MISS AMERICA Beagle remains cool, confident moving through preliminaries

This year, the finals will be condensed to two hours.
By LAURA FARR
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
ATLANTIC CITY -- It comes down to Saturday night when Miss Ohio Amanda Beagle hopes to be announced as one of the Top 10 semifinalists -- one of whom will win the coveted Miss America 2005 title.
The woman crowned Miss America will win a $50,000 scholarship to coincide with the celebration of 50 years on television.
"I am feeling really good at this point," said Beagle, 24, of Howland.
The judges' interview marks the final phase of Miss America preliminary competition. It accounts for 30 percent of the overall preliminary score.
The judges ask questions from current events to philosophies and platform questions. They are looking for qualities such as physical beauty, physical fitness, talent and intelligence.
"I conveyed my passion for life and my passion for this program," Beagle said. "I explained my community service platform, improving the quality of life for students through SMARTS -- Students Motivated by the Arts. I was true to myself and felt I did my best."
Beagle selected a lime green Banyu suit from Deborah's of Paducah, Ky., for her interview. She said she loved the color and design.
Challenging job
The schedule is grueling for Miss America. The judges are looking for a motivated woman who can promote the Miss America program as well as speak on behalf of her platform issue as a national spokeswoman and role model.
As Miss America the winner will travel more than 20,000 miles per month, making appearances for fees in excess of $300,000 during her year of service.
The panel of seven Miss America judges from the fields of entertainment and arts is: John Weidman, Emmy and Tony Award-winning writer; Kellye Cash, Christian music artist and former Miss America 1987; Phil Maloof, businessman and former state senator for New Mexico; Niki Taylor, international model and entrepreneur; Lawrence Hamilton, a Broadway actor, singer and dancer; Jennifer Hanson, country music singer and Miss California 1994; and Barry Phillips, two-time Emmy Award-winning film director and producer.
This year the Miss America finals will be condensed from a three-hour telecast to two hours. ABC hopes to boost ratings even though Miss America is one of their highest-rated shows, easily winning its Saturday time slot. The finals will air at 9 p.m.
The panel of judges from the three preliminary nights of competition will also judge the finals, a change from past years when a celebrity panel of judges arrived for the telecast.
The scoring system has been revised. The composite score carried over from earlier in the week will account for 30 percent of the overall final score. In all phases of final competition the judges will factor the contestants' ability to excel in fulfilling the responsibilities of Miss America.
Casual wear will account for 15 percent; lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit, 15 percent; evening wear, 15 percent; on-stage quiz consisting of six questions for the top five finalists will account for 5 percent; and the talent competition for the top two remaining finalists will account for 20 percent of the overall judges' score.