LITTLE ROCK – University of Arkansas alumna Maggie Benton won the title of Miss Arkansas 2017 Saturday night, June 17, at the 80th Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant. The pageant took place at the Robinson Center in Little Rock in front of a sold-out crowd of nearly 2,500.

Benton won a $30,000 scholarship provided by Ted and Shannon Boy Skokos, Citgo and the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Foundation and more than $75,000 in awards, wardrobe, transportation, and gifts.  She will represent Arkansas at the 2018 Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City and will make appearances across the Natural State promoting the Children’s Miracle Network, the Arkansas Children’s Hospital, her personal platform of “Giving is a Gift” and speaking in support of the goals of the Miss Arkansas and Miss America system.

Benton was crowned by the outgoing Miss Arkansas, Savannah Skidmore, of Calico Rock and Miss America, Savvy Shields, of Fayetteville, both University of Arkansas students.

Benton is the 22 year old daughter of Murray and Nancy Benton of Jonesboro. For her talent she performed a vocal to “The Music of the Night.”

The other top five finalists were: 

• 1st runner-up: Miss University of Arkansas Darynne Dahlem. She is a member of the Honors College from Greenwood.
• 2nd runner-up: Miss Arkansas Delta Ashley Ehrhart
• 3rd runner up: Miss Northeast Arkansas Bailey Moses
• 4th runner-up: Miss White River Claudia Raffo

The five semi-finalists were (each receiving a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by Jones and Son Fine Jewelry) – finishing 6-10 and listed in random order:

• Miss Apple Blossom Reagan Wheelis, a junior accounting major at the University of Arkansas from Melbourne.
• Miss Arkansas State University Destiny Quinn
• Miss Gateway to the Ozarks Jacey Winn, a graduate of the University of Arkansas from Wynne.
• Miss Metro Kenzie Williams
• Miss Spirit of Arkansas Jessica Miller