The process of picking a new Miss America gets underway Tuesday night in Atlantic City.
The first night of preliminary competition is to begin at Boardwalk Hall in the city where the pageant began in 1921 as a way to extend the summer tourist season beyond Labor Day weekend.
The competition will include contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Tuesday night is the first of three nights of preliminary competition lasting through Thursday.
The 2017 Miss America will be crowned during Sunday night’s nationally televised finale on ABC.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
The Miss America Pagent back in Atlantic City where it began is the right move. The Pagent should & ought to have contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico which they do have, but the territories of the U.S.Virgin Islands, American Samoa & Guam should & ought to also be included, those territories are also the United States as well. Having 55 constestants will be what & should & really ought to be the Miss America Pagent.
I used to live in Elwood, New Jersey which is 20 miles from Atlantic City. I lived in Elwood from Saturday, December 14, 1963 to Saturday, June 21, 1969, which was the day I moved to Newark, Delaware.