WEST PALM BEACH — Miss America's got talent and plenty of it as all 104 contestants in its pageants for women and teens took the stage at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, Sept. 3, for the talent portion of the preliminary competitions.
Like the previous competition days, the stage held the same structure of the staircase-like podium and the patriotic red, white and blue lights signifying the nation's 250th birthday. For the guests, the fandom continued as people showed up once again with buttons and cardboard cutouts of their favorites.
The performances helped move the pageants to the Red Carpet event, scheduled for Friday, Sept. 4, and to the crowning ceremonies this weekend. The Miss America's Teen winner will be revealed
Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Kravis Center and Miss America 2027 on Sunday, Sept. 6, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
Cultural dance, song and even karate sent Miss America crowd soaring
The night was hosted by Cassie Donegan, the current reigning Miss America, who spent the night introducing each individual act.
All 104 delegates brought the star power and a diverse set of different performances that stunned the audience.
The teens brought to the stage a number of different cultural dances. Tianna-Lei Wailehua of Hawaii performed Tahitian dance. Aryani Odie of Maryland gave the crowd classical and fusion Bollywood. Julianne Rocke of California gave the audience a taste of Spain with flamenco fusion dance.
Even Florida's own Sheridan Delegal of Jacksonville performed Irish dance.
Beyond the dances, which included jazz, lyrical and contemporary, there were vocal and instrumental performances, many of which covered some Broadway classics such as "Phantom of the Opera" and "Funny Girl" but Miss Puerto Rico's Teen took a different approach.
Natalie Scott-Gonzalez transported the crowd straight to the island by performing "Baile Inolvidable" by Puerto Rico's very own Bad Bunny on the steel drum.
Following the first 52 delegates came the women vying for Miss America.
They too had no shortage of original performances, Stephanie Skinner of Pennsylvania performed to a song from the musical "Hamilton," Carly Yoshida of Hawaii danced the hula, but one that stuck out was Kylie Gene Wright of New Jersey, who did a karate demonstration.
As Wright moved across the stage, from anywhere in the auditorium, those in attendance could hear the emotion as she shouted "Kiai," or a spiritual yell typical during Karate.
Regan Hutsell of Texas and Erika Dalton of Utah also shined on stage. Hutsell performed a jazz dance and Dalton a violin solo and the passion was palpable as both had a fluidity to their art as if this was second nature.
Before the night came to a close, the winners for both the Miss America's Teen and Miss America groups were announced. The teens were awarded $1,500 in scholarship money and the older crew $3,000 like previous awards.
Miss America's Teen talent winners
- Miss Utah, Elle Anderson
- Miss Oregon, Aria Christensen
- Miss New Hampshire, Kendall Laroche
Miss America talent winners
- Miss Texas, Regan Hutsell
- Miss Utah, Erika Dalton
- Miss New Jersey, Kylie Gene Wright
This week's Miss America pageant calendar in West Palm Beach
- Friday, Sept. 4: Pre-Gala Red Carpet, Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 5: Miss America's Teen Final, Kravis Center, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 6: Miss America Final, Palm Beach County Convention Center, 7 p.m.
The pageant is taking place in South Florida for the first time, and will be staged in West Palm Beach through 2028. It called Atlantic City its home for decades before moving to locations such as Las Vegas and Florida. Last year, it took place at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando.
Its events will be livestreamed on pageantvision.tv.
Arianna Otero covers breaking news for The Palm Beach Post. Contact her via email at AOtero@pbpost.com and follow her on X: @ari_v_otero.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miss America in West Palm. Dance, karate shine in talent competition
