Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell is the new Miss America who stunned the crowd with her opera performance, besting 51 other candidates in the nationally televised pageant.
"I'm still so overwhelmed, I don't know what to say other than thank you!" Cantrell told reporters moments after being crowned Miss America 2016.
During the question and answer portion, Cantrell was asked whether New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady cheated en route to his team's run to a Super Bowl title last season. Brady was recently given a league-imposed four-game suspension by a federal judge, Fox News reported.
According to US Magazine, Cantrell responded saying, "Did he cheat? That’s a really good question, I’m not sure. I think I’d have to be there to see the ball and to feel it to make sure if it was deflated or not deflated, but if there was any question there then yes, I think he cheated. If there was any question to be had I think that he definitely cheated and he should have been suspended for that. That’s not fair."
The Associated Press asked Cantrell to clarify her remarks after the pageant and she said, "It was kind of a funky question to ask me if Tom Brady cheated. If there was any question as to whether or not he cheated and somebody else felt the ball and decided that it was deflated, then yes, I guess he did cheat."
The victory of Miss Georgia ended the dominance of New York who won the crown for three consecutive times. Last year's Miss America, Kira Kazantsev is from New York.
Preliminary competition for the talent portion, interviews, evening wear and swimsuit competition were held last Thursday. The contestants hit the Atlantic City Boardwalk for the annual "Show Us Your Shoes" parade, wherein the shoe designs were based on the contestant's home states like the dice and Monopoly money on New Jersey's shoes.
On the said pageant, Miss America 1984 Vanessa Williams returned for the first time after she resigned her crown due to a nude photo scandal. Pageant executive chairman Sam Haskell apologized to Williams on behalf of the pageant, NJ.com reported.
Meanwhile, the Internet reacted to the answer of newly crowned Miss America 2016, taking their opinions to Twitter.
ICYMI: Miss Georgia tells judges she thinks Tom Brady should be suspended. Then becomes Miss America. WATCH: https://t.co/DODxQlBxI7
— ESPN (@espn) September 14, 2015
So miss America thinks she can just feel the ball and tell if it was deflated and called Brady a cheater what a dumb girl. — Lene/SuperBowl Champ (@PatsGirl86) September 14, 2015
Lol I think all of us, including the winner, were shocked about the Miss America results
— Nicole Baldwin † (@nicole_misscali) September 14, 2015
Have to laugh at the answer from Miss Georgia regarding Tom Brady then she is crowned Miss America #ridiculous — Laurie Bono (@LaurieBono67) September 14, 2015
Being so dumb that you think anyone accused is therefore guilty actually reflects much of the populace. So Go Miss America! #DeepThought
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) September 14, 2015
