There's only hours left before a new Miss America is crowned tonight, but before the big competition (and excitement) begins, we've got all the details on the top things you need to know about the famed pageant.
2. Fierce Five Olympian McKayla Maroney's Judging Debut: Will the Miss America contestants be able to impress the so not impressed McKayla Maroney? We'll just have to wait and see. Tonight will mark the gymnast's first go-round as a judge of the beauty pageant, joining Dancing With the Stars regular Cheryl Burke, Miss America 2009 Katie Stam Irk, former Entertainment Tonight host Mary Hart, Shark Tank star Daymond John, GMA weather anchor Sam Champion, and Oprah's Glam Squad member Bradley Bayou at the judges' table. The 17-year-old athlete has been tweeting up a storm about her upcoming judging duties, asking followers for tips, and writing recently, "Katie let me borrow her Miss America crown...I want my own," along with a photo of herself making her signature scowl as Stam Irk crowned her.
3. Miss Montana Alexis Wineman's standup comedy talent routine: Wineman is one heck of a trailblazer. Not only is the 18-year-old beauty the youngest contestant in the pageant, but she also is the first woman with autism to ever compete in it. And that's just the beginning. Wineman will also be the only one doing a stand-up comedy routine as her talent. The inspirational Miss America hopeful, who told E! News she "likes to make people laugh," will be focusing her act around women's body-image issues.
4. Injured Miss Puerto Rico Kiaraliz Medina: Will Miss Puerto Rico remain poised under pressure? Kiaraliz Medina was rushed to the hospital Thursday after she sustained a foot-and-ankle injury when she performed a flamenco dance during the talent challenge. Now, she's on crutches. Medina is keeping her spirits up in light of the incident, though, returning to the competition Friday and telling the audience as she modeled her swimsuit while on crutches, "I'm here to make the crutches look good," according to the Daily Mail.
5. Miss Iowa Mariah Cary: Her platform is "Tourette Syndrome: The Involuntary Companion Syndrome," and she struggles with Tourette's herself. The Mount Mercy University senior was diagnosed with mild minor tics when she was just eight years old, and travels around the state talking to young people about the syndrome, according to Mount Mercy University's website. "I made a choice early in life, that I wanted to use my condition to empower other people, not just kids who have Tourette's, but anyone facing adversity of any kind," Cary said about her disorder, according to the site. "I wanted to push through and help other people. We all have challenges that we face."