Miss Arkansas USA & Teen USA 2017 contestant commentary

Miss Arkansas USA & Teen USA 2017 will be crowned tomorrow morning, with the final pageant starting at 7pm CDT, webcast at www.pageantvision.com

Abby was the first former Teen to win the Miss title in twenty years, and there are three more vying to succeed her: Miss Arkansas USA 2009 Allison Kusenberger (competing for the sixth time) and Miss Arkansas USA 2014 Lauren Weaver and 2015 Arynn Johnson, both competing for the first time.  Abby, Lauren and Arynn were all in the top five of Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2013. Allison & Arynn both made the top fifteen at Miss Teen USA.  Arynn will be the third 2015 Teen competing in Miss this year - it's quite unusual for that many to return straight after passing on their titles.  Lauren will be the second 2014 Teen, following on from her Vanbros sister titleholder Samantha Jo Bowers who was 2RU in Missouri last month.

Returning from last year's top five are Allison, who was third runner-up and first runner-up Haley Pontius.  Paige Webb, who was second runner-up to Arynn at Miss AR Teen USA 2015 and competed with the others at Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2013, is also competing in her first Miss pageant.  

Past Miss & Teen semi-finalists who are back are Skyla Weeks, Ashton Williams, and Kelsey Theall.  

Haley Pontius, Allison Kusenberger, Arynn Johnson, Paige Webb, Lauren Weaver in their most recent state pageants

Allison Kusenberger, Lauren Weaver & Arynn Johnson winning their Teen titles and at Miss Teen USA

In Teen the number of contestants has reduced dramatically.  Three of the four 2016 runners-up are competing: first runner-up Alexia Vannucci, second runner-up Kailey Hula and fourth runner-up Caileigh Coenen.  All were competing for the first time when they made the top five last year.

2016 Miss Top Five | Tarole Harris (4RU), Allison Kusenberger* (3RU), Abby Floyd (Miss AR USA), Haley Pontius* (1RU), Sierra Gorton (2RU) (click to view full size)

2016 Top Five | Alexia Vannucci* (1RU), Caleigh Coenen* (4RU), Makenzie Sexton (Miss AR Teen USA), Kailey Hula* (2RU), Caroline Long (3RU) (click to view full size)

Click "read more" or scroll below to view the full list of contestants.

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Contestant lists

MISS CONTESTANTS (21)
​Kennedy Cable • Bentonville
Paige Webb • Calhoun County (2RU AR TUSA 15, SF 13, 4RU 12)
Brejamin Perkins • Capital City
Skyla Weeks • Diamond State (SF 16, SF AR TUSA 15)
Briana Northington • Fort Smith
Paxton Gillespie • Greenwood
Arynn Johnson • Hot Springs (Miss AR Teen USA 15, 1RU 13)
Christiauna Simmons • Little Rock (NF AR TUSA 12)
Dominique Oldham • Natural State
Elizabeth Warren • Northwest Arkansas (NF AR TUSA 13)
Ashton Williams • Razorback (SF AR TUSA 15)
Kia Grant • Razorback Nation
Haley Pontius • Richland Hills (1RU 16, SF AR TUSA 13, NF 12)
Kaylee Vanstory • Rogers
Madison Scott • Saline County (NF MO TUSA 16)
Lauren Weaver • Sebastian County (Miss AR Teen USA 14, 3RU 13, 3RU 12)
Kourtney Kellar • Texarkana
Tarryn Zellers • Union County
Kelsey Theall • Vilonia (SF AR TUSA 11, NF 10)
Shelby Busbee • Washington County
Allison Kusenberger • West Little Rock

TEEN CONTESTANTS (18)
Maddison Smith • Bay (SF 16)
Dixie Watson • Benton
Briana Williams • Decatur
Victoria Archer • Diamond State
Hannah Barbaree • El Dorado
Kailey Hula • Franklin County (2RU 16)
Bri'Anna Penney • Greater Little Rock
Dakota Smith • Howard County
Allison Tucker • Johnson County
Xyxyance Allen • Little Rock
Kaitlyn Hubanks • Lonoke County
Madi Workman • Maumelle
Kenzie Hartley • Natural State
Tessa Pack • Pea Ridge
Alexis Montgomery • Pulaski County
Alexia Vannucci • Saline County (1RU 16)
Cassadee Dunlap • Sherwood (NF 16)
Caleigh Coenen • White River (4RU 16)​