The first openly gay contestant in the Miss America pageant, Miss Missouri Erin O’Flaherty, was eliminated Sept. 11 when the top 15 finalists were selected.
She was the first openly lesbian contestant to win a state title. Djuan Trent competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss Kentucky in 2011, when she finished in the top 10; she came out as a lesbian in 2014.
Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields won this year’s pageant.