Glamour, skill, and originality were on full display during the second night of preliminary competition at Miss America in Atlantic City. The audience was treated to a lively exhibition of artistic talent as the candidates made their way across the stage, almost all of them dressed in stunning costumes, showcasing their singing, dancing, and musical abilities. It was the goal of every act to keep the audience and judges spellbound. But amid all the glitter and cameras, one contestant—Kelley Johnson, Miss Colorado—took an unexpected and profoundly influential path.
There had never been an entrance like Kelley Johnson's that night. Although her competitors wowed in ornate costumes, Kelley made a statement by entering the stage in plain old nursing scrubs. The crowd was probably taken aback since they were anticipating a more conventional presentation. Instead of a dance or song, what came next was an emotionally wrenching speech that everyone in the audience will never forget.
