Pick of top 10 fails to include Ohio's winner

Final pageant results weren't available by Vindicator press time.
STAFF/WIRE REPORT
ATLANTIC CITY -- Amanda Beagle, 24, of Howland, did not make the top 10 Miss America 2005 finalists Saturday as she competed among 52 contestants for the title here.
The competition entered its final night during the national telecast. The top 10 were from North Carolina, California, Oklahoma, Georgia, Kansas, New York, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas.
Still, Beagle was in the opening backstage shot of the women just as the telecast began, wearing a black cocktail dress, and caught additional "face time" as the telecast got under way -- including telling the audience what Miss America means to her.
The title is worth $50,000 in scholarship money, with the potential to earn up to $300,000 in appearance and speaking fees during the year.
In the pageant's first talent showdown, the final two contestants left on stage -- after the fourth through second runners-up had been announced -- performed their talent live as one last effort to capture the title.
A video montage during the broadcast featured all the top 10 semifinalists' talent performances.
Broadcast firsts
A night of broadcast firsts marked the 50th anniversary of the first telecast of the pageant. The show featured live backstage reports to give viewers unprecedented access to the contestants as they prepared to compete for the title.
Each of the 52 contestants, from the 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands, were divided into three groups to compete in three nights of preliminary competition leading up to the live two-hour telecast, when the top 10 finalists were announced.
Changes
During its 84 years, and as one of the longest-running live entertainment specials in television history, the pageant has undergone several changes to keep the program contemporary. Twenty-two former Miss Americas introduced by Lee Meriwether, the first Miss America to be crowned on television, walked the Boardwalk Hall runway.
The "Miss America" host this year was Chris Harrison, host of ABC's "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" as well as HGTV's "Designer's Challenge." This year was Harrison's first as the pageant host.
During the three nights of preliminary competition, the judges scored the women on their private interview, talent, casual wear, evening wear, onstage question and discussion, and lifestyle in swimsuit. Saturday night, the contestants were judged on casual wear, lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit, evening wear, talent and the onstage quiz.
The quiz
As in past years, the five finalists were tested with the "Miss America" quiz, consisting of six questions. The women were tested on awareness of relevant issues, current events, American history and U.S. government.
The contestant with the highest cumulative score was crowned Miss America 2005.
Entertainment by Clay Aiken included a contemporary version of "There She Is," traditionally sung to the new Miss America, as well as the national debut of his next single.
The Miss America organization says it is the largest provider of scholarships to women in the world. Last year, more than $45 million in scholarships was made available to participants at each level of the competition -- local, state and national.