GABBY DOUGLAS AND LAURA MARANO ADDED TO JUDGES PANEL FOR THE LIVE BROADCAST OF THE 96TH MISS AMERICA COMPETITION

Laura Marano

Gabby Douglas

The Show Will be Hosted by Chris Harrison and 

Co-Hosted by Sage Steele

The “2017 Miss America Competition” To Broadcast Live 

 Sunday, September 11th at 9:00 PM ET/PT from Atlantic City’s 

Boardwalk Hall on the ABC Television Network

Atlantic City, NJ - The Miss America Organization, dick clark productions and ABC announced today that Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas and musician and actress Laura Marano will join the esteemed panel of judges for the “2017 Miss America Competition,” which airs live from Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 (9:00 – 11:00p.m. ET/PT) on the ABC Television Network. The evening will be filled with glitz and glam as 52 women compete for the coveted crown and scholarships.

"Miss America has been such an amazing event for so many years and I am excited to have the opportunity to judge the competition this year," said Douglas.  “The contestants are a great example of strong women across America and I especially look forward to hearing the platforms that each of them will represent!"

Douglas and Marano will join entrepreneur Mark Cuban, actress Sara Foster (VH1’s “Barely

Miss America Kira Kazantsev Crowned in Atlantic City

In the City Where It All Began, Miss New York is Named Miss America 2015

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey - Miss New York Kira Kazantsev was crowned Miss America 2015 tonight at the birthplace of the legendary competition in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. The Miss America Finals were broadcast live on ABC.

Kira's acceptance of the highly-prized crown is just the beginning of a journey that will take her to every corner of the nation during her year of service as Miss America 2015. She will embark on her national speaking tour about her platform, Love Shouldn't Hurt: Protecting Women Against Domestic Violence and act as the official National Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children's hospitals, is the national platform partner of the Miss America Organization.

Kira is a graduate of Hofstra University. During her year as Miss America she will serve as spokesperson for education as she travels to Washington, D.C., to work with the Department of Education. Along with the coveted title of Miss America 2015, Kira won a $50,000 scholarship provided in part by Joseph Ribkoff Inc. and the Miss America Organization to continue her education. For the talent portion of the competition, Kira performed a vocal performance of the song "Happy".


First runner-up in the competition was Miss Virginia Courtney Paige Garrett who earned a $25,000