Miss SC by the numbers

Published: January 12, 2013

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On the air The Miss America pageant airs at 9 tonight on WOLO-25, Time Warner Cable channel 5. At 8 p.m., Miss South Carolina Ali Rogers will be one of the contestants featured in a behind-the-scenes broadcast.

If viewing numbers are any indication, Rogers has a sizable lead in Miss America’s online voting competition. People can view contestant videos and then vote for their favorite. The winner will be a finalist. Though viewing numbers don’t necessarily correspond to voting totals, Rogers, with more than 22,000 views, had an 8,000 view advantage over her closest competitor earlier this week. Here are some more numbers to consider heading into tonight’s pageant. 29:11: As in Jeremiah 29:11, a Bible passage that Rogers refers to as her life verse. “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’.” Jeremiah 29:11 (the chapter and verse number, not the verse itself) is inscribed on a bracelet Rogers wears, and it’s on bands that supporters wear on their wrists. 21: On Oct. 29, Rogers turned 21. Her platform, in 2009 as Miss South Carolina Teen, was underage alcohol abstinence. 24: Hours in the day scheduled on Rogers’ iPhone. From meals to exercise to practice to tanning to sleeping, she’s got her days mapped. 53: Number of contestants from the 50 states and Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 2: Number of Miss South Carolinas who have won Miss America. First it was Marian McKnight in 1957 and then Kimberly Aiken in 1994. 7: Number of pageants Rogers has competed in, including Miss America. That is an eye-catching, low number, but it’s still four more than Miss Universe Olivia Culpo. The 20-year-old won Miss Rhode Island, the first pageant she ever competed in, before capturing Miss USA. She was crowned Miss Universe Dec. 19. 150: As in Ford’s F-150 pickup model, Rogers’ vehicle of choice $22,750: Amount in cash scholarships Rogers won at Miss South Carolina. 30: After not being allowed contact family and friends from Jan. 3-8, 30 is the number of minutes contestants were given to spend with supporters each night of the preliminaries. 240: Give or take a few, it’s number of Laurens residents in Las Vegas. Ali is from Laurens.