Good Morning America revealed the diverse panel of national judges for the 2013 Miss America Competition on this morning’s show. This year’s panel of seven esteemed judges includes an accomplished designer and member of Oprah’s “Glam Squad;” Indiana’s very first Miss America turned marketing professional and philanthropist; a global broadcasting icon and television host who has interviewed the biggest celebrities to the President of the United States; an award-winning dancer, choreographer, and television star; a well known morning television broadcaster and weather editor; an entrepreneur, business icon, and television star, as well as a 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist. Together, the team of judges will have the important task of evaluating the contestants from the preliminaries through the final night of competition, which will broadcast live from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, January, 12 at 9-11 p.m. ET on ABC.

As announced today on “Good Morning America,” this year’s seven judges are:

Bradley Bayou: Bradley gained widespread recognition for his many contributions to the fashion industry. As a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America he has received numerous industry honors, including “Mercedes-Benz Presents” Designer for Los Angeles Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios. While the BRADLEY BAYOU couture label is a favorite among celebrities, he also has a ready-to-wear namesake collection at QVC where he has translated couture quality and the fundamentals of his book The Science of Sexy into an affordable clothing line. Bradley’s fashion pieces have graced the covers and pages of many magazines and periodicals including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Essence, Cosmopolitan, People, Entertainment Weekly, and In Style. He is a member of Oprah’s “Glam Squad” and has been a contributor on www.oprah.com as well as an ambassador for NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association) promoting healthy body images in the media and fashion industry.

Cheryl Burke: Cheryl has more than twenty years of dancing experience and several championship titles under her belt, and as a professional dancer Cheryl has tangoed and sambaed her way into the hearts of millions through the hit ABC television show “Dancing with the Stars.” Recently she became the show’s first professional dancer to appear in the finals four times, becoming champion twice with Emmitt Smith in Season Three and Drew Lachey in Season Two. Now at 27, she has used her appearance on “Dancing with the Stars” to propel her career into different avenues. In 2008 she opened her first dance studio, the highly successful Cheryl Burke Dance and has authored a best-selling biography.

Sam Champion: Sam is the weather anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America and also serves as weather editor for ABC News. In addition to covering the national forecast, Sam travels for weather-related stories around the country and the globe. Since joining Good Morning America, he has reported from the frontlines of California wildfires; hurricanes in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana; and from winter storms in Denver, Chicago, and Boston. As part of the morning broadcast’s The New 7 Wonders of the World series, Sam has even broadcast live afloat in the middle of the Polar Ice Caps. He reported from Louisiana on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill which included a dive in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, he regularly brings tips and information on how to be environmentally efficient to his regular Just One Thing reports. Sam also hosts Sea Rescue, a weekly series broadcast nationally on Saturday mornings.

Mary Hart: Mary is best known for hosting Entertainment Tonight for nearly thirty years. Her reporting has included interviewing nearly every major motion picture, television and music star of the last thirty years from Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Sinatra to George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, and Justin Bieber. Mary was the only entertainment journalist to interview all of the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates and she has been honored by American Women in Radio and Television with the Gracie Allen Award, which recognizes those responsible for “exemplary programming created for women, by women, and about women in all facets of broadcasting and electronic media.” She was also presented with the Samaritan Award by the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation for her work on behalf of several children’s charities. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and as co-chair of the New Hospital Campaign, she helped pave the way for the opening of the new building in July 2011. She is also an ambassador for Childhelp USA that combats child abuse across America.

Daymond John: Star of ABC hit show Shark Tank, Daymond is an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. Daymond has come a long way from taking out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother’s house and moving his operation into the basement. Daymond is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with more than $6 billion in product sales. He is an award-winning entrepreneur, and he has received more than thirty-five awards including the Brandweek Marketer of the Year, Advertising Age Marketing 1000 Award for Outstanding Ad Campaign, and Ernst & Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year.

McKayla Maroney: McKayla is the 2011 World Vault Champion and last summer in London, she let the world know that she'd arrived. As a member of USA's 2012 Olympic Women's Gymnastic Team, "THE FIERCE FIVE," she earned a gold medal with her teammates as she performed a historically epic vault, which will forever be remembered. After arriving home from the Olympics, McKayla discovered she had competed on a potentially career ending toe fractures which required surgery, and a fibula fracture. In spite of these injuries, she joined the Kellogg's Tour. She has become an internet sensation after inspiring the blog website “McKayla Maroney is NOT impressed.” She recently shot a guest star role on the CW television show, Hart of Dixie, and will be shooting a second one soon.

Katie Stam Irk: Katie served as Miss America 2009, and during her year of service, she traveled more than 250,000 miles on behalf of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, United States armed forces, and her personal platform of promoting community service and involvement. Katie has continued to travel the country on her national speaking tour as an advocate, spokeswoman, host, author, branding professional, and performer. She is an executive consultant for New Sunshine, LLC in Indianapolis where she specializes in product development and marketing. Serving on the Board of Directors for Ovar'coming Together; Indiana's ovarian cancer awareness organization, Katie is passionate about ovarian cancer research, education and support groups.

This year’s judges panel comprises experts in each of the fields that a young woman must excel in order to be named Miss America. Miss America must be intelligent, talented, well-spoken, a leader, have a commitment to her community, and be modern in her style and fashion—a relevant and individual young woman who can connect with today’s contemporary woman, as well as being physically fit.

Source: MAO

Tune in tomorrow, December 5, to hear the live announcement of the National Judges selected for the 2013 Miss America Competition on ABC’s Good Morning America during the Pop News segment, in the 8 a.m. ET* hour!

* Please check your local listings

Source: MAO

The Miss America Organization is proud to announce your opportunity to vote for a finalist at the 2013 Miss America Competition, broadcast live from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 12, 2013 on ABC. There are fifty-three exciting videos posted online, made by each of the 2013 contestants, showing off their style and personality and explaining why they should be chosen as the next Miss America!

Cast your vote via one of the following two methods:

• Click here and vote for your favorite contestant's video.
• Visit the "Video Contest" tab at www.facebook.com/missamericaorganization

There is a limit of one one vote per person and Internet accessible device per contestant throughout the Voting Period, regardless of method of voting. Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. PST on Thursday January 10, 2013. Click here to read Voting Terms and Conditions. Happy Voting!

Source: MAO

Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2013 Rachel Wyatt was the featured guest on Best Ever You Radio yesterday, December 2. The Best Ever You Show is a top rated international radio show on Blog Talk Radio entering its third year. The show is hosted by Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino and co-hosted by Dr. Katie Eastman and Gary Kobat.

The Best Ever You Show has welcomed hundreds of experts and celebrities including; The Lennon Sisters, Lee Phillip Bell, Michael Maloney, Ed Asner, Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith, Gary Kobat, Alana Stewart, Michael McGlone, Bobby Roth, Tosca Reno, Shea Vaughn, Eileen Davidson, Susan Baker, Forbes Riley, and many more.

They feature Real People, Real Advice, Real Places, Real Products and Businesses, Real Life Stories, and more, including real celebrity life. Best Ever You is committed to helping you be your best and keep it real—Be confident, successful, caring, and beautiful, every day!

Click here to listen to Rachel's interview!

Source: MAOTeen