Miss Historic Batesville crowned Miss Arkansas 2018

June 16, 2018 at 10:10 p.m.

by Emma Pettit

Miss Historic Batesville Claudia Raffo was named Miss Arkansas on Saturday night.
Miss Historic Batesville Claudia Raffo was named Miss Arkansas on Saturday night.

Claudia Raffo was crowned Miss Arkansas 2018 Saturday night at the Robinson Performance Hall in downtown Little Rock.

Raffo, Miss Historic Batesville, is a 22-year-old pharmacy student whose hometown is Jonesboro. Her platform is "New Life Saves Lives: Umbilical Cord Donation."

With the award, Raffo receives a $30,000 scholarship.

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Photo by Emma Pettit

The new Miss Arkansas, Claudio Raffo, hugs last year's winner of the pageant, Maggie Benton, on Saturday night in Little Rock.

[GALLERY: Photos from Miss Arkansas Pageant week in Little Rock]

Contestants are judged on an individual talent, their answers to an onstage question, evening wear and swimwear, though the swimwear portion is being phased out, the Miss America Organization announced earlier in June.

Raffo will go on to compete in the Miss America competition in September.

Read Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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