Miss America 2015
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Miss New York Kira Kazantsev was named the new Miss America Sunday night, marking the third year in a row that a contestant from her state has walked away with the crown in the nationally televised pageant.
Kazantsev received the crown at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall from outgoing Miss America - and Miss New York - Nina Davuluri.
For her talent performance, Kazantsev sang Pharrell Williams' "Happy" while sitting cross-legged on the stage and banging a red plastic cup on the floor.
She named combating sexual assault in the military as the issue about which she would want female U.S. senators to press their male counterparts.
The first runner-up was Miss Virginia Courtney Paige Garrett.
Other top 5 finalists were Miss Arkansas Ashton Jo Campbell; Miss Florida Victoria Cowen; and Miss Massachusetts Lauren Kuhn.
Miss North Dakota, Jacky Arness, was chosen by her peers as Miss Congeniality.
Miss Idaho Sierra Sandison, left, celebrates after she's announced as a finalist during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Florida Outstanding Teen Michaela McLean, 16, left, and Miss Nevada Outstanding Teen Amy Smith, 15, tap hands before the start of the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Oregon Rebecca Anderson takes the stage with contestants during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Massachusetts Lauren Kuhn, center, celebrates after advancing to the evening gown portion of the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Oklahoma Alex Eppler dances during the talent portion of the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Contestants don their swimsuits during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Mississippi Jasmine Murray sings during the talent portion of the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Arkansas Ashton Jo Campbell sings during the talent portion of the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev displays her swimsuit during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Florida Victoria Cowen displays her swimsuit during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Texas Monique Evans walks on stage during the swimsuit portion of the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Massachusetts Lauren Kuhn plays the piano during the talent portion of the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Ohio Mackenzie Bart performs during the talent portion of the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Tennessee Hayley Lewis sings during the talent portion of the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Florida Victoria Cowen dances during the talent portion of the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri, top right, crowns Miss New York Kira Kazantsev as Miss America 2015 during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, left, celebrates after she is named Miss America 2015 during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J. Also seen is Miss Virginia Courtney Paige Garrett, who took first runner up honors.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, right, walks the runway after she was named Miss America 2015 during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, right, walks the runway after she was named Miss America 2015 during the MMiss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J. Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri, left, who was also once Miss New York, looks on during the walk.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, third from left, answers a question during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J. Kazantsev was crowned Miss America 2015 during the event.
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Contestants rush to Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, second from right, after she was crowned Miss America 2015 during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, left, is congratulated by Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri after Kazantsev was crowned Miss America 2015 during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, left, is congratulated by Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri after Kazantsev was crowned Miss America 2015 during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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The top five finalists Sunday in the Miss America 2015 pageant stand together, from left, Miss Massachusetts Lauren Kuhn, Miss Florida Victoria Cowen, Miss Arkansas Ashton Jo Campbell, Miss New York Kira Kazantsev and Miss Virginia Courtney Paige Garrett. Kazantsev was crowned Miss America 2015.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev waves after being crowned Miss America 2015 during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, left, is congratulated by Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri after Kazantsev was crowned Miss America 2015 during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Virginia Courtney Paige Garrett, right, gasps after she is announced as a finalist during the Miss America 2015 pageant, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, in Atlantic City, N.J. Garrett took first runner up honors while Miss New York Kira Kazantsev won the crown. Looking on are Miss Oklahoma Alex Eppler, left, and Miss Tennessee Hayley Lewis. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev performs during the talent portion of the MMiss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J. Kazentsev was crowned Miss America 2015 during the event.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, center, walks the runway after being crowned Miss America 2015 during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev walks the runway after being crowned as Miss America 2015 during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, right, gets a kiss from her mother, Julia Kazantsev, after Kira Kazantsev was crowned Miss America 2015 during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri, top, crowns Miss New York Kira Kazantsev as Miss America 2015 during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss Massachusetts Lauren Kuhn, from left, Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, and Miss Virginia Courtney Paige Garrett wait to find out who is the second runner up during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J. Kazantsev won the crown while Garrett took first runner up and Kuhn took second runner up honors.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, left, gasps after she was named Miss America 2015 as she holds hands with Miss Virginia Courtney Paige Garrett during the Miss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev poses for photographers during a news conference after she was crowned Miss America 2015 during theMiss America 2015 pageant Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J.
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