Live updates: Miss International City crowned Miss Georgia 2018
Who will be crowned Miss Georgia 2018? Follow along here for live updates on the pageant from the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. The pageant starts at 7 p.m. EST.
WINNER: Miss International City Annie Jorgensen was crowned Miss Georgia 2018. She will go on to compete for Miss America 2018 this September in Atlantic City NJ. Scroll down for a full list of winners and semi-finalists.
7:15 p.m.: Welcome to the 74th Annual Miss Georgia Pageant! So far, we've seen the opening number and parade of 53 contestants.
This year's emcees explain explain new changes to the competition. At this year's Miss America in September, contestants will not wear a swimsuit. Each contestant will instead do a live presentation highlighting her accomplishments. The formal evening wear competition will also change; they'll instead wear something of their choosing.
Now here are the top 15 semi-finalists:
People's Choice: Miss Fitzgerald, Livvy Hiers
Miss International City, Annie Jorgensen
Miss Rome, Taylor Burrell
Miss Presidential Pathways, Caroline Carroll
Miss Coastal Empire, Megan Johnson
Miss Emanuel County, Destiny Levant
Miss Cobb County, Victoria Hill
Miss Johns Creek, Stephanie Gargiulo
Miss Capital City, Paula Smith
Miss Golden Isles, Anna Freeman
Miss Fulton County, Chari Guzman
Miss Atlanta, Brooke Doss
Miss Historic Buford, Alexa Gilomen
Miss Historic Southern Plains, Sarah DeLoach
Miss University of Georgia, Holly Haynes
7:25 p.m.: Each year, a contestant who has not competed before wins a $500 scholarship. This year's First-timer award goes to Miss Conyers Cherry Blossom.
A total of $83,000 in scholarships have been given out this year.
7:30 p.m.: Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen 2017 Annie Swan introduces the 2018 winner, Rory Pan.
7:43 p.m.: The top 15 semi-finalists walk across the stage for the lifestyle and swimsuit competition. This will be the last year swimsuit is included in the competition. All of this year's semi-finalists wore a white bikini.
Now the top 15 semi-finalists become 10. Here are the top ladies competing for the Miss Georgia 2018 crown:
Miss Johns Creek, Stephanie Gargiulo
Miss Fulton County, Chari Guzman
Miss Cobb County, Victoria Hill
Miss University of Georgia, Holly Haynes
Miss Historic Buford, Alexa Gilomen
Miss Rome, Taylor Burrell
Miss International City, Annie Jorgensen
Miss Atlanta, Brooke Doss
Miss Historic Southern Plains, Sarah DeLoach
Miss Capital City, Paula Smith
We'll be back after intermission for the evening wear and talent portions of competition.
8:15 p.m.: And we're back! Miss Georgia Princess' kicked off the second half of the pageant with a dance to "24K Magic" by Bruno Mars.
Now we head into evening wear. A cover of Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" plays in the background as each contestant walks across the stage in her evening gown. Nearly every color of the rainbow was worn by the top 10 semi-finalists: white, green, blue, red, orange, and lilac. Red and white were the top choices with two ladies wearing white and three in red.
8:31 p.m.: Miss Georgia 2017 Alyssa Beasley, 20, will go back to school full-time at the University of Georgia studying exercise and sports science. She used to be gymnast and dancer until injuries held her back, so she wants to one day become a physical therapist to help others passionate about dance get back on their feet.
And now it's time for talent:
Miss International City performs a jazz routine wearing a white and silver leotard.
Miss Rome sings "I Believe I Can Fly" wearing a long white and silver gown featuring a split cape attached at the shoulders.
Miss Cobb County performs an opera piece wearing a red gown with a full skirt, short collar and bedazzaled shoulder pieces.
Miss Johns Creek presents a Tae Kwon Do routine wearing red pants and a black crop top with black belt proudly tied around her waist. She broke three blocks with her bare hands and six boards with her feet -- three of those while blindfolded.
Miss Capital City sings "This is a Man's World" wearing red sequin pants, a red blazer and red heels.
Miss Fulton County sings "Rollin' on the River" wearing a short white dress with beaded fringe.
Miss Atlanta performs a ballet piece wearing a black and red sequined leotard and chiffon skirt.
Miss Historic Buford sings a rendition of "Lovesong" wearing an emerald green off-the-shoulder gown.
Miss Historic Southern Plains tap dances to "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" wearing a black velvet jumpsuit with red glitter accents.
Miss University of Georgia sings a jazz vocal from "Showboat" wearing a tan gown with iridescent accents.
Miss Georgia 2017 Alyssa Beasley performs a special lyrical dance tribute to her late uncle. The emcees say it will likely be the last time she dances in a formal setting as she finishes her year as Miss Georgia.
9:06 p.m.: Miss Georgia 2015 and Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell makes a special appearance. She is currently working on an autobiography, as well as traveling around the country performing her music.
Here are the top 5 contestants:
Miss Cobb County
Miss International City
Miss Fulton County
Miss Atlanta
Miss Historic Buford
Each contestant will now answer an on-stage question. They have 20 seconds to answer.
9:19 p.m.: Alyssa Beasley makes her final appearance as Miss Georgia 2017 in the long white gown that won her the title last year.
Final results
Fourth runner-up: Miss Historic Buford
Third runner-up: Miss Cobb County
Second runner-up: Miss Atlanta
First runner-up: Miss Fulton County
WINNER: Miss International City
This story was originally published June 16, 2018 at 6:46 PM with the headline "Live updates: Miss International City crowned Miss Georgia 2018."