Miss Georgia is crowned the new Miss America and 1984 winner Vanessa Williams finally receives apology over nude photo scandal that saw her relinquish her crown

• Cantrell rode an opera performance title in Atlanta City's Boardwalk Hall on Sunday night, besting 51 other competitors in the nationally-televised competition
• The 21-year-old from Warner Robins, Georgia wrote on Twitter: 'So HONORED to be your #MissAmerica 2016! A night I will never forget!'
• Actress and singer Vanessa Williams returned to the pageant as head judge for the first time in more than three decades since she resigned the title amid a nude photo scandal
• Williams, the first African-American Miss America, won the title in 1984 but resigned after Penthouse magazine published sexually explicit photographs of her taken several years earlier
• On Sunday night, Pageant executive chairman Sam Haskell apologized to Williams on behalf of the pageant
• The finale comes after three nights of preliminary competition in the swimsuit, evening gown and talent categories

By Associated Press and Myriah Towner For Dailymail.com

Published: 23:40 EST, 13 September 2015 | Updated: 11:26 EST, 14 September 2015

Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell is the new Miss America.

Cantrell rode an opera performance to the title in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall Sunday night, besting 51 other competitors in the nationally-televised pageant.

Following her win she said: 'This is so incredible. I can't believe it. I thought I blew the on-stage question. I didn't know what he asked me.'

'I am only the second Miss Georgia to win Miss America, and I am so happy to represent my state,' she continued. 

The pageant also marked the return of Miss America 1984 Vanessa Williams, who was back for the first time after resigning the crown following a nude photo scandal.

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Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell was crowned the new Miss America  on Sunday at Boardwalk Hall Arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey

She rode an opera performance to the title in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall Sunday night, besting 51 other competitors in the nationally-televised pageant

The 21-year-old from Warner Robins, Georgia said she could not believe that she won in a post-win interview

Actress and singer Vanessa Williams returned to the pageant as head judge for the first time in more than three decades since she resigned her 1984 Miss America crown amid a nude photo scandal. Pageant executive chairman Sam Haskell (pictured with Williams) apologized to her on behalf of the pageant

Williams (pictured as she sings during the pageant) is the first African-American Miss America

Williams won the title in 1984 (left) but resigned (right) after Penthouse magazine published sexually explicit photographs of her taken several years earlier

The judges of the pageant included (pictured left to right) Kevin O'Leary, Amy Purdy, Danica McKellar, Taya Kyle, Zendaya, Vanessa L. Williams and Brett Eldredge

Pageant executive chairman Sam Haskell apologized publicly to Williams on behalf of the pageant.

'I want to apologize for anything that was said or done,' Haskell told Williams as they stood on the stage. 'Vanessa: Welcome back!'

For Williams, who went on to on to have a successful career in film, television, music and Broadway, it was a triumphant return to the Miss America stage. On Sunday night, she performed Oh How the Years Go By on stage.

After performing the song, she was approached by Haskell who said, 'I have been a close friend of this beautiful and talented lady for 32 years.

'You have lived your life in grace and dignity, and never was it more evident than during the events of 1984 when you resigned.'

'On behalf of today's organization, I want to apologize to you,' he said.

'Thank you so much,' replied Williams. 'So unexpected but so beautiful.' 

Cantrell is shown overwhelmed with emotions as she is announced as the new Miss America

Cantrell, pictured by the other contestants after being crowned wrote on Twitter: 'So HONORED to be your #MissAmerica 2016! A night I will never forget!'

The new Miss America gives the crowd a wave after being crowned on Sunday night in New Jersey

Cantrell won the talent portion of the pageant after singing 'Tu, Tu Piccolo Iddio' from the opera Madama Butterfly

Cantrell's win ends New York's dominance as the Miss America pageant, as Kira Kazantsev (picutured with Nathan Farrell from the Children's Miracle Network), crowned Miss America last year, was the third consecutive Miss New York to be given the title

The top Miss America contestants embrace each other with happare pictured as they are told they advance to the next round of the competition

Cantrell was awarded the crown over first runner-up Miss Mississippi Hannah Roberts, second runner-up Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson, third runner-up Miss Louisiana April Nelson and fourth runner-up Miss Alabama Meg McGuffin, according to the Washington Post.

She sang an opera number for her talent performance and won a preliminary competition earlier in the week, also with an opera performance.

During the interview portion of the pageant, Cantrell was asked a question about the Deflategate scandal and whether New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady cheated, according to the Macon.com.

Judge Brett Eldgredge asked: 'New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was suspended for his part in the so-called Deflategate scandal, then reinstated by the courts. Legalities aside, did Tom Brady cheat?' 

She asked for the question to be repeated before stumbling as she answered saying she would need to see the ball in order to say whether he cheated or not.

'Did he cheat? Um, that's a really good question. I'm not sure,' she said. 'I think I'd have to be there to see the ball and feel it and make sure it was deflated or not deflated. 

'But if there was question there, then, yes, I think he cheated. 

'If there was any question to be had, I think that he definitely cheated, and that he should have been suspended for that. That's not fair.' 

Cantrell's win ends New York's dominance as the Miss America pageant, as Kira Kazantsev, crowned Miss America last year, was the third consecutive Miss New York to be given the title.

The first Miss Georgia to be awarded the Miss America crown was the late Neva Langley Fickling of Magon, Georgia in 1952.

After being named Miss America, she was awarded the crown and a $50,000 scholarship.

Wearing a white two piece dress, with a crop top revealing her midriff, she commented on her outfit choice for the evening.

'I would say that my dress may be a little sexy because it's a two-piece that shows, like, an inch of midriff — so, breaking ground,' Cantrell said. 'But I would say it's more classy and elegant than sexy.'

Following her wins he wrote on Twitter: ''So HONORED to be your #MissAmerica 2016! A night I will never forget!' 

The pageant worked overtime this year to bring back parts of its storied history. It included the return of the pageant's theme song with the line 'There she is, Miss America'.

Actress and singer Vanessa Williams returned to the pageant as head judge for the first time in more than three decades since she resigned the title amid a nude photo scandal. 

Williams, the first African-American Miss America, won the title in 1984 but resigned after Penthouse magazine published sexually explicit photographs of her taken several years earlier.

In light of the scandal at the time, she was asked by pageant officials to resign her crown or be stripped of her title, according to the New York Daily News. 

The 'Miss America' song, made famous by longtime pageant host Bert Parks, returned to the pageant after a five-year absence due to legal wrangling over rights to its use.

The 2016 Miss America contestants are pictured on stage during the pageant on Sunday evening

Thirteen of the 2016 Miss America contestants are pictured in swimsuits as they competed for the crown

Preliminaries for the swimsuit competition had been held last week

Sunday night's pageant, Miss America's 95th, featured contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson is shown as she is congratulated as she moves on in the competition

Miss Oklahoma Georgia Frazier and Cantrell show off their pink swimsuits during the swimsuit competition

Her wide smile and enthusiasm for the event shone through in every part of the competition

She was thrilled when she advanced from the swimsuit competition

During the televised pageant, Cantrell is pictured as she advances in the competition on Sunday night as she stands along five other contestants

Audience members including young girls hold up signs in support of Miss America contestant Miss North Carolina Kate Peacock

Attendees of the pageant also included a group of Miss America Outstanding Teens who are shown cheering

After winning the pageant, MIss Georgia Betty Cantrell (pictured with Williams) was awarded the crown and a $50,000 scholarship

The Miss America Organization paid an undisclosed sum to the estate of songwriter Bernie Wayne to enable its use this year.

Sunday night's pageant, Miss America's 95th, featured contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The U.S. Virgin Islands, which competed last year, could not field the minimum required amount of contestants, and is not eligible this year. 

'It's so surreal,' said Miss Vermont Alayna Westcom. 'Standing up there, seeing all the lights and the sparkle and all the people in the audience is an amazing feeling. There's a little bit of nerves. You want to hear your name called, but you don't want it to be called first, because then you're not Miss America.'

The finale comes after three nights of preliminary competition in the swimsuit, evening gown and talent categories. Swimsuit winners were Miss South Carolina Daja Dial; Miss Florida Mary Katherine Fechtel and Wiebers. 

Talent winners were Wiebers; Miss Louisiana April Nelson, and Miss Georgia, Betty Cantrell.

The Miss America pageant began in Atlantic City in 1921 as a way to extend the summer tourist season for a week after Labor Day. It moved to Las Vegas for six years before returning to Atlantic City in 2013.

Stunning: Zendaya Coleman was certain to make an impression on the arrivals carpet

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