On Sunday, America will have a new female role model when Miss America chooses its next winner.
For Lifetime’s “Kim of Queens” star Kim Gravel — a former Miss Georgia and Miss America competitor — the pageant is a huge event for herself, her family and the young pageant girls she coaches.
“Miss America is the Super Bowl of beauty for my family,” Gravel told TheWrap. “We all tweet, text, Facebook, and make our predictions on who’s going to win. I love texting during the competition with the girls I coach.
“Every year I watch Miss America, I get to relive my experience there. I know what the girls are feeling and going through, because I went through the same experience.”
Also read: Lifetime Renews ‘Kim of Queens’ for Second Season (Exclusive)
For her educated take and sheer natural excitement for the Miss America pageant, TheWrap looked to Gravel to name this year’s standout contenders.
Here’s her six women to watch (in her own words):
1. Miss Georgia – Maggie Bridges
She’s a people person. Her platform is deep and wide, but the bottom line: She is a master communicator. And besides that, I gotta support the home team!
2. Miss Kentucky – Ramsey Carpenter
She’s a fiddler, which is going to be a fan favorite, not to mention her talent will be entertaining for the ABC broadcast. Her platform of MS Awareness is personal and powerful. She doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk.
Also read: Dick Clark Productions, Miss America Team to Develop New Biz Ventures
3. Miss Florida – Victoria Cowen
Her talent is graceful and she is well-rounded on stage. Her gown is stunning, her talent is moving and she’s won the swimsuit preliminary. She reminds me of Elsa from “Frozen” and that’s got to count for something.
4. Miss New Jersey – Cierra Kaler-Jones
This girl is sharp, smart as a whip. As a Rutgers University student, no doubt her interview is top notch and she is passionate about education, scholarship and the arts. And, that is what Miss America is all about.
5. Miss Ohio – Mackenzie Bart
Anyone who can talk for two and win talent as a ventriloquist gets my vote. She’s the girl next door that’s very comfortable on stage.
See photo: Grumpy Cat Endures ‘Worst Christmas Ever’ in Lifetime Original Movie (Exclusive)
6. Miss North Dakota – Jacky Arness
She’s a dark horse, one of those you are not going to see coming. I liked her bold, empowerment “speech” for her on-stage question. I agree with her philosophy of less competition and more representation among women. You go girl!
The Miss America pageant airs Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
The Season 2 premiere of “Kim of Queens” airs next Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on Lifetime.