Maggie Benton of Greater Jonesboro has been crowned as Miss Arkansas 2017. The 80th Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant was held at a packed Robinson Center.
She will now further represent her state in national pageant i.e. Miss America 2018, in Atlantic City, New Jersy, on September10, 2017. The event will be broadcast by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). Miss America 2017 and Miss Arkansas 2016, Savvy Shields, will officially crown her successor.
Benton was crowned by the outgoing Miss Arkansas, Savannah Skidmore, and by Miss America, Savvy Shields on Saturday night. As Miss Arkansas, Benton won a $30,000 scholarship and more than $75,000 in awards, wardrobe, transportation, and gifts.
Benton's talent was a Broadway vocal performance of Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. Her platform is "Giving is a Gift".
She also won in the preliminary portion of the Miss Arkansas competition. Thursday night she won the Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit award. Wednesday night she took home the Special Award for Artistic Expression.
