Virginian biochemist Camille Schrier bested 50 other candidates at the Miss America 2020 held at Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center in Uncasville, Connecticut last week.
She was chosen by a panel of celebrity judges, including Superstore actress Lauren Ash, Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown, and singer-songwriter Kelly Rowland.
Karamo Brown, 2020 Miss America Camille Schrier, Lauren Ash, and Kelly Rowland pose for photos following the pageant at Mohegan Sun Casino Resort Arena on December 19, 2019
Prior to her judging duties, Kelly Rowland worked the red carpet in a scene-stealing Georges Hobeika Fall 2019 Couture dress.
The revealing outfit features a color-blocked top with red degrade peplum detail, cleavage-baring plunging neckline, cape sleeves, and a belted waist. It also has a midi-length sheer skirt with beads and black crystal embellishments and a thigh-high slit that allowed her to showcase her toned leg.
Kelly Rowland shows a hefty amount of cleavage and legs in Georges Hobeika dress
The 38-year-old singer was radiant with her bronzed look. She wore glittery smoky eyeshadow, well-defined brows, mascara, and nude lip gloss, care of makeup artist Sheika Daley. Hairstylist Neal Farinah simply styled her lob hair straight with a center parting.
Kelly Rowland wears straight, center-parted locks with glittery smoky eye-makeup and nude lip gloss
Masterminded by stylist Kollin Carter, Kelly accessorized with diamond drop earrings and showed off her feet in Versace black heels.
Kelly Rowland displayed her feet in Versace sandals
The 24-year-old Miss America 2020 titleholder wowed the audience with her live experiment on stage during the talent portion.
Wearing a lab coat, she blew away the competition with a colorful science experiment demonstrating the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by adding potassium iodide to hydrogen peroxide, food coloring, and dish soap.
Camille Schrier graduated cum laude from Virginia Tech with degrees in both biochemistry and systems biology. She’s currently studying at Virginia Commonwealth University to earn a doctor of pharmacy degree.
Miss Virginia Camille Schrier walks the red carpet prior to the Miss America 2020 pageant
The judges were not only impressed with her chemistry demonstration but also with her interview answers.
She swayed the crowd with her reply to Kelly Rowland’s question: “How do you handle those who might make fun of Miss America?”
Camille Schrier said: “I think that what I’m doing by being a woman of science and redefining what it means to be Miss America in 2020 is how I deal with those people. I’ve had people that don’t think that what I do is necessarily a talent. But you know what? Miss America is someone that needs to educate, be able to communicate with everyone, and that’s what I do as a woman of science. And we need to show that Miss America can be a scientist and that a scientist can be Miss America.”
Miss America 2020 Camille Schrier during the press conference following the competition
Credit: Judy Eddy / Instar / WENN