New Jersey: Miss Georgia, Betty Cantrell, won the crown of Miss America in the beauty pageant held at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on Sunday night.
After winning a preliminary competition earlier this week, she won the pageant by competing against 51 others.
Moments after being crowned Miss America, Cantrell said, “I'm still so overwhelmed, I don't know what to say other than thank you!”
The 21-year-old beauty queen was crowned as Miss America 2016 by Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev.
She won the national crown and a $50,000 scholarship along with the crown. In the preliminary round, she won a $2000 scholarship through her spectacular opera performance.
An interesting question put to Cantrell in the question and answer round had earned her laurels. She was asked whether New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady cheated en route to his team's run to a Super Bowl title last season or not.
To this, she answered, “I'm not sure" when asked if Brady cheated. "I'd have to see the ball and feel it" she said, before adding, "If there's any question, then yes, he cheated."
The pageant also marked the return of Miss America 1984 Vanessa Williams, who was back for the first time after relinquishing the crown following a nude photo scandal.
Pageant executive chairman Sam Haskell apologized to Williams on behalf of the pageant.
