Controversy Could Send Two Teens to Miss America Competition

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Just as Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant gets ready in Orlando, Fla., an audit of the scores from the Nevada pageant may send two contestants to compete.

Amy Smith from Henderson won the crown in June 1 in the state pageant. But parents of some of the contestants requested an audit of the scores and pageant officials found "scoring irregularities."

Donna Bozarth, chair­woman of the pageant's national board, called it an "unfortunate situation" where "there could be two winners," and that "each of them individually would receive the recognition and awards for being Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen and would compete separately in the national competition in Orlando."

So far, the other winner, Haleyann Hart of Henderson, had not agreed to compete, but Smith and her family did.

Hart won the teen talent award, and therefore the points from that portion of the contest should have place her in the top five. She also won the interview portion of the competition, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "Instead, the five finalists excluded Hart and included three 13-year-old first-year contestants, which parents cited as another red flag."

Back on that June day, Ellie Smith, Amy's sister, was crowned Miss Nevada. She plans to move on to the Miss America Pageant later this year.
· Nevada Creates Controversy for Teen Pageant [LVRJ]
· Miss Nevada Titleholders Happen To Be Sisters [Racked Vegas]