Atlantic City, NJ (June 27, 2016) -  The Miss America Organization is pleased to announce this year's exciting plans for the famous Miss America "Show Us your Shoes" Parade in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Taking place rain or shine on Saturday, September 10th, 2016, the parade will feature over one hundred parade elements with more than 5,000 participants, including the 2017 Miss America Contestants who will show off their elaborate shoe designs!
This year, the parade will be led by a special tribute honoring the fallen of September 11, 2001, as this year marks the 15th Anniversary of the September morning when thousands lost their lives at the World Trade Center, The Pentagon, and Flight 93.

The parade will step off at 5:00 PM from New Jersey Avenue on the Boardwalk, travel towards the famous Boardwalk Hall, and end at Albany Avenue. The two-mile route allows for ample viewing space for you and your family to take part in this historic tradition.

Tickets are on sale now for reserved seating in the Kennedy Plaza area in front of Boardwalk Hall. Prime and regular reserved seating is available. Don't miss the heart of the action in Kennedy Plaza, reserve your seats today!

There is also an opportunity to rent a rolling chair on the Boardwalk for your viewing pleasure. If you do not wish to purchase seats and do not wish to stand, you will be responsible for bringing your own seating to the designated areas along the parade route.

We hope you will join us for this exciting event before our 52 state titleholders take the stage at Boardwalk Hall on Sunday, September 11th, 2016, to compete for the title of Miss America 2017 live on ABC!

4th Runner-up, Kailee Ogden, Miss St. Croix Valley
3rd Runner-up, Drew Trahms, Miss Waseca Co. Sleigh & Cutter
2nd Runner-up, Danielle Hron, Miss Brainerd Lakes
1st Runner-up, Brianna Drevlow, Miss Thief River Falls
Miss Minnesota 2016: Madeline Van Ert, Miss River Valley!

Miracle Maker: Melissa Paakh
Hostess Award: Abby Ullyott
Kindness Matters: Brittany Moncrief
Non-Finalist Interview: Courtney Igbo-Ogbona
Rookie Talent: Danielle Hron
Overall Non-Finalist: Krista Kronlokken
MAO Community Service: Allyson Helms
MAO Scholastic Scholarship: Drew Trahms

Miss Minnesota Scholarship Pageant Crowns 2016 Titleholder 

Minneapolis, MN  June 18, 2016 – The Miss Minnesota Scholarship Pageant, affiliated with the Miss America Organization, is pleased to announce the new 2016 Miss Minnesota titleholder, Madeline Van Ert, who was crowned Saturday, June 18,  2016 at the Eden Prairie High School Performing Arts Center.  

Madeline, a legislative intern at the Minnesota Senate and Student Assistant to the Dean at the Walter Mondale School of Law, is a graduate of Rochester Mayo High School and a student at the University of Minnesota where she is pursuing a degrees in Political Science and Latin.  Before accepting the crown as Miss Minnesota, Madeline represented Minnesota as Miss River Valley.  

Madeline joined twenty-six other contestants from local Minnesota pageants in the competition, which is scored in five categories: private interview, talent, evening wear, on-stage question and lifestyle and fitness.  Madeline won the Team Kick Buttschau scholarship award for the preliminary lifestyle & fitness competition as well as the Lauren (Green) & Ted Nikilos Preliminary Talent competition for her piano and vocal performance of “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.  ​

Congratulations to all the contestants, including those who placed in the top 5!

4th Runner Up: Miss Waseca County Sleigh & Cutter Megan Lentz
3rd Runner Up: Miss St. Croix Valley Demetra Salls
​2nd Runner Up: Miss Mankato Emily Schumacher
1st Runner Up: Miss Coon Rapids Leah Mau

Thursday, June 16

Night two of the preliminary competition at the Eden Prairie Performing Arts Center kicked off with hosts Brad Carlson & Siri Freeh-Thaden Miss MN 2012. 

Miss Minnesota 2015 Rachel Latuff helped in livening the crowd by challenging the judges to a ribbon dance off. Two judges participated; the crowd went wild over the leaps, twirls and splits performed by one judge. Wanting to concede, the other judge took the stage and wowed the crowd with her dynamic ribbon movements painting the stage and sky with ease!

Lifestyle and Fitness in a Swimsuit for contestants 1-14. The ladies were graceful and truly demonstrated why Miss America focuses on overall wellbeing by carrying on the swimsuit competition tradition!

Talent!!! This was a jam packed night! Piano, Celtic vocals, tap dance, contemporary dance, electric violin... You name it we saw it!

Following intermission the crowd enjoyed a performance by the Northern Lights princesses. For Rachel's pageant career she has had the same NLP. Together Amaya and Rachel performed a special dance incorporating ribbon and matching outfits to a montage of Taylor Swift songs!

Evening gown tonight was wonderful! Dresses in reds, blues, a vibrant yellow, brilliant plum, and more!!! The silhouettes were everything from mermaid to ball gown and A-line.

Overall tonight's show was amazing!

Wednesday, June 15

Twenty-seven young women from across the state of Minnesota took part in night one of preliminary competition at the Eden Prairie Performing Arts Center. Performing an opening number to Lady Gaga's "Applause" in vibrant red strapless cocktail dresses- the contestants looked wonderful!

The show was hosted by Miss MN 2003 Megan Torgerson and Brad Carlson from the Patriot Radio station. Starting off competition were contestants 1-14 in onstage interview worth 5% of their preliminary score.

Rocking their swimsuits and white sarongs were contestants 15-27! Wow!
Judges selected Madeline Van Ert as the preliminary lifestyle fitness in a swimsuit winner.

Talent competition this evening included a large variety of talents from classical piano and vocals to African dance, monologues and more from contestants 1-14.

The Preliminary talent winner was Brianna Drevlow, performing a classical piano ensemble. 

Evening gown competition for contestants 15-27 included a variety of dresses in colors including red, white, some blue, and lots of green. The styles of the gowns were of higher neck lines and figure-flattering silhouettes. 

Overall tonight's show was amazing!

Other scholarship awards included: 

• Impact Award: Kailee Ogden
• Love of Giving Scholarship: Madeline Van Ert, Madison Truscinski, Abby Ullyott, Abigail Bodene

A sponsor award called the "Eagle Award" was awarded to Stacie Mcbride-Cox of the Tracie Joy Mcbride scholarship for her donations of over $27,000 in scholarships!

Miss Minnesota 2015, Rachel Latuff and the contestants enjoyed a delicious dinner at Buca Di Beppo in Eden Prairie then wrapped the night before competition with a rousing game of "Blingo" (thanks to Amy Schilling - aka - the "fun committee")!

The Tracie Joy McBride Scholarship Fund is honored to have five outstanding young women represent the Quality of Life Tracie lived with their exceptional commitment to service, leadership, and living authentic lives of character.  Danielle, Drew, Kailee, Madison, Melissa are truly living out a purpose driven and legacy defining life.  Join us this Thursday night at the Miss Minnesota preliminary competition when we reveal the 10th recipient of the $2,000 Tracie Joy McBride Quality of Life scholarship. (The first runner-up will also receive a $1,000 scholarship, and each of the three finalists will receive a scholarship of $250.)