2008 Woodie Awards
Miss America 2005: The South Rises Again
Mia Gross
Issue date: 9/29/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Have you ever heard the expression, "If it ain't broke don't fix it?" The producers of Miss America did just that on Saturday September 18th. In its 50th year on television, the pageant superiors sought to retain its timeless popularity with some modern modifications to the competition we have all come to love.
The four-day competition started off with 52 contestants, one delegate from each state in the union and one delegate each from the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The entire field (all 52 delegates) competed in the preliminary rounds of competition, which took place on the first three nights. That field was narrowed to 10 semi-finalists for "Competition Night". Those semi-finalists included Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia, California, Kansas, Arkansas, and New York. This was the first of many changes, as the competition was formerly narrowed to a field of fifteen at the beginning of the Final Night.
After a sizzling swimsuit competition, which turned many heads, the field was narrowed to five finalists. The swimsuit competition was sponsored by Speedo. Each contestant was given the choice of a one-piece or a two-piece bathing suit to wear. The purpose of this competition was to judge athleticism and poise, but it is hard to imagine someone wearing nothing but a string bikini and a pair of four-inch stiletto heels parading alone on a massive stage, and feeling poised. All of the semi-finalists chose two-piece suits for the competition.
The part that raised an eyebrow or two was the type of two-piece swimsuits that were available. They were from Speedo's new collection of string bikinis and showed off more skin than ever allowed before. After all, it was only a few years ago when the first conservative two-pieces were allowed. In some of the side interviews, many of the contestants stated that they were more concerned with falling because of the heels, than with the actual swimsuit. All of them had flawless walks but in the end Miss Louisiana was named the winner of the swimsuit competition.
The four-day competition started off with 52 contestants, one delegate from each state in the union and one delegate each from the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The entire field (all 52 delegates) competed in the preliminary rounds of competition, which took place on the first three nights. That field was narrowed to 10 semi-finalists for "Competition Night". Those semi-finalists included Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia, California, Kansas, Arkansas, and New York. This was the first of many changes, as the competition was formerly narrowed to a field of fifteen at the beginning of the Final Night.
After a sizzling swimsuit competition, which turned many heads, the field was narrowed to five finalists. The swimsuit competition was sponsored by Speedo. Each contestant was given the choice of a one-piece or a two-piece bathing suit to wear. The purpose of this competition was to judge athleticism and poise, but it is hard to imagine someone wearing nothing but a string bikini and a pair of four-inch stiletto heels parading alone on a massive stage, and feeling poised. All of the semi-finalists chose two-piece suits for the competition.
The part that raised an eyebrow or two was the type of two-piece swimsuits that were available. They were from Speedo's new collection of string bikinis and showed off more skin than ever allowed before. After all, it was only a few years ago when the first conservative two-pieces were allowed. In some of the side interviews, many of the contestants stated that they were more concerned with falling because of the heels, than with the actual swimsuit. All of them had flawless walks but in the end Miss Louisiana was named the winner of the swimsuit competition.