Miss America 2016 : Jamie Lynn Macchia

Miss America 2016

The names were called out one by one, until the 15^th name was called, and it wasn't that of Jamie Lynn Macchia.

Macchia was our Miss New York, but won't be our Miss America 2016, judges for the 95^th annual pageant and scholarship competition declared Sunday night in Atlantic City.
Macchia's long journey to the stage swiftly came to a close as Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell was announced the next woman to wear the crown.

Macchia, the 23-year-old Eltingville native, will return to Staten Island defeated but still proud of her accomplishments, she said.

"I've given this Miss America experience everything I have," Macchia wrote on her Instagram. "I've seen my strength, poise, maturity, drive, and confidence grow before my own eyes. I've done things I've only ever dreamed of doing and have definitely surprised myself along the way."

Many of the finalists were from the southern states — as were the fans from all over the country who arrived with signs and high hopes for their hometown contestants. Talents ranged from Miss Alabama Meg McGuffin's interpretive dance to the Matrix theme song to a touching monologue from Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson.

Aside from the competition, the presence of head judge and Former Miss America, Vanessa Williams was arguably the evening's most significant event.

Williams was not only the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America in 1983, she also went on to arguably be the most successful winner in the pageant's history.
But in 1984, 10 months into her reign, the Emmy, Grammy and Tony nominee was asked to resign or be stripped of her title after nude photos of her leaked in Penthouse Magazine.
At the beginning of the show, Sam Haskell, the Miss America Organization's Executive Chairman and CEO said even though none of the members of the organization were responsible for the decision in 1984, he wanted to personally apologize. Williams accepted the apology.

Though Macchia didn't make it into the top 15, she has come a long way from her Eltingville roots. Beginning as a 17-year-old at Staten Island Technical High School, she tried unsuccessfully for seven years in pageants at the local level.

Each year, she crept closer and closer to victory. In May 2014, she competed in the 2014 Miss New York pageant and named was second runner-up to winner Kira Kazantsev, who went on to win Miss America this year.

Then, in June, Jamie took the New York title at the St. George Theatre. It would lead her to the stage in Atlantic City Sunday night.

"You could see the potential with the girl," said Jim Smith, executive director of the Miss Staten Island Pageant. "The only thing she needed was maturity, and you can't give a 17-year-old girl maturity, you have to earn it. But she always believed in herself."

Throughout the preliminary rounds, Macchia didn't win in either her talent or swim and evening gown competitions. But the interview component is kept private, and can often count for the most among judges, Smith said, adding that Macchia's interview answers are her strong suit.

Smith said Macchia's platform was another strong point: "Inspiring Action Against Pediatric Cancer." Macchia chose this work in honor of a childhood friend, Dominic, who fought but ultimately lost his battle with leukemia.

The day before, Macchia was calm and confident of her work so far, she said. In a social media post, she said she felt peaceful, not stressed.

Macchia thanked her fans and family for all the support along the way. She said with how much she's accomplished as Miss New York so far, she's "already won."

"I have already achieved my dream of performing on the Miss America stage," she said. "I have already used my powerful voice to speak out for pediatric cancer patients and their families. I have already represented what I consider to be the greatest state in the nation."

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