Miss America

missamerica.org

Miss America was crowned live on ABC Saturday at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Miss America pageant started a competition back in December called America's Choice. All 53 MAO contestants made a video and the public could vote for who they liked. I watched most of the videos. My choice was Miss Wyoming - Lexie Madden. I picked Lexie because her video made me smile and she is a farm girl. I am also a farm girl. I lived on a hog farm for 21 years. Besides hogs, my father grew corn and soybeans. I don't remember if it was in the America's Choice video, but Lexie was a pig wrestler. I never wrestled with my hogs, but I did enjoy hopping in the pen with them, petting them and playing with their tails.

Lexie's platform as Miss Wyoming is 'Raising Awareness of the Importance of Physical Activity in Youth'. Hadden said, "Obesity rates have tripled in the last three decades, so it’s definitely something our society has to change. I just want to promote it to kids and show them physical activity doesn’t have to have a negative connotation, it can definitely be something fun for them.”

After completing her degree at the University of Wyoming, Madden hopes to earn a doctorate in pediatric physical therapy and administer rehabilitation care for children as a pediatric physical therapist.

Associated Press/Isaac Brekken

When the competition started Saturday, Miss Montana - Alexis Wineman was named America's Choice. Joining Miss Montanta in the Semifinals was Miss Texas - DeNae Couch; Miss Utah - Kara Arnold; Miss Oklahoma - Alicia Clifton; Miss Wyoming - Lexie Madden; Miss South Carolina - Ali Rogers; Miss Tennessee - Chandler Lawson; Miss Alabama - Anna Laura Bryan; Miss Maryland - Joanna Guy; Miss Illinois - Megan Ervin; Miss Indiana - Merribeth Cox; Miss New York - Mallory Hytes Hagen; Miss Florida - Laura McKeenman; Miss Kentucky - Jessica Casebolt and Miss Iowa - Mariah Cary.

Getty Images/David Becker

A twist in the competition was thrown at the judges. After the semifinals were named, the judges were told to come to a consensus on one more contestant. After deliberation, the judges decided to give Miss Washington - Mandy Schendel another chance. The first competition of the night was the swimsuit. The ladies wore Catalina Swimwear.

Following the swimsuit competition, more cuts were made. The following ladies made the Top 12 and went on to compete in evening wear: Miss Washington - Mandy Schendel; Miss Maryland - Joanna Guy; Miss Texas - DeNae Couch; Miss Alabama - Anna Laura Bryan; Miss New York - Mallory Hytes Hagen; Miss South Carolina - Ali Rogers; Miss Indiana - Merribeth Cox; Miss Tennessee - Chandler Lawson; Miss Oklahoma - Alicia Clifton; Miss Wyoming - Lexie Madden; Miss Illinois - Megan Ervin and  Miss Iowa - Mariah Cary.

Twelve ladies were on stage, but only ten of them performed their talent. The Top 10 was Miss Texas - DeNae Couch (baton) ; Miss Tennessee - Chandler Lawson (vocal) ; Miss Illinois - Megan Ervin (dance) ; Miss Oklahoma - Alicia Clifton (tap) ; Miss Wyoming - Lexie Madden (piano) ; Miss Maryland - Joanna Guy (vocal) ; Miss New York - Mallory Hytes Hagen (tap) ; Miss South Carolina - Ali Rogers (piano) ; Miss Iowa - Mariah Cary (tap) and Miss Washington - Mandy Schendel (vocal).

 These final 10 ladies were now vying for a chance participate in the onstage question. The ladies who made the Top 5 were: Miss Oklahoma - Alicia Clifton; Miss South Carolina - Ali Rogers; Miss New York - Mallory Hytes Hagen; Miss Iowa - Mariah Cary and Miss Wyoming - Lexie Madden.

Once the scores were in from the judges; Miss America was named. Miss Iowa - Mariah Cary was fourth-runner up. Third-runner up was Miss Wyoming - Lexie Madden. Receiving a $20,000 Amway scholarship was second-runner up Miss Oklahoma - Alicia Clifton. First-runner up was Miss South Carolina - Ali Rogers. Rogers received a $25,000 Amway scholarship. That left Miss New York Mallory Hytes Hagen as Miss America 2013.

Mallory Hytes Hagen now begins her one year reign as Miss America. Hagen will travel 20,000 miles each month and speak about her personal platform: Stop it Now - Child Sexual Abuse. Besides her personal platform, Hagen is also the official National Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. She will also be the spokesperson for Education and focus on science, technology, education and math (STEM) this year. Hagen who is a student at The Fashion Institute of Technology will receive a $50,000 scholarship provided by Amway.

The Miss America Organization is the world's largest provider of scholarships for young women. More then $45 million was given away in scholarships last year.

Top photo: Miss New York Mallory Hytes Hagen, is crowned Miss America 2013 by Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on January 12, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Middle photo: Miss South Carolina Ali Rogers, left, and Miss New York Mallory Hytes Hagan, right, wait for the announcement of the winner during the Miss America 2013 pageant on Saturday, January 12, 2013, in Las Vegas. Hytes Hagan won the competition.

Bottom photo: Lexie Madden, Miss Wyoming, competes in the evening gown competition during the 2013 Miss America Pageant at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on January 12, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.