Miss North Dakota wins Miss America 2018

CARA MUND IS THE FIRST WOMEN FROM NORTH DAKOTA TO WIN MISS AMERICA

Miss North Dakota, 23 year old Cara Mund, was crowned Miss America 2018 earlier tonight at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Mund made history by becoming the first ever woman from North Dakota to win this title. Before tonight's triumph, they have just placed 4 times and never advanced further than the top 10. The new Miss America hails from Bismarck and is a law student. During the talent round, she performed a jazz dance to the hit Michael Jackson song The Way You Make Me Feel. 

Miss Missouri, Jennifer Davis, finished as the runner-up while Kaitlyn Schoeffel, Miss New Jersey, was named the second runner-up. The top 5 were completed by the third runner-up, Briana Kinsey from the District of Columbia, and the fourth runner-up, Miss Texas Margana Wood. 

Two huge favorites, Laryssa Bonacquisti, Miss Louisiana, and Jessica Procter, were eliminated after the top 7 round. The delegates from Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia made it to the top 10. They were joined in the top 12 by Miss Georgia and Miss Tennessee while the contestants from Alaska, Illinois and New Mexico made it to the top 15. 

Updates about Hurricane Irma were given throughout the telecast and an appeal was made to the viewing public to make donations towards disaster relief efforts. 

Now that was a complete surprise in true Miss America style. I wonder how many people saw this victory coming. Well done to Cara Mund and North Dakota for winning their first Miss America crown!!! 

Photos courtesy of ABC, Getty Images (Donald Kravitz),