The first night of Miss America preliminaries was held on Sunday night at the Mohegan Sun Earth Convention Center in Uncasville. And it was the first chance the rest of America to get to meet Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan.
For the first night of competition, Raghavan, an Ellington resident, performed a classical Indian dance.
Raghavan did not win the talent category. Sydney Park, representing New York, was named the competition talent winner and was awarded a $2,500 scholarship courtesy of Kawai Piano.
The other preliminary winner was Emma Broyles, representing Alaska, who was named the social impact pitch winner and was awarded a $1,000 scholarship courtesy of IT Help, Inc.
Raghavan will compete in the social impact pitch category tonight at 7 p.m. at the Mohegan Sun. She will also compete in the on-stage question in evening gown.
Before the preliminaries began, Raghavan and the other 50 contestants participated in a private interview with the judges.
The final night of competition will be held on Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Mohegan Sun Arena and will be streamed live via the Peacock app.
PHOTOS by MIKE CHAIKEN
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan introduces herself as the preliminary competitions for Miss America open at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville on Sunday night. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan introduces herself as the preliminary competitions for Miss America open at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville on Sunday night. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan introduces herself as the preliminary competitions for Miss America open at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville on Sunday night. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan introduces herself as the preliminary competitions for Miss America open at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville on Sunday night. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan performs a classical Indian dance for talent entry in the preliminary competitions for Miss America , which began Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan performs a classical Indian dance for talent entry in the preliminary competitions for Miss America , which began Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan performs a classical Indian dance for talent entry in the preliminary competitions for Miss America , which began Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan performs a classical Indian dance for talent entry in the preliminary competitions for Miss America , which began Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan performs a classical Indian dance for talent entry in the preliminary competitions for Miss America , which began Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan performs a classical Indian dance for talent entry in the preliminary competitions for Miss America , which began Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan performs a classical Indian dance for talent entry in the preliminary competitions for Miss America , which began Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan performs a classical Indian dance for talent entry in the preliminary competitions for Miss America , which began Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan performs a classical Indian dance for talent entry in the preliminary competitions for Miss America , which began Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan performs a classical Indian dance for talent entry in the preliminary competitions for Miss America , which began Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan performs a classical Indian dance for talent entry in the preliminary competitions for Miss America , which began Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan performs a classical Indian dance for talent entry in the preliminary competitions for Miss America , which began Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan performs a classical Indian dance for talent entry in the preliminary competitions for Miss America , which began Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
Miss Connecticut Sapna Raghavan Sunday night at the preliminary competitions for Miss America at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville. MIKE CHAIKEN PHOTO
