I caught up with Fifth Harmony’s Normani Kordei on the red carpet of Miss America 2018 in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. Kordei was there to support her friend Miss Texas Margana Wood; Normani herself was a former Miss Teen Texas. The artist chatted about the quartet’s self-titled LP, the group’s VMA performance and more.
Archives For Boardwalk Hall
When I think back to the Miss America red carpet earlier this month at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, a number of moments and interactions immediately come to mind…
– This was my third consecutive year covering arrivals and the carpet was in a new location within the hall; a floor I didn’t even know existed let alone had visited!
– The obligatory red carpet photo.
– Chatting with Normani Kordei of Fifth Harmony, which was a complete surprise. She was the last person I spoke with there and was in attendance because she is good friends with Miss Texas, Margana Wood. Kordei was once a Miss Teen Texas in the Miss America Organization.
.@NormaniKordei is at #MissAmerica to cheer on @MissAmericaTX! I asked her what's harder: Competing in MAO or performing on #VMAs. @955PLJ pic.twitter.com/0AOKFVRKcr
— Ralphie Aversa (@ralphieaversa) September 11, 2017
Never heard this story until #MissAmerica: @NormaniKordei explains why @FifthHarmony's 2nd LP was self-titled. #5H @955PLJ @WestwoodOne pic.twitter.com/vciekXqlRX
— Ralphie Aversa (@ralphieaversa) September 11, 2017
– Sage Steele, one of the co-hosts, was there on the first NFL Sunday of the season. The next morning she was scheduled to co-host SportsCenter AM. Seemed like quite the feat.
You think MY schedule is crazy? @sagesteele is hosting @SportsCenter AM. She might have a highlight or 3 to 👀… #MissAmerica #NFLSunday pic.twitter.com/5ryEDOd7HX
— Ralphie Aversa (@ralphieaversa) September 11, 2017
– Her co-host for the program was the venerable Chris Harrison, who doesn’t seem to mind people bugging him about “Bachelor” drama and gossip.
.@chrisbharrison told @ralphieaversa before co-hosting #MissAmerica that he doesn't mind people trying to get #Bachelor scoop out of him. 😉 pic.twitter.com/MplhEOSxns
— 95.5 PLJ (@955PLJ) September 11, 2017
– Sam Haskell is Chairman and CEO of the Miss America Organization. I remembered after Savvy Shields won last year; in the subsequent press conference he mentioned how happy MAO was with the pick. This year, I was sure to ask Haskell how exactly he is able to get to know every contestant ahead of time.
So how does @MissAmericaOrg's @samhaskell get to know ALL of the contestants? @955PLJ @WestwoodOne pic.twitter.com/3An32HwV70
— Ralphie Aversa (@ralphieaversa) September 11, 2017
– Speaking of Savvy – what’s next for the outgoing Miss America?
Welp, this is it for @MissAmerica… but what's next for @SavvyJanine? @955PLJ @WestwoodOne pic.twitter.com/YkikKMQ4JN
— Ralphie Aversa (@ralphieaversa) September 11, 2017
– Country music superstar Thomas Rhett was one of the celebrity judges tasked with picking her replacement.
Long time no see @ThomasRhett! We chatted about what he's learned as a @MissAmerica celebrity judge. @955PLJ @NASHFM947NY @WestwoodOne pic.twitter.com/vXGTa1XDXw
— Ralphie Aversa (@ralphieaversa) September 11, 2017
– And Miss North Dakota’s contingent erupted when Cara Mund was crowned Miss America 2018 inside Boardwalk Hall.
This is awesome. @MissAmericaND's whole squad erupts as she's crowned the new #MissAmerica! What a moment. pic.twitter.com/lb3r2q0cfR
— Ralphie Aversa (@ralphieaversa) September 11, 2017
For my third consecutive year, before traveling to Atlantic City for the Miss America competition, I chatted with some of the contestants and celebrity judges. The participants from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island called in along with Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri and first-time judge/country music superstar Thomas Rhett.
