Betty Cantrell

For the American politician born Betty Cantrell in 1923, see Betty Roberts.
Betty Cantrell
Born Baciliky Andris Cantrell[1]
(1994-09-01) September 1, 1994
Warner Robins, Georgia, U.S.
Education Mount de Sales Academy
Wesleyan College
Mercer University
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Title Miss Presidential Pathways 2014
Miss Warner Robins 2015
Miss Georgia 2015
Miss America 2016
Term September 13, 2015 – September 11, 2016
Predecessor Kira Kazantsev
Successor Savvy Shields
Religion Greek Orthodox

Baciliky Andris "Betty" Cantrell (born September 1, 1994) is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Warner Robins, Georgia, who was crowned Miss Georgia 2015. On September 13, 2015, she was crowned Miss America 2016 by Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev. She is the first Miss Georgia to be crowned Miss America since Neva Jane Langley, Miss America 1953.

Early Life and Education

Cantrell was born on September 1, 1994, to physical therapists Mike and Tassie Cantrell.[2] Cantrell is of Greek and German descent and was named after her Greek grandmother, with the name Baciliky (Βασιλική, Vasiliki) meaning "royalty."[3] She grew up on 700 acres (280 ha) of land in Fort Valley, GA, and is able to drive a full-sized John Deere tractor, plow and seed fields, and handle a shotgun.[3]

In Macon, Georgia, Cantrell attended Mount de Sales Academy for high school. She then attended Wesleyan College for her freshman year and then transferred to Mercer University, where she studies vocal performance.[2][3][4]

Pageantry

Early Pageants

Cantrell entered her first pageant in late 2013.[4] Her first three pageants resulted in two first runner-up and one second runner-up finishes.[5]

In February 2014, Cantrell won the Miss Presidential Pathways 2014 title.[5] She was one of 38 qualifiers who competed in the 2014 Miss Georgia pageant. Cantrell entered on a platform of "Healthy Georgia, Strong America." with a vocal performance for the talent portion of the competition.[6] She was named second runner-up for the 2014 state title.[7]

Miss Georgia 2015

On July 26, 2014, Cantrell was crowned Miss Warner Robins 2015 which made her eligible to compete at the 2015 Miss Georgia pageant.[8] Entering the state pageant in June 2015, Cantrell's competition talent was a vocal performance of the aria "Tu? tu? Piccolo iddio!" ("You? You? Little idol of my heart!") from Act III of Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly, an aria which is sung by the title character, Cio-Cio-San, to her young half-American son just before her suicide.[9][10] Cantrell's pageant platform was "Healthy Children, Strong America."[1]

Cantrell won the competition on Saturday, June 20, 2015, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss Georgia titleholder Maggie Bridges.[10][11] She earned more than $15,000 in scholarship money from the state pageant plus the use of a Kia Sorento for the duration of her reign.[9][12] Cantrell also received scholarship awards for winning the talent, evening wear, and on-stage question portions of the competition.[9] As Miss Georgia, her activities included public appearances across the state of Georgia.

Miss America 2016

Cantrell was Georgia's representative at the Miss America 2016 competition held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 2015.[13][14] Her platform was "Healthy Children, Strong America," a reflection of growing up on a farm in Georgia, and of her parents who are physical therapists.[15][16]

Cantrell won the talent portion and a $2,000 scholarship during Thursday night's preliminary competition for again singing the aria "Tu? tu? Piccolo iddio!" from Puccini's Madama Butterfly.[17] In the final round of the competition, Cantrell was asked a question by judge Brett Eldredge: "New England quarterback Tom Brady was suspended for his part in the so-called 'Deflategate' scandal. Legalities aside, did Tom Brady cheat?" Cantrell, who was given 20 seconds to answer, said: "Did he cheat? That's a really good question. I'm not sure. I think I'd have to be there and see the ball and feel it and make sure it was deflated or not deflated. If there was a question there, then yes, I think he cheated."[18] Asked later by a reporter about her response, Cantrell said "It was kind of a funky question...I'm not a football player, and I really wasn't there to feel that ball."[19]

She beat out first runner-up Miss Mississippi 2015, Hannah Roberts, for the 2016 title and was crowned by Miss America 2015, Kira Kazantsev, on September 13, 2015. Along with the title of Miss America, Cantrell also won a $50,000 scholarship.[20] Cantrell is only the second Miss Georgia to win the Miss America title.[21]

Miss America Role

As Miss America, Cantrell served as the official National Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.[22] Additionally, to further promote her platform of "Healthy Children, Strong America," Cantrell and Team FNV announced a partnership to "promote fruits and vegetables" via Twitter shortly after Cantrell won Miss America 2016.[23] Other members of Team FNV include Jessica Alba, Stephen Curry, Kristen Bell, Nick Jonas, Colin Kaepernick, Christie Rampone, and more.[24]

On November 4, 2015, Cantrell presented with Darius Rucker at the Country Music Association Awards at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. [25]

On November 22, 2015, Cantrell appeared as a presenter at the 43rd Annual American Music Awards in Microsoft Theater, in Los Angeles, California.[26]

Cantrell also presented the award for Single Record of the Year with Jake Owen at the Academy of Country Music Awards on April 3, 2016, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.[27] [28]

On May 22, 2016, she appeared as a presenter with Mark Cuban at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It aired live on ABC.[29]

Personal Life

After passing on her crown at the 2017 Miss America pageant, Cantrell announced via social media, that she and her long-time boyfriend, Spencer "Spinny" Maxwell, were engaged and moving to Nashville, Tennessee for Cantrell to pursue a country music career.[30] Cantrell and Maxwell met on Tinder three months before Cantrell won the Miss Georgia 2015 title and maintained a long-distance relationship throughout her reign as Miss America 2016.[30]

References

  1. 1 2 "Meet Miss Georgia". Miss Georgia. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Gierer, Larry (June 21, 2015). "New Miss Georgia wants theater career on Broadway". Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus, GA: McClatchy. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Meet Miss Georgia". Miss Georgia. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Henderson, Hayley (October 7, 2014). "Meet Miss Warner Robins 2015, Betty Cantrell". Four Points Pageants. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Betty on the evening of her win as Miss Presidential Pathways". Miss Presidential Pathways Scholarship Pageant. May 2, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2015 – via Facebook.
  6. ↑ "State Contestants: Georgia - 2014". Miss America. 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Miss Cobb is 1st runner-up for Miss Georgia: Former Miss Cobb crowned in Columbus". Marietta Daily Journal. Marietta, GA: Neighbor Newspapers. June 28, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  8. ↑ Kent, Alline (July 27, 2014). "Cantrell crowned Miss Warner Robins". The Telegraph. Macon, GA: McClatchy. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 "2015 Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen Named". Southwest Georgia Live. Bainbridge, GA: Flint Media. June 21, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Miss Warner Robins is named Miss Georgia at Columbus pageant". Athens Banner-Herald. Athens, GA: Morris Communications. Associated Press. June 22, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  11. ↑ Pedersen, Stephanie (June 20, 2015). "Miss Warner Robins named 2015 Miss Georgia". Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus, GA: McClatchy. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Miss GA 2015 Betty Cantrell picks up keys to brand new car". Columbus, GA: WRBL. June 24, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  13. ↑ "State Contestants: Georgia - 2015". Miss America. 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  14. ↑ Agyemang, Jasmine; Jones, Irisha (June 21, 2015). "Miss Warner Robins crowned Miss Georgia 2015". Columbus, GA: WTVM. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  15. ↑ Flynn, Caitlin (September 14, 2015). "Who Is Betty Cantrell? Miss America 2016 Has A Bright Future & These Performances Prove It". Bustle. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  16. ↑ Cantrell, Betty (August 19, 2015). "Vote Miss Georgia 2015 Betty Cantrell for America's Choice". Miss America Organization. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell of Warner Robins wins talent preliminary in Miss America pageant". The Telegraph. Macon, GA: McClatchy. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  18. ↑ Vulpo, Mike (September 13, 2015). "Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell Crowned Miss America 2016 After Tackling Tom Brady Deflategate Question". E! Online. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Miss America fumbles 'funky' question on Deflategate, says Brady cheated". The Providence Journal. Associated Press. September 13, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  20. ↑ Jensen, Erin (September 14, 2015). "Miss Georgia is crowned Miss America 2016". USA Today. Gannett. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Betty Cantrell was crowned Miss America 2016". Pageants News. September 13, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  22. ↑ http://www.missamerica.org/news/press-releases.aspx?id=902
  23. ↑ "Betty Cantrell on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  24. ↑ "FNV // Team". Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  25. ↑ "PERFORMERS & PRESENTERS". CMA World. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Miss America Betty Cantrell to present at AMAs; Jason Aldean nominated for 2 awards". The Telegraph. Macon, GA: McClatchy. November 20, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Images: ACM Awards". Daily Herald. April 3, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  28. ↑ "2016 ACM Awards Add More Performers, Reveal Presenters". The Boot. March 28, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  29. ↑ "The 5 Best Presenters at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  30. 1 2 "Past year has been whirlwind for America's 'first beau'". The Telegraph. Retrieved September 11, 2016.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Kira Kazantsev		 Miss America
2016 		Succeeded by
Savvy Shields
Preceded by
Maggie Bridges		 Miss Georgia
2015 		Succeeded by
Adeline Kenerly
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