miss American 2011 photo | final winners of miss America 2011

miss America contestants | miss American 2011 photo | final winners of miss America 2011 | miss America competition | miss American 2011 winner

This year’s Miss America pageant is more special than past years. For on Saturday night, the organization will be marking it’s 90th anniversary.

Three nights of preliminary competition has already taken place. On Thursday, Miss Nebraska Teresa Scanlan was named that night’s preliminary Talent winner for her piano performance. Miss Oklahoma Emoly West earned recognition as the night’s Lifestyle and Fitness (swimsuit) winner. Both won scholarship money.

Miss Rhode Island and Miss Alabama earned recognition in those respective categories during the second night of preliminary competition, and the first night’s honors went to Miss North Carolina and Miss Hawaii.

Night One Winners

Night Two Winners

Night Three Winners

But all that leads up to Saturday’s event, where current Miss America Caressa Cameron (of Virginia) will end her reign and the 2011 winner will be crowned.

This year it will be held at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

“Dancing with the Stars” winner and co-host Brooke Burke and “The Bachelor” host Chris Harrison will co-host the event. The judges will reportedly be “The View” co-host Joy Behar; Miss America 1991 Debbye Turner Bell (who is now a correspondent on “The Early Show”); “Desperate Housewives” creator and executive producer Marc Cherry; actress Marilu Henner; and shoe designer Taryn Rose.

Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2011 Lacey Russ

Oklahoma

Miss Oklahoma's Outstanding Teen Lacey Russ  was crowned Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2011. Lacey performed a piano piece that was a combination of Bach's Prelude XXI and Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique and spoke of her platform P.U.R.E Excellence in order to win the hearts of the audience and judges. Lacey is from Cordell, OK where she will be starting her senior year at Cordell High School. Ranked number one in her class she is a busy young lady. She is a cheerleader, serves on the student council, plays basketball and is a member of the honor band.