Miss Connecticut prepares for national competition

Miss Connecticut Morgan Amarone (left) poses with Miss Connecticut Scholarship Corporation President Kathy Shea Mormino at the send-off event on Dec. 27. Photos by Steve Smith.

As Miss Connecticut prepares to leave for the Miss America Pageant (and nearly two weeks of preliminaries and related activities), hundreds of supporters turned out for Morgan Amarone’s send-off event in New Haven on Dec. 27.

Amarone, 23, a cancer activist, certified public accountant, accomplished dancer and children’s author, said she is as prepared as she can be to add one more (very prestigious) title to her already-impressive resume. However, she also has some secondary goals in mind while she contends for the coveted Miss America crown, including the raising of Connecticut’s profile on the national stage.

“One of my main goals at Miss America is to get Connecticut some national recognition,” Amarone said. “Being a small state like Connecticut, it’s very tough – we haven’t had a Miss America since 1933.”

Amarone was one of only eight state contestants to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – a program which has partnered with the Miss America Organization and encourages achievement of young men and women – for which she will be recognized on the Miss America stage. Last summer she held an overnight session for several participants.

“Before I even get to the Miss America Pageant, I’ve already accomplished one of my goals,” Amarone said.

Naturally, Amarone is feeling some nervousness and excitement as her trip to Las Vegas approaches, but she is also feeling confident.

“Winning Miss Connecticut was the big prize for me, and now getting to go to Miss America is icing on the cake,” she said. “I honestly feel like I can be the next Miss America, and I’m going to put my best foot forward to represent Connecticut. It’s such a surreal feeling and I can’t wait to get there.”

She added that she is looking forward to the experience in general, as well as taking part in the camaraderie that develops between contestants, despite the fact that they are technically competing.

“I met them in Orlando [at the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen pageant in August],” Amarone said. “They were all so down-to-earth. Once you get to this level, I think everyone’s in it for the right reasons. We’ve all gotten along very well and I’m excited to find out who my roommate is.”

The preliminary rounds of the competition begin on Jan. 10 and continue through the week, and the Miss America finals will be aired on ABC at 9 p.m. on Jan. 15.

Although she has worked hard to prepare herself for the many phases of the competition, Amarone said the best strategy to prepare to become Miss America has been being the best Miss Connecticut she can be, while maintaining her own essence.

“I also want to remain true to myself,” she said. “I don’t feel like I have to fit a mold. Everything I’ve chosen was on my own, and I already feel like Miss America, regardless of the outcome.”

For more information, visit www.missctamerica.org or www.missamerica.org.