Miss America contestants arrive in Orlando for orientation

JOHN DeROSIER Staff Writer 9 hrs ago (0)

Miss America Orientation

From left, Miss Louisiana Laryssa Bonacquisti, Miss Mississippi Anne Elizabeth Buys and Miss Arkansas Maggie Benton meet at the airport during their trip to Orlando for orientation and to support contestants in the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition. Bonacquisti is the daughter of Miss New Jersey 1990 Lynette Falls.

Miss New Jersey Kaitlyn Schoeffel says the orientation provided her with ‘lots and lots of info’ about the Miss America Competition. The Egg Harbor Township native says she also picked out her evening gown and made a new friend — her roommate in Orlando, Miss Massachusetts Jillian Zucco.

The contestants in this year’s Miss America Competition officially began their journeys of a lifetime this week in Orlando, kicking off the sprint to the September finals at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.

The only downside? They didn’t get to go to Disney World.

On Tuesday, the 52 hopefuls gathered together for the first time for the annual competition orientation and to cheer on their state’s contestants at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition at the Orange County Convention Center.

orientation provides contestants an opportunity to pick their evening gowns for the competition, film TV segments and support the organization’s sister pageant before returning home for the final month of preparation.

“It’s finally hit me that I’m going to Miss America,” Miss New Jersey Kaitlyn Schoeffel said Wednesday. “I’ve already picked out an evening gown that I will get to bring home. … It’s all just really exciting.”

The contestants hit it off immediately in Orlando, according to Schoeffel.

Schoeffel said her roommate is Miss Massachusetts Jillian Zucco, and that they are already friends.

“We’ve gone to breakfast, lunch and dinner every day,” she said, adding she was already friends with Miss Alaska Angelina Klapperich and has enjoyed spending time with her again.

Miss Louisiana Laryssa Bonacquisti said Monday she couldn’t wait to meet her fellow contestants.

By Wednesday, Bonacquisti, who is the daughter of Miss New Jersey 1990 Lynette Falls, had posted several pictures on Instagram with Miss Arkansas Maggie Benton.

But the trip to Orlando is about more than just getting to know the other contestants. It involves receiving information, meeting with sponsors, cheering on the Miss Outstanding Teen contestants and having the opportunity to ask questions before the competition, according to Chelsea Mineur, a spokeswoman for the Miss America Organization.

“(The contestants) will sit down for their orientation to learn all about what to expect in Atlantic City while they compete for the title of Miss America 2018,” Mineur said.

While the amount of information can be overwhelming, Schoeffel said it’s exciting to know the competition is only a month and a half away.

“It’s lots and lots of info,” she said, laughing. “But I’m just so excited to be down here and support the outstanding teens.”

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