Miss South Carolina, Ali Rogers of Laurens, came as close as you can get to winning the Miss America title by being named first runner-up Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Rogers, who was reported to be a favorite in the competition, won the first round in the Lifestyle and Fitness category Wednesday after modeling a white swimsuit.
Rogers also was the contestant who raised the most funds for the the Children's Miracle Maker Awards.
A Clemson University student, she is working toward a Bachelor of Arts Degree in communication studies and then hopes to earn a Master's Degree in public relations. She plans to open a public relations firm as a career.