Pageant fans in the District Of Columbia hope to see one of their own crowned Miss America this fall. Briana Kinsey was chosen by judges to represent DC at the national competition. If she is crowned Miss America 2018, she will become the third contestant from the District of Columbia to reign as the top miss. The first was Margaret Gorman in 1921, followed 23 years later in 1944 by Venus Ramsey.

Future in Medicine

Kinsey earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Alabama. She hopes to begin medical school in 2018. She was originally a marketing major and her interest in medicine began with her visiting children in hospitals.

Later, a parent and two grandparents were diagnosed with diabetes. Her interest in the disease resulted in "Daring to Defeat Diabetes" as her pageant platform. It is also the name of a non-profit organization she set up to further educate people about the condition. Her ambition is to become a pediatric endocrinologist, specializing in treating children with problems related to diabetes.

Also finishing with high scores at the DC pageant were Glory Nix, first runner-up; Katelynn Cox, second runner-up; Jordann Smith-Kingston, third runner-up; and Judy Mabone, fourth runner-up.

Miss America schedule

The Miss America pageant begins Sept. 6 with three evenings of preliminary pageantry in talent, evening gown and swimsuit categories.

Contestants take a break from pageantry on Sept. 9 to take part in the annual 'Show Us Your Shoes' parade. A new Miss will be chosen following a night of pageantry on Sept. 10. The event will be carried live from Atlantic City, New Jersey by the ABC television network.

Teen pageants

The Miss District of Columbia Scholarship Foundation also sponsors a pageant for teens.

Girls who are 12-17 years old compete in many of the same categories as older women for scholarships and other prizes. Brooke Miller was chosen Miss District of Columbia’s Outstanding Teen 2017. She will compete for the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen title this July in Orlando, Florida. Her pageant platform is "Libraries for Leaders: Promoting Youth Literacy." She speaks several languages and has performed at the Royal Opera House in Muscat, Oman.

If she wins the national teen title, the 15-year-old will become the first contestant from DC to reign in the position since the district joined the competition in 2005. The highest-placing contestant from DC so far is Jasmine Alexis, who finished in the top 10 at the 2008 competition.