brighter Tomorrow
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaAK

Miss Arizona-Isabel Ticlo

  • College: Arizona State University
  • Major: Marketing, minors in Communications and Dance
  • Social Impact Initiative: “Be My Eyes”
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaAZ

Miss Arkansas-Claudia Elizabeth Raffo

  • College: Arkansas State University
  • Major: Chemistry
  • Social Impact Initiative: New Life Saves Lives: Umbilical Cord Donation
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaAR

Miss California-MacKenzie Freed

  • College: California Baptist University
  • Major: Philosophy and Communication Studies
  • Social Impact Initiative: “From Classroom to Boardroom: Overcoming Workplace Bias”
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaCA

Miss Colorado-Ellery Jones

  • College: Harvard
  • Major: Neurobiology
  • Social Impact Initiative: “We Need to Talk--Growing Healthy Interpersonal Relationships on College Campuses”
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaCO

Miss Connecticut-Bridget Mary Oei

  • College: University of Connecticut
  • Major: Environmental Chemistry
  • Social Impact Initiative: Women in STEM: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaCT

Miss Delaware-Joanna Wicks

  • College: University of Delaware
  • Major: Visual Communications
  • Social Impact Initiative: The Color of Violence: Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaDE

Miss District of Columbia- Allison Kathleen Farris

  • College: University of Alabama
  • Major: Master of Science Enterprise Integration
  • Social Impact Initiative: Women in Technology
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaDC

Miss Florida-Taylor Tyson

  • College: Florida Atlantic University
  • Major: Political Science
  • Social Impact Initiative: Rise Up: Empowering Young Women to Lead and Succeed
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaFL

Miss Georgia-Annie Jorgensen

  • College: University of Georgia
  • Major: Journalism
  • Social Impact Initiative: Path of Confidence #IGotThis

Miss Hawaii-Penelope Emily Domaloan Ng Pack

  • College: American University
  • Major: BS In Business Administration: Integrated Marketing Communications and Digital Strategy
  • Social Impact Initiative: Page by Page: Helping Kids Read to Succeed
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaHI

Miss Idaho-Nina Forest

  • College: University of California Davis
  • Major: International Relations
  • Social Impact Initiative: Leave Childhood Hunger Behind

Miss Illinois-Grace Khachaturian

  • College: University of Illinois
  • Major: Journalism
  • Social Impact Initiative: YOU Matter: Mental Health Education for Our Youth
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaIL

Miss Indiana-Lydia Suzan Tremaine

  • College: Western Governors University
  • Major: Education
  • Social Impact Initiative: Act Now: Keeping the Arts Alive
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaIN

Miss Iowa-Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw

  • College: University of Iowa
  • Major: Journalism and Mass Communications; Certificate in Critical Cultural Competence
  • Social Impact Initiative: How About H.O.P.E.-Suicide Awareness and Prevention (Helping Others and Providing Encouragement)

Miss Kansas- Hannah Leigh Klaassen

  • College: Tabor College
  • Major: Psychology
  • Social Impact Initiative: The Mind Matters
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaKS

Miss Kentucky-Katie Michelle Bouchard

  • College: Western Kentucky University
  • Major: Social Work
  • Social Impact Initiative: “Being the Voice for America’s Children”
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaKY

Miss Louisiana- Holli Conway

  • College: Northwestern State University
  • Major: Bachelor of Science, Theatre with a concentration in Musical Theatre
  • Social Impact Initiative: InspHIGHER
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaLA

Miss Maine-Olivia Nicole Mayo

  • College: University of Southern Maine
  • Major: Communications/Media Studies
  • Social Impact Initiative: “Love Doesn’t Hurt”
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaME

Miss Maryland-Adrianna David

  • College: University of Maryland
  • Major: Communications Studies and Theater
  • Social Impact Initiative: The Kidney Project
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaMD

Miss Massachusetts-Gabriela Taveras

  • College: Emmanuel College
  • Major: Biology: Concentration in Neuroscience
  • Social Impact Initiative: F.E.A.R. (Face Everything and Rise)
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaMA

Miss Michigan-Emily Sioma

  • College: University of Michigan
  • Major: Women’s Studies
  • Social Impact Initiative: “I Believe You”- Supporting survivors of sexual violence
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaMI

Miss Minnesota-Michaelene Karlin

Miss Mississippi- Asya Branch

Miss Missouri- Katelyn Lewis

Miss Montana-Laura Lynn Haller

  • College: Boise State University
  • Major: Medical/Health Sciences
  • Social Impact Initiative: Own Your Movement
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaMT

Miss Nebraska- Jessica Lynn Shultis

  • College: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Major: MA in Management
  • Social Impact Initiative: Hoops for H.O.P.E.: Supporting Children’s Miracle Network
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaNE

Miss Nevada- Alexis Hilts

Miss New Hampshire-Marisa Moorhouse

Miss New Jersey-Jaime Gialloreto

Miss New Mexico: Ashley Alyssa Fresquez

  • College: The University of New Mexico
  • Major: Communications
  • Social Impact Initiative: “Life Is Why”: Preventing Cardiovascular Disease

Miss New York- Nia Franklin

Miss North Carolina- Laura Matrazzo

Miss North Dakota-Katie Rachel Olson

  • College: North Dakota State University
  • Major: Elementary Education
  • Social Impact Initiative: The Motivation Mindset: Positivity at Every Turn
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaND

Miss Ohio- Matti-Lynn Chrisman

Miss Oklahoma- Ashley Thompson

Miss Oregon-Taylor Lee Ballard

  • College: Portland State University
  • Major: B.S. Communications
  • Social Impact Initiative: “Confidence Under Construction”

Miss Pennsylvania-Kayla Repasky

Miss Rhode Island- Alexandra Coppa

Miss South Carolina- Davia Bunch

Miss South Dakota-Carrie Wintle

Miss Tennessee- Christine Williamson

Miss Texas-Madison Fuller

Miss Utah- Jesse Craig

Miss Vermont-Julia Crane

Miss Virginia- Emili McPhail

Miss Washington-Danamarie McNicholl-Carter

Miss West Virginia- Madeline Morris Collins

  • College: Columbia University Graduate School
  • Major: Master of Social Work
  • Social Impact Initiative: Think About It: Awareness and Advocacy for Mental Health
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaWV

Miss Wisconsin-Tianna Vanderhei

Miss Wyoming- Beck Bridger

  • College: Sheridan Community College
  • Major: Associates of Fine Arts
  • Social Impact Initiative: The Miracle of the American Woman
  • Twitter: @MissAmericaWY
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