The MISS AMERICA Organization, dick clark productions and ABC announced today that TV personality Chris Harrison (ABC's "The Bachelor" and "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire") will return as host of 96TH MISS AMERICA COMPETITION for his eighth year. Taking the MISS AMERICA stage for the first time, Sage Steele, host and commentator for ABC's and ESPN's "NBA Countdown," will join Harrison as co-host of the legendary competition, which airs live from Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 (9:00 - 11:00 p.m. EDT), on the ABC Television Network. The evening will be filled with glitz and glam as 52 women compete for the coveted crown and scholarships.
"For 96 years, MISS AMERICA has shone light on some of the brightest and most talented young women in the country," said Harrison. "This year will surely be a fun-filled night showcasing talent, glamour, fitness, presentation and community achievement as the country's brightest compete for the crown!" "There's always such a high level of drama and competitiveness during the MISS AMERICA competition that rivals many sporting events that I've covered," stated Steele. "I can't wait to host alongside Chris Harrison to see what this year brings." Chris Harrison began his television career by covering local sports in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Dallas, Texas, native went to Oklahoma City University on a soccer scholarship, and then made the natural transition to sportscasting with a local station. During his six years there, he worked his way up the ranks from part-time sportscaster to weekend sportscaster, and also had the opportunity to cover hard news stories. After moving to Los Angeles in 1999 and landing a job as host of HGTV's "Designer's Challenge," he went on to host ABC's hit romance/reality series "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette," and in 2015 was named the new host of the nationally Syndicated game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." In a departure from his many broadcast endeavors, Harrison recently penned his first novel entitled "The Perfect Letter," and has done his fair share of acting with roles in the popular television series "Alias," "The Practice," "Six Feet Under" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," and in feature films "Bounce," "Showtime," and "Date Movie." In his spare time Harrison plays soccer and has become addicted to golf. He has developed a great appreciation for the weather and lifestyle of Southern California, and spends as much time as possible outdoors with 14-year-old son, Joshua, and 12-year-old daughter, Taylor.Videos