Louisiana State University student and Louisiana native Laryssa Bonacquisti, 22, finished in the top seven at the Miss America 2018 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which aired live on television this past Sunday, September 10.
Bonacquisti rose to the Miss America pageant after being crowned Miss Shreveport and then taking the state crown in June. Her pageant platform was to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer, from which her grandmother died earlier this year.
Bonacquisti performed a musical ventriloquism act with two singing puppets for the talent portion, wearing a glittering bodysuit. At the end of the evening, she donned a beautiful yellow evening gown. She claims her grandmother “had this dream of me wearing a yellow evening gown at Miss America.”
Congrats, Laryssa!
