There She Is … Miss America’s 100th Anniversary Set For Mohegan Sun

Miss America returns to The Mohegan Sun Arena (in Uncasville, Connecticut) on Thursday, December 16, 2021.

We caught up with Tom Cantone yesterday, Thursday, September 9, 2021.

Cantone is The Corporate level President of Sports & Entertainment at MGE (Mohegan Sun). Cantone provided us with some keen insight into the upcoming 2021 Miss America Scholarship event.

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What started as a gimmick on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City to extend the summer season with a bathing suit competition which eventually grew into a massive scale beauty pageant, Miss America has dramatically evolved over the past 100 years. The word pageant is gone in favor of a scholarship competition. The objectifying of women in bathing suits evolved into calling it a “fitness competition.” The page has been completely turned on this category as well.

COVID-19 paused the 2020 competition. Cantone confirmed to us that Miss America returns to The Mohegan Sun Arena (in Uncasville, Connecticut) on Thursday, December 16, 2021. It will be the historic 100th Anniversary of the competition.

“We are honored to have a three-year commitment and there exists a symbiotic relationship as we have shared values of diversity, education, and community service together,” said Cantone.

The two platforms (Mohegan Sun & Miss America) align nicely. This will be the second time the Miss America competition will be held at Mohegan Sun. In 2019, Camille Schrier was crowned Miss America. There wasn’t a competition in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Miss America left its nearly 100-year home after the 2018 competition.

“We’re thrilled to be back at our glamorous new home at Mohegan Sun,” said Shantel Krebs, Miss America Chief Executive Officer (in a prepared statement).

“As Miss America begins her second century of empowering women through scholarships and opportunities, we’re looking forward to showcasing that this program is more important and relevant than it ever has been,” said Krebs.

“Besides the competitive events, there are lots of events being planned to honor Miss America’s tremendous impact of preparing great women for the world and preparing the world for great women,” Krebs said. “Miss America has broken barriers and truly made a difference in our hometowns, states and our nation.”

The preliminary competition events will feature the 51 contestants (representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia), which will take place on December 12 & 13, 2021.

There will also be 100th-anniversary events on December 14 & 15, 2021 … with the final night of competition on December 16, 2021.

More information about events and tickets will be announced at a later date.