Author: Amy Kuperinsky / Source: NJ.com
Neither rain nor controversy could keep the Miss America Show Us Your Shoes Parade off the Atlantic City Boardwalk on Saturday night.
The local tradition, held on the eve of the televised final, united the various factions of the divided pageant, including volunteers, state directors, former Miss Americas and pageant queens of all levels from across the country.
For decades, until the pageant moved to Las Vegas and starting again in 2013 upon its return to New Jersey, Miss America contestants have donned over-the-top costumes and footwear emphasizing some detail about their state in a parade along Atlantic City’s famed Boardwalk.
Miss New Jersey, Jaime Gialloreto, was inspired by the Jersey Devil and the Pine Barrens. She wore a flowing red cape imprinted with the name of the mythological creature and red horns on both her head and her shoes, which were covered with greenery representing the Pinelands.
While some contestants chose to ride inside covered cars because of the rain, Gialloreto, 19, who lives in Woolwich Township, proudly sat atop a convertible, holding one of her shoes out for all to see.
The young pageant queen accompanied Miss America legends like BeBe Shopp, Miss America 1948, and Lee Meriwether, Miss America 1955 (you might also know her as Catwoman), in the parade.
Despite the internal strife over the recent elimination of the swimsuit competition and dismay at bullying allegations made by the reigning Miss America, the pageant faithful gathered on the Boardwalk in ponchos and T-shirts showing support for each of the 51 contestants.
Some, like Julianna Erdesz, Miss Nevada 2008, had walked in those same shoes. Since she competed in 2009, when the pageant was still in Vegas, this was her first time in Atlantic City.
“At first I was a little upset because I always loved swimsuit when I was competing,” said Erdesz, 34, of the decision to cut the pageant tradition.
Because of the way they say the decision was made, representatives from 46 state pageants have signed letters asking for the resignation of Gretchen Carlson, chairwoman of the Miss America board (who was Miss America 1989) and Regina Hopper, pageant…
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