First Darlington native ever to compete for Miss America
Darlington native Erin O’Flaherty is competing at the Miss America Pageant as Miss Missouri.
The pageant airs on Sunday night, September 11 on ABC.
By Will Isgett
Contributing Writer
When the Miss America telecast begins this Sunday night on ABC 15, the City of Darlington will make history. Darlington native Erin O’Flaherty will be the first contestant from the City of Darlington to ever compete on the Boardwalk Hall stage in Atlantic City, New Jersey. O’Flaherty is Miss Missouri and won that title after moving to the “Show Me State” two years ago to pursue job opportunities. In her youth, her father also worked there; it is like a second home to her.
The News and Press spoke with O’Flaherty from Atlantic City as she competes for the title.
“Everything is going great,” O’Flaherty said. “Rehearsals have been long, but the production is coming together and it’s been really fun. We have a class of contestants that really love each other.”
O’Flaherty has been in Atlantic City since August 29, making many appearances with the other state representatives and putting the final touches on preparing for the competition.
She had her private interview with the judges on Sunday, and said she felt it went really well.
“It was definitely personal,” O’Flaherty said. “I felt like they were getting to know me, and that’s what’s important.”
Last night she competed in the on-stage question competition and said she got a great question on her platform suicide prevention.
“I couldn’t have gotten a better question,” O’Flaherty said. “I feel like I answered it very well.”
Tonight (Wednesday) she will compete in swimsuit/evening and will round out her preliminary competition with talent on Thursday night and will perform a vocal rendition to “Mad Hatter” from the Broadway musical “Wonderland.”
O’Flaherty said that despite all the activity she is not the least bit tired, and she’s “not sure that it’s sunk in yet that she is competing for Miss America.”
The week will conclude with the traditional “Show Me Your Shoes” parade on Saturday, and O’Flaherty will wear shoes and a costume honoring the 2015 Major League baseball champions Kansas City Royals.
Miss South Carolina Rachel Wyatt, a 21 year old Clemson University Senior, competed in the swimsuit/evening gown competition last night, will compete in the talent competition tonight and will have her on-stage question on Thursday.
Wyatt is a former Miss America’s Outstanding Teen.