New Format for Miss America, including a Top 15!

Top 15- Evening Gown
Top 12- Swimsuit
Top 10- Talent
Top 8- Onstage Question

We are pleased to announce the show format for 2008 Miss America Live! As you will see, several changes were made to this year's format and we couldn't be happier with the final product.

This year, the announcement of the semi-finalists will be changed to Top 15! The Evening Wear Competition will be followed by a Top 12 announcement. These 12 contestants will go on to compete in Swimwear. After the Swimsuit Competition the field will be narrowed down to 10 - all of whom will perform their talents live on-stage!! We know many of you have asked for the return of Top 10 Talents, and we are thrilled to tell you that this year's show has been designed so that 10 of our talented contestants will be able to perform to a national audience during the two-hour 2008 Miss America Live! event.

Following the Talent Competition, 8 contestants will advance to On Stage Question. Then the Fourth, Third, Second and First Runner-Ups will be revealed - culminating in the announcement and crowning of Miss America 2008!

Another exciting announcement is that each night of preliminary competition will be hosted by one of our amazing Former Miss Americas. Tuesday's Preliminary will be hosted by Heather French Henry, Miss America 2000. Katie Harman Ebner, Miss America 2002, will host Wednesday’s Preliminary Competition, and Deidre Downs, Miss America 2005, will host the final night of Preliminary Competition on Thursday. We are honored that these three wonderful women will return to the Miss America stage as we count down to the Miss America Live! Finale on January 26, 2008.

We hope the excitement is building as we get ready for another year of wonderful preliminary and final shows, and that you are as thrilled as we are about Top 10 Talent returning to the Miss America stage.

Sincerely,

Sam Haskell Art McMaster
Chairman of the Board President / CEO