Miss America competition begins Tuesday in Atlantic City

This Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016 photo shows Miss America contestants at a welcoming ceremony in Atlantic City. The first night of preliminary competition in this year's pageant begins Tuesday night, Sept. 6, 2016, with the new Miss America being crowned on Sunday night. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The process of picking a new Miss America gets underway Tuesday night in Atlantic City.
The first night of preliminary competition is to begin at Boardwalk Hall in the city where the pageant began in 1921 as a way to extend the summer tourist season beyond Labor Day weekend.
The competition will include contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Tuesday night is the first of three nights of preliminary competition lasting through Thursday.
The 2017 Miss America will be crowned during Sunday night’s nationally televised finale on ABC.