Jacquie Brown of Vancouver advanced to the final five contestants vying for the title of Miss America on Saturday, but Miss Washington ended the night as third runner-up for the title behind the contest’s youngest winner in 90 years.
Brown, who belted out “Papa was a Rolling Stone” by the Temptations in the talent portion of the program and spoke of the need to seek compromise and look after one another in the interview portion, will receive a $15,000 scholarship for her achievement.
“Jacquie did an awesome job tonight,” said Cindy Donowitz, co-director of Miss Clark County Scholarship Organization, who attended the pageant. “She said that everyone on stage was a winner, and she was at peace with whatever the outcome would be.”
Even before she walked on stage at the Planet Hollywood casino-resort in Las Vegas on Saturday, the judges had scored Brown on a range of metrics, including her talent, an interview, her poise in an evening gown, and the respect she has won from other contenders.