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First openly gay contestant set to compete for Miss America title

She admits to struggling for years to figure out who she was, but Erin O’Flaherty now knows exactly who she is – and that’s the first openly gay woman to be in the running to win Miss America.

The 23-year-old was crowned Miss Missouri in June and is now set to become the first lesbian to compete for the coveted Miss America tiara in the pageant’s 95-year history this weekend.

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“I’m on cloud nine really just to be Miss Missouri,” Erin told Associated Press when she took the title three months ago.

“I don’t know that I intended to be the first [openly gay winner], but I am. So I’m very excited about it.”

Erin O'Flaherty poses with Miss Missouri 2015 McKensie Garber. Photo: Twitter
Erin O'Flaherty poses with Miss Missouri 2015 McKensie Garber. Photo: Twitter

Erin competed in pageants for a year before coming out at the age of 18, but insists beyond her work for the LGBT community, her platform on suicide prevention is her priority.

“My focus of my year isn’t going to be that I’m gay,” said Erin. “It’s certainly a big part of who I am, and I will be promoting it and raising awareness for the LGBT community. But also there will be many appearances that I do that have nothing to do with that.”

Erin is hoping to become the first openly gay woman to take out the Miss America title in September. Photo: Twitter
Erin is hoping to become the first openly gay woman to take out the Miss America title in September. Photo: Twitter

It’s not the first time an openly gay woman has attempted to be in the running to nab the Miss America crown. Mollie Thomas in 2012 and Analouisa Valencia in 2013 tried, but weren’t able to win their state competitions.

Which only makes Erin’s run to the Miss America competition even sweeter.

“I’m hoping that I can strike a really nice balance of staying true to the values of Miss Missouri and also being able to exercise my personal views,” she said.

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