Georgia woman wins Miss America pageant

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell is the new Miss America.

Cantrell rode an opera performance to the title in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on Sunday night, besting 51 other competitors in the nationally televised pageant.

The pageant marked the return of Miss America 1984 Vanessa Williams, who was back for the first time after resigning the crown after a nude-photo scandal. Pageant executive chairman Sam Haskell apologized to Williams on behalf of the pageant.

"I want to apologize for anything that was said or done," Haskell told Williams as they stood on the stage. "Vanessa: Welcome back!"

For Williams, who went on to stardom on television and on the Broadway stage, it was a triumphant return to the Miss America stage.

"I did the best I could in my reign as Miss America," she said during Sunday's pageant.

Cantrell sang an opera number for her talent performance.