With Miss America 2016, Betty Cantrell
Letter from the Editor
Miss America 2017 was a complete success! Not only were we there to root on our home-state representative, Brenna Weick, but we also had the opportunity to meet some young women, who are part of the Outstanding Teen group, and the other State Delegates competing for the title of Miss America 2017! With Miss America 2015, Nina Davaluri With Miss America 2014, Kira Kazantsev
I had the honor of meeting Betty Cantrell, Miss America 2016, before she handed the reigns over to Savvy Shields of Arkansas; she was the most down-toEarth person ever. She took such time to sign autographs for the little girls who eagerly awaited her to walk down the stage to meet them, and snapped photographs with them. It truly was an empowering experience. We begin this special edition of Bravura Magazine with a special tribute to Betty Cantrell, Miss America 2016!
xoxo Tirusha
Be$y posted on Instagram, “This picture captures a moment, the morning a8er my crowning, when Spencer told me, no ma$er what happened at Miss America, that he would be there to support me and not be an extra cause of stress during this busy prep Ame.” And a year postcrowning, she handed off the crown to a new leader and accepted the proposal of a lifeAme – to grow a stronger bond with Spencer, her nowfiancé!
The Kentucky Derby is one of the biggest events in the US and Be$y was right there on the red carpet, for the Derby, looking stunning as always from head to toe!
Last September Be$y Cantrell was crowned Miss America 2016; her plaQorm was Healthy Children, Strong America. She gleamed the morning a8er her crowning as she walked the beach of AtlanAc City for her official ‘toe-dip’ as Miss America 2016!
“Miss America Serves” Day is a huge part of being Miss America, and for Be$y is was an amazing experience. During her reign she was able to visit and perform for some of the veterans at the Armed Forces reArement home, alongside some of the Miss DC contestants!
During her reign as Miss America, Be$y created a very strong bong with Kenzie Ford, the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals champion. The two have been coined as best friends and have forged one of the strongest bonds possible between two people. Kenzie’s face lights up when Be$y is in the room with her, and their love is felt through everyone around them.
One of my favorite posts from Be$y was when she did her Flashback Friday when she wrote “to performing for our men and women in Uniform deployed in Kuwait. I have so much respect and admiraAon for what they do to protect the rest of us here in our beauAful country. Thank you all for your brave service.”
Photos Courtesy: Betty Cantrell’s Instagram & Miss America Organization Instagram Page
“I loved being Miss America. For me, it was an opportunity to change the world and open the minds of young people everywhere about what it means to selflessly give and to love yourself exactly as God made you.”
Photo By: P.G. Photography
I want young women to believe that they can be Miss America, because I was Miss America. -BeDy Cantrell, Miss America 2016
Photo By: P.G. Photography
Miss America 2017 Preliminaries Photos By: PG Photography
Miss America State Titleholders Association (MASTA) Reception! Photos By: P.G. Photography
The sisterhood and network you gain as a state 2tleholder is one of the greatest things about being a part of the Miss America Organiza2on. Now, MASTA serves as a way to stay connected with that network and con2nue to give back to the organiza2on we all love so much. -Lindsey Giannini, Miss New Jersey 2015 (pictured in center)
The MAO is about empowering young women in all facets of their livespersonally, academically and professionally. As Miss America State Title Holders, we are entrusted to share the true purpose of this amazing program...a program which assists young women with college scholarships to achieve their academic goals‌ -Sonia Amir-Bowie, Miss Maryland 2000 (le8)
Show Us! Your Shoes Parade!
Photos By: P.G. Photography
For many years, the “Show Us Your Shoes” parade has not only been an integral part of the Miss America OrganizaGon, but it has also been one of the biggest family highlights of the enGre Miss America weekend! As all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, were represented in the parade; it was quite hard to pick some of our favorites. All of the contestants did a wonderful job at represenGng not only themselves, but their home-state with their shoes! "It was such a special experience to be part of the historical Miss America Show Us Your Shoes Parade. I wanted to represent where I am from in California which is the San Francisco Bay Area. What is a be$er way to represent the Bay Area other than a Golden State Warriors & Stephen Curry inspired ouQit?!” – Jessa Carmack, Miss California 2016
Photos By: P.G. Photography
Miss America 2017 Red Carpet!
Photos By: P.G. Photography
Miss America 2017 Finals!
Photos By: P.G. Photography
Day One as Miss America 2017 Photos By: P.G. Photography
s n o G a l u t a a r c i g r n e o m C A s s i y v M v o a t S , 7 1 20 s d l e Shi
Life has beauAful moments and P.G. Photography is there to capture them for you. Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. -Aaron Siskind