tonight, pageant confidential. and we do mean confidential. >> i found it! i lost a boob. >> miss america. more one woman, the title's just hours away. >> here we go. >> but we've got the months of blood, sweat and sequins it takes to get there. >> some girls, this is a bigger day than their wedding. >> and this year, they're not taking any chances. >> deadly. >> so, get ready for what goes on when the crown comes off. >> you need help with your butt guy, i can help you put it on. >> those routines that don't work out. ♪ i just called ♪ to say >> plus, the nonstop job of staying slim for the current

miss america. >> oh, burger. >> it's not easy being miss america. >> no, it's not. it's fun. >> and it all winds up in a crazy whirlwind this week in atlantic city. >> sucking it in. >> your exclusive all-access pass to the dressing rooms, where nothing can hide. even tattoos. >> you're wonderful and people. >> the emotion. the exhaustion. and the unbelievable make or break drama. >> that really hurt. >> is it all over before she even hits the runway? >> oh, my god. >> that is just so scary. >> pageant confidential. the road to miss america. here's our host, lara spencer. >> good evening, from the historic boardwalk here in atlantic city, new jersey. miss america has come home, and i am so thrilled to be co-hosting the competition with my friend, chris harrison, from "the bachelor" in just about one

hour. behind me, inside boardwalk hall, it is a packed house and they are on the edge of their seats as 53 beautiful, talented young ladies prepare to take the stage. for all of them, this is the culmination of months and even years of grueling preparation. each year, thousands of young women dream of becoming the next miss america. but only 53 of them have made it here to the stage in atlantic city, tonight, after journeys that began modestmodestly. from the proud miss covered bridge to the excited miss falling timbers. and who would forget miss kool-aid days? >> oh, yeah! >> the local winners go on to compete on state stages. for some states, pageants are a way of life. and winners are celebrated with fanfare. >> our new miss texas. >> your new miss new jersey!

♪ don't stop believing >> other states, though, while high on excitement, have limited resources. ♪ hold on to that feeling >> woo! >> up in the rocky corner of our country alaska may be big on the map, but it is small in the pageant world. in fact, there are only 11 women competing this year to become miss alaska. backstage, miss alaska 2012 is giving some pointers. >> you have to stop at some point. >> the lay dims vying for her crown. >> is it okay to do -- >> you can do it but as long as you take away from it. you don't want to stand like this. you want to stand with it, but take away. >> when you think swim suit us, alaska probably doesn't come to mind. >> mckenzie, when you need help with your butt glue, i can put it on. >> but these young ladies are no strangers to bikinis or the pageant props that keep them in place. like butt glue.

>> it's not going anywhere. >> it's lower on this side. >> it's like, you know, bunched up the wrong direction. >> for most of the women here, more important than winning the crown is winning what comes with it. the top ten finalists in miss alaska will get a year's worth of school paid for. >> everybody who participates does walk away with a scholarship. >> i have a year of school left. if i can graduate free, that would be awesome. >> the higher you place, the more you get. >> the miss america organization dolls out over $45 million in scholarship men to women every year, making the competition an attractive option for the likes of all. >> i'm not the typical pageant girl. i have five tattoos. if there was a prize for most that tooted contestant, i would win. they tell us that some of the judges might judge us on our tattoos and so they recommend that we cover them up. so, i ordered tattoo camo. i put it on my leg and on my shoulder. it's gone.

♪ thank you ♪ evacuate the dance floor >> teasing and body lotion will be the secret. >> you guys need to think of something absolutely hilarious before you go on stage. that way, your smile will extend up to your eyes. right now, it's a little -- but it has to be, with the eyes. >> and then, last minute tips before judgment time. >> you have energy. every pose you hit, it shouldn't just be arm out. it should be bam, like, string shooting out of your hand. >> i'm ready. i'm so ready. it's been a long time coming. >> i'm so excited. just about to get started. like there's a little egg beater in my stomach. >> that's what's happening. >> did you get the nervous -- >> check each other's teeth. >> your new miss alaska is michelle taylor!

>> a new face for the alaska crown, now with a shot at following in her foot steps. >> miss new york. >> the current miss america, hall mallory was waitressing in manhattan and putting her everything into getting to the miss america stage. >> your new miss america is -- miss new york! >> i just couldn't believe i won. i just felt like all the cards had lined up for ali and i was happy to be standing there, period. >> that would be ali rogers, miss south carolina 2012, who many thought had the competition in the bag, coming from the big pageant state of south carolina. >> every single one of you should be just as excited for those two girls standing there.

as if you had just won yourself. >> on this evening, she's emotion as as she prepared to hand off her state crown. >> i did not think i was going to be as emotional as i have. today has been rough and i -- i just completely -- i didn't think i was going to be as emotional as i have been today. >> letting go is hard to do. like ali, many of these young women compete every year until they either win or age out at 24. >> these are the shoes which are very, very painful and our pinky taupes stick out of the side. >> that is so gross. look at that! >> and you actually just wrap your toes all the way around with the duct tape to keep your pinky toe from being a little outside of the shoe there. so, now my little pinky won't escape my shoe. >> that pageant trick makes strutting on the stage in stilettos look easy. >> nice shoes, nice dress.

i'm like, no, my pinky toe is suffering! >> if bearing those toes takes strategy, then bearing those toes takes down right engineering. >> i lost a boob. it's never good when you lose a boob. >> my favorite is before swim suit, everyone's back there in their swim suit, like, doing crunches. like -- because, you know, you're tightening the muscles. i get it, but i feel kind of silly back here in my swim suit doing crunches. >> at 24, this will be brook mos tell earl's last chance of becoming miss south carolina. >> last time i didn't feel like i brought it all in swim suit. >> some kos test tants take strategy to a whole other level. >> five-hour energy shot. >> i'm excited. energized. ready to rock and roll!

>> every time. >> whoa. five-hour energy. it may or may not have something to do with it. >> and for every high, there is a low. >> i just had a muscle spasm. i had brain surgery three years ago. so -- yeah, i have a condition. sometimes it happens. >> only one woman will become miss south carolina and earn a shot at miss america. >> this is the hard part of pageants. >> here she is, our new miss south carolina 2013 -- miss mt. pleasant, brooke mosteller!

>> so -- i just won miss south carolina. i'm miss south carolina! so, that means -- i'm going to miss america. coming up -- don't mess with the contestants. >> deadly. >> because they're using real weapons to get in shape. plus, lights, camera, ambulance. when pageant confidential continues.eing a... some kind of... this is... an alien species. reality check: a lot of 4g lte coverage maps don't really look like much at all. i see the aleutian islands. looks like a duck. it looks like... america... ish. that's a map. that's a map of the united states. check the map. verizon's 4g lte is the most reliable, and in more places than any other 4g network. trade in your old device and trade up to america's most reliable network. i've got the good one! i got verizon! that's powerful. verizon.

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>> miss jacksonville. >> this is pageant land. >> in the sunshine state of florida, the contest is more show than pageant. >> time to go. >> we've been competing for five and six years together and so we have created our own little sorority here.

>> competed top ten and this year i'm miss miami. >> the art of swimsuit comes naturally. >> gets you pretty dark. >> after all, this is the land of sun and surf. after sucking in those tummies, a little guilty indulgence. >> thank you very much. >> we reward ourselves right at swimsuit with the best brownie ever. i probably have chocolate in my teeth, so, please excuse me. >> the talent competition offers variety and maybe a raised eyebrow or two. ♪ no giving thanks for all the christmas toys you bring ♪ >> after i got off the stage, i felt like crying. so, yeah. i think it's okay.

>> reporter: the champi . >> the champion baton twirling rocked her performance. >> world baton champion for the nation. it finally paid off. this is my best friend. i got to come to miss florida with my very best friend in the world. it was perfect. yay. >> and the night was about to get a lot more memorable for miss palm cove. >> your new miss florida -- >> myrrhanda jones is miss florida, 2013. >> i'm going to let her breathe for a couple of moments and then we start preparing for miss america. going to come quickly. >> marry sullivan is the hands

on executive director of miss florida. >> do you have any other tv interviews? >> and each year, she gets her state representative ready for the national stage. >> which part do you think the reality will set in? >> probably not for four or five days, until i leave to go home with miss mary and go to camp. >> camp mary, that's mary sullivan's beauty boot camp. miss florida will move into mary's miami home, which is a shrine to all the miss floridas before her. >> how many times a day are you supposed to eat? >> it is a 24 hour a day, seven day a week regimen. >> okay, what i can eat in here. ah -- well, i could have fruit up until yesterday. now i can't. carrots and broccoli. i'm here and once we got into the house and settled into the new house, it's been completely focused on miss america. really? tried to get all fancy. >> lots of energy.

right there. >> there's extra pressure this year, too. the miss america pageant is four months earlier than usual, leaving the state winners only weeks to prepare. >> i focused and prepared for this moment. my entire life. >> who knew picking an evening gown could be such serious business? >> i've seen anything from mine, $400, to $4,000. which, to me, is insane. but some girls, being on this stage is a bigger day for them than probably their wedding. >> wow. turn around. >> and miss florida misses zero opportunity to remind us she is in it to win it. >> it's not a vision of what i want, it's a vision of whether or not i can do this. >> when you're crowned, you mean? no, i love it. i do love it. >> i found the dress. ah. >> while the dress works, she's

convinced her voice doesn't. working to improve it looks like this. >> how are you doing today? i always eat lunch at 7:00. >> little high pitched. kind of bringing it down, making her aware of that. >> there's mary, nitpicking like a pro again. last year, it was this. >> we have to do something about the fact that your butt's fat. i'm sorry. >> the purpose of it is to be speaking and pushing from your diaphragm, rather than pushing from your throat. i am miss florida and you are not. that's my favorite one. >> mary's feeling pretty good about the progress. >> awesome. my only complaint, and it's not a complaint, because i know you absolute absolutely -- but i want you smiling from here. >> oh, yeah.

>> even when you're practicing. >> okay. >> have it come from here. because the deer in the headlights is kind of like -- i want it coming from in here so there's never any question that that smile is in there. great. love it. >> i don't think it's truly set in, that it's only a month and a week away, but i'm ready. i'm very ready for it. >> but she has no idea that even camp mary won't be able to prepare her for the unexpected twist she'll face at pageant time. it is exactly one month before the pageant. she has a chance to size up her competition at an orientation in orlando. >> fun fact about me, i can change a nascar race car tire in 6.2 seconds. >> i can talk like a

>> i have really double jointed fingers. >> a group trip to disney world offers a moment of fun before things get intense. >> can i get a hug? >> it's always a chance to meet with young fans. this guy is more than a little taken by miss south carolina. ♪ i can show you the world ♪ shining ♪ shimmering ♪ splendid ♪ unbelievable eigsights ♪ ♪ indescribable feeling ♪ a whole new world >> the great state of oklahoma, famous for its oil and its vicious twisters, is also home to something else. >> these are our three miss americas from oklahoma city university. and so, we make statues out of our miss americas. >> oklahoma is tied with ohio and california for the most miss

americas ever. six. and kelsey krgriswold wants to next. >> come on. last one. >> getting ready for atlantic city, with just two weeks until the competition, doesn't fluster this pro. >> come on. one more. >> she's been competing in pageants for years. >> see that line that came out. do it again. >> to get ready, she sculpt her body in a rather untraditional way. >> good. >> being taught how to fight with swords makes me fierce. >> so, if the sword gives miss oklahoma an edge in the competition, maybe this will, too. >> i am the reigning oscar mayer weiner jingle jam girl. >> that's little kelsey on "the

rosie o'donnell show." ♪ oh i wish i were an oscar mayer weiner ♪ ♪ then the buns would really relish me ♪ >> though one has taken that title for me yet. so, i'm still here ♪ i will make the mustard cry >> if i can be a spokesperson for a hot dog contest, i can do it for miss america. they're basically the same. they're like the exact same thing. i'm kidding, they're not. next -- what's in store for miss florida, once she hits atlantic city? >> can we get a medic, please? >> and, a rebel with a cause. and a lot of tattoos. will showing them cost her points? >> i think the world is ready for a miss america with ink. >> coming up on pageant confidential.

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we're back with pageant confidential. the road to miss america. here's laura spenlara spencer. >> they say competition is like a battlefield. and for one of this year's contestants, that's not far from the truth. meet miss kansas, or should i say, sergeant miss kansas. >> no air conditioning in that thing. >> theresa vail is a beauty queen and she's in the army, too. this first time pageant contestant is determined to make her mark. >> it's lethal. bulls eye. five dots, aim for the center. deadly. so, i tell people not to miss wi mess with me. >> you missed. >> i did not miss. hold right here. my platform is empowering women to overcome stereotypes and

break barriers. i'm going to help you on this one, all right? i didn't necessarily choose it, because it's my life. >> no doubt she is living proof of her message. >> i break stereotypes every day, being a soldier and a beauty queen. >> you might call her a rebel, of sorts. unafraid to test the limits of pageant tradition, she plans to let the world see what is usually hidden. >> pretty much all the way up and all the way down. i think the world is ready for a miss america with ink. >> she is skipping the camo-makeup and bearing those very visible tattoos on stage. >> the stigma is that girls who compete in pageants don't have tattoos. and if they do, they cover them or else they don't win. and i want to break that. this is 2013. women have tattoos. and they can win. >> in fact, they do win. miss america herself admits she, too, has a tattoo. >> there's no rule that sails

you can or cannot have tattoos. i have a tattoo on the back of my neck. but i covered mine for the pageant. >> other women are blazing frontiers, as well. >> the official miss america sash. >> nicole kelly made headlines when she won miss iowa in june. >> i'll have to be walking and do that, like, pageant wave. i joke that i've trained for this my whole entire life without realizing it, because i've been on stage my whole life. >> she'll be the first to compete with a very visible disability. >> i guess i've just been taught that it's okay to be yourself. ♪ say what you want to say >> nicole plans to sing a fitting song for her talent. ♪ i want to see you be brave >> back in kansas, a last minute change for theresa. she's just found out she's not allowed to perform archery as

her talent. >> oh, gosh. >> so, she'll teach herself to sing, of all things, opera. ♪ >> i chose the song for two reasons. one, because it is originally sung by a man. ♪ and with my platform of breaking stereotypes, i wanted to say, well, women can do it, too. ♪ >> i still want you to release as much as you can after the "no, no." ♪ >> i know i'm up against girls that have been singing for much longer than i have and that are, you know, classically trained. >> and those other contestants are raring and ready to go. they are packing up and heading to new jersey. it's game time.

the miss states arrive in atlantic city where they'll be sequestered for the next week and a half. >> oh, my gosh. >> just go right around this corner. >> awesome. >> it has been a total, like, roller coaster, like, super anxious. >> they are all smiles and feeling, well, we'll let them tell you. >> i'm so excited. >> just really excited to be here. >> really excited. >> i'm excited. >> rehearsing starts right away. >> little groove, little groove. one, two, three, walk it back. >> some take to it. some, not so much. >> i don't dance. >> she's in the army. >> it's just a struggle. next -- the current miss america. >> oh, goodness. >> the ups and downs of life on the road. and her weight. >> yes, i've gained weight. plus, surviving the judges top secret question round. >> it's done!

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with 41 megapixels and reinvented zoom. miss america has returned to its roots on the jersey shore. and 53 of the nation's most el available ladies are here in atlantic city, vying for the miss america crown. >> welcome home, miss america! >> mallory is here getting ready to hand off her crown to the next miss america. >> eye shadow to contour my eye line. supposed to look natural. >> this is an eyelash that i wore yesterday. i'm peeling glue off it so i can put it back on. one eyelash down, one to go. almost done. was that entertaining? i feel constant, like, pressure, to look a certain way, have your hair a certain way youshgs

makeup look a certain way. bum there's a lot more to it than evening gowns and hair spray. like this? >> it is a homecoming with an ode to miss america herself. to mark the occasion, a statue has been erected in mallory's likeness. >> shape is good. she's a little curvy, i like it. >> how do you feel about having a statue of yourself? >> oh, my goodness. i feel very honored. >> so, what it's really like being miss america? as she describes it, it's about a job. >> great to meet you. >> how many pictures in a given day? >> throughout a two-hour event, about 300 photos. >> one, two, three. >> do you get tired of smiling? >> comes with the territory. i don't have a home, so, i live out of hotels.

so, i would be 30 to 31 days of the month, i'm on the road. >> not easy being miss america. >> no, it's not. it's fun, but it's not easy. >> being miss america also means working her platform to help abused children. >> especially the child sexual abuse act. >> she's an ambassador of sorts for miss america's various goals, like getting kids interested in science. this modern miss america keeps her communications direct. >> that's what i was doing, i'm getting ready. going to finish my vine. >> instagram, twitter and snapchat are just some of her tools. >> what's your name? there's nothing better than just posting the worst photo of myself. it's important for girls to see me not wearing makeup. i feel like i should look like mallory. >> and she doesn't shy away from personal subjects like her

fluctuating weight. she was already used to scrutiny when we met her as miss new york. >> someone posted a photo of me and i was probably at 158 pounds. honestly, it can be rather boring to stick to spinach and chicken or broccoli or asparagus or kale. but it's worth it. >> the judges agreed. >> miss new york. >> she was jaw-dropping when she hit the miss america stage, looking like this. but that look, mallory admits, was short-lived. >> like three weeks out since miss america, i gained five, six pounds. oh, i'm starving. like any pageant girl, everyone kind of goes way off the radar, not even after they win. after you hit that swimsuit moment, you're like, all right, i'm going to eat everything i wanted to eat for the last month and a half, all this week.

the pressure of maintaining the way that you won miss america is just completely unrealistic. just another morning with egg whites. taste like air. >> i'm not going to say it's all peaches and cream, because it's not. >> miss america 1971, filly george, is one of 86 women who know this job is less about the year spent as miss america and more what it brings after. >> we're a sisterhood, we've all been through the same thing. we've all been there and we've all done our own thing. we're back! atlantic city, here we are! >> after her reign as miss america, george became a well-known tv personality. >> thank you, thank you. feels so good to be home. >> if i vote for you, are you going to have a commitment to my community. >> miss america 2003, erika harold, is a lawyer running for congress in illinois. >> it's a really hard job.

the hardest job i'll ever have. >> miss america 1989, gretchen karlson, is now a fox news anchor. and she has this to say to mallory and future miss americas. >> you have to strike when the iron's hot. somebody else now is miss america, so, you're old news. >> my goal would be in for five to ten years for people to say, oh, and by the way, she was miss america. can i have a hug before you go? when you're miss america, there's no turning it off. i can't tell you how much i needed that today. >> we have miss america here with us. >> every single person you meet is not looking at you as mallory. >> miss america! >> your name is literally miss america. >> miss america. >> miss america. >> like, people call you miss america. there's no getting out of it, you know? >> it's almost time to move over mallory. >> miss hawaii. >> louisiana. >> minnesota. >> alabama. >> georgia.

>> the name miss america is about to go to someone else. >> it is crucial the girls nail the all-important preliminary interview. >> this is the best competition. >> the contestants get prepped for the interviews in some interesting ways. >> how are you all? >> the questions run the gamut. there are the hard balls. >> do you think we need more regulation in our financial institutions today? >> more regulation is tough. >> what issues in foreign affairs concerns you the most? >> there are the softballs. >> if you could be a season, which one would you choose and why? >> fall. i love fall. >> what would you say is something that you're still working on, very hard? >> oh, i am confidently the worst dancer in the entire group, so, every day in rehearsal, i'm struggling. like, i'm in the back, like, what is going on, maine, what are you doing? >> when miss maine emerges, she shares a quirky talent.

and a welcomed light moment between the judges and miss maryland. >> it says on here can you like to rap. can you rap? >> sure. can you drop a beat for me? ♪ my name's christina denny ♪ i made you friends and had a lot of fun ♪ >> one thing they all share is utter relief. >> it's done jrngs. >> wow! >> just want to detox and shower off. >> i feel like i'm ready to go. >> how do you feel about passing on your crown? >> i am excited to see what's next for myself. i am excited for whoever gets to begin that journey. >> it was amazing. i'm a changed person right now. sorry. >> you work so hard for this moment and it's finally here.

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dreyer's ice cream is just $2.88. real big deals this week and every week. only at safeway. ingredients for life. having miss america back in atlantic city after a nine-year absence has added special boost of nostalgia this year. but for the contestants, the daying leading up to the competition are all about the pressure. the pressure to perform. the pressure to look good, so sound good. and most importantly, not to make a single mistake when they hit that stage. miss america is very much a contest of stamina. it's clear on stage and backstage here that the days of around the clock commands are wearing thin on the contestants. the talent portion of the competition reveals a little more of the girls personalities. miss arkansas is a clogger, with a sports motif.

but the most popular talent goes to song. half of this year's contestants are singers. ♪ sergeant miss kansas sounds pretty good for a newbie. but miss nebraska is overcome. >> i'm good, i'm good, i just -- i'm not normally an emotional person at all. >> and some new talents in the mix this year. two contestants are bringing classical indian dance moves to the stage, but with a modern flare. there's miss d.c. ♪ and miss new york, dancing to a bollywood medley. ♪

there are always your violins of the classic kind. ♪ and then there are the violins and a creative twist. miss oregon gets it started in here. ♪ >> there you go. >> miss florida rehearses her baton twirling performance. she is using every chance she can to practice before she competes in the prelim competition later tonight. ♪ it is a routine rehearsal -- ♪ until sudden ly, a dramatic setback.

confusion sets in as witnesses come to her side, trying to help. >> what's wrong? >> oh, my god. that really hurt. >> guys, we need to get a medic, please. >> you okay? >> yeah. >> just relax. >> is she moving? is she out? >> honey, tell me, did it twist? >> completely buckled. >> it buckled? >> buckled completely. it was just not there. >> okay, okay. >> it is a tense scene. some take to prayer. >> protect her, protect her, in the name of jesus, amen. >> but the rehearsal must go on. miss utah sings as myrrhanda is taken away on a stretcher, with her dream of becoming miss america fading before her eyes, she holds her head high.

>> i had to go out and perform after her. little bit emotional. yeah, somebody's hurt, you really don't want that. you want them to be their best. >> six hours later, an incredible development. miss florida is back. >> i'm going to go through, finish competing tonight and then hopefully get to recompete on sunday. i mean, that's -- that's the goal, that's the dream and i'm willing to make it happen. >> after completely tearing her acl, a devastating knee injury that would sideline most pro athletes, she will compete. it is an act of determination and even defiance. she will push through the pain. >> if there's a will, there's a way. firmly believe you will yourself to win. i can do it. i can do it, no problem.

♪ >> wearing a knee brace, an emotional miss florida takes the stage. she refuses to miss her chance. >> performing a baton twirling routine to "big noise," here's myrrhanda jones, miss florida. ♪ >> she nails it. an extraordinary comeback. tonight, despite her injury, miss florida manages to win the talent portion of the preliminary competition. >> and that is miss florida. >> miss america preliminary

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pageant confidential continues. >> it is competition weekend, and time for one more tradition to return to the atlantic city boardwalk. the shoe parade. it's a chance for the contestants to kick up their heels and show off their personalities with state-themed fashions and footwear.

as hosts of miss america, even chris harrison and i joined in on the fun. miss south dakota channels her inner biker. miss d.c. and miss pennsylvania go for a more patriotic look. miss kansas is proud to be kicking up her army boots. and despite that scary injury, miss florida won't miss this opportunity to win over some fans. a few hours later, a beautiful sunrise. pageant day has arrived. after years of fan that sizing about being miss america, for one of these women, the dream is about to come true. as you've seen in the last hour, these contestants have worked so hard to get to this moment and tonight, the judges have an equally challenging task. so, will you agree with their choice? it's time to find out which of these amazing young ladies becomes your next miss america.

i'm lara spencer. don't go anywhere, though. because the 93rd annual miss america pageant starts right now. last january, i was crowned in las vegas. since then, my travels have taken me all over this great country. and tonight, i'm bringing the crown back to atlantic city. i'm mallory hagan, i'm miss america, i'm back. ♪ some day ♪ when i'm awfully low ♪ when the world is cold ♪ i will feel a glow ♪ just thinking of you ♪ and the way you look tonight ♪ lovely