ABC to Air 2013 MISS AMERICA COMPETITION, 1/12

Related: 2013 MISS AMERICA, ABC

ABC will air the 2013 MISS AMERICA Competition on Saturday, January 12, 9:00-11:00 p.m., ET. This year's panel of seven esteemed judges includes an accomplished designer and member of Oprah's "Glam Squad"; Indiana's very first Miss America turned marketing professional and philanthropist; a global broadcasting icon and television host who has interviewed everyone from big celebrities and the President of the United States; an award-winning dancer, choreographer and television star; a well known morning television broadcaster and weather editor; and an entrepreneur, business icon and television star, as well as a 2012 Olympic gold medalist. Together the team of judges will have the important task of evaluating the contestants from the preliminaries through the final night of competition, which will broadcast live from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on SATURDAY, JANUARY 12 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on ABC.

This year's panel of judges comprises experts in each of the fields in which a young woman must excel in order to be named Miss America. Miss America must be intelligent, talented, well-spoken, a leader, have a commitment to her community and be modern in her Style and fashion -- a relevant and individual young woman who can connect with today's contemporary woman -- as well as being physically fit.

As announced today on "Good Morning America," this year's seven judges are:

Bradley Bayou - Bradley Bayou gained widespread recognition for his many contributions to the fashion industry. As a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America he has received numerous industry honors, including Mercedes-Benz Presents Designer for Los Angeles Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios. While the BRADLEY BAYOU couture label is a favorite among celebrities, he also has a ready-to-wear namesake collection at QVC, where he has translated couture quality and the fundamentals of his book, The Science of Sexy, into an affordable clothing line. Bayou's fashion pieces have graced the covers and pages of many magazines and periodicals, including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Essence, Cosmopolitan, PEOPLE, Entertainment Weekly and In Style. A member of Oprah's "Glam Squad," he has been a contributor on www.oprah.com and an ambassador for NEDA, National Eating Disorder Association, promoting healthy body images in the media and fashion industry.

Cheryl Burke -- Cheryl Burke has over 20 years' dancing experience and several championship titles under her belt, and as a professional dancer tangoed and sambaed her way into the hearts of millions through the hit ABC television show, "Dancing with the Stars." Burke recently became the show's first professional dancer to appear in the finals four times, becoming champion twice -- with Emmitt Smith in Season 3 and Drew Lachey in Season 2. Now, at 27, she has used her appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" to propel her career into different avenues: in 2008 she opened her first dance studio, the highly successful Cheryl Burke Dance, and has authored a best-selling biography.

Sam Champion - Sam Champion is the weather anchor of ABC's "Good Morning America" and also serves as weather editor for ABC News. In addition to covering the national forecast, he travels for weather-related stories around the country and the globe. Since joining "Good Morning America," Champion has reported from the frontlines of California wildfires; hurricanes in Florida, Texas and Louisiana; and from winter storms in Denver, Chicago and Boston. As part of the morning broadcast's "The New 7 Wonders of the World" series, he has even broadcast live afloat the polar ice caps. He reported from Louisiana on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which included a dive in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, Champion regularly brings tips and information on how to be environmentally efficient to his "Just One Thing" reports. He also hosts "Sea Rescue," a weekly series broadcast nationally on Saturday mornings.

Mary Hart - Mary Hart is best known for hosting "Entertainment Tonight" for nearly 30 years. Her reporting has included interviewing nearly every major motion picture, television and music star of the last 30 years, from Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Sinatra to George Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Justin Bieber. Hart was also the only entertainment journalist to interview all of the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates. She has been honored by American Women in Radio & Television with the Gracie Allen Award, which recognizes those responsible for "exemplary programming created for women, by women and about women in all facets of broadcasting and electronic media." Hart was also presented the Samaritan Award by the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation for her work on behalf of several children's charities. A member of the Board of Trustees for Children's Hospital Los Angeles, as Co-Chair of the New Hospital Campaign she helped pave the way for the opening of the new building in July 2011. She is also an ambassador for Childhelp USA which combats child abuse across America.

Daymond John - Star of ABC hit show "Shark Tank," Daymond John is an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. He has come a long way since taking out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother's house and moving his operation into the basement. John is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry, with over $6 billion in product sales. He is an award-winning entrepreneur, having received over 35 awards, including the Brandweek Marketer of the Year, Advertising Age Marketing 1000 Award for Outstanding Ad Campaign, and Ernst & Young's New York Entrepreneur of the Year.

McKayla Maroney - McKayla Maroney is the 2011 world vault champion who, this past summer in London, let the world know she'd arrived. As a member of USA's 2012 Olympic Women's Gymnastics team, "THE FIERCE FIVE," she earned a gold medal with her teammates as she performed a historically Epic vault which will forever be remembered. After arriving home from the Olympics, Maroney discovered she had competed on a potentially career-ending toe fracture which required surgery, as well as a fibula fracture. In spite of these injuries, she joined the Kellogg's Tour. She has become an internet sensation after inspiring the blog website "McKayla Maroney is NOT impressed." She recently shot a guest star role on the CW's "Hart of Dixie," and will be shooting a second one soon.

Miss America 2009 - Katie Stam Irk - Since her year of service, Katie Stam Irk has traveled over 250,000 miles on behalf of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, our armed forces and to promote community service and involvement. She has continued to travel the country on her national speaking tour as an advocate, spokeswoman, host, author, branding professional and performer. Stam Irk is an executive consultant for New Sunshine, LLC in Indianapolis, where she specializes in product development and marketing. Serving on the Board of Directors for Ovar'coming Together, Indiana's ovarian cancer awareness organization, she is passionate about ovarian cancer research, education and support groups.

Media who wish to cover the 2013 Miss America Competition can download a press credential application online at www.MissAmericaPressRoom.com, where up-to-the-minute competition news and information, as well as downloadable high resolution images of Miss America 2012 and the 2013 contestants, are located.

For more information, also visit: www.missamerica.com and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MissAmericaOrganization

About the Miss America Organization

The Miss America Organization is the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women and one of the nation's leading achievement programs. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local affiliates made available more than $45 million in scholarship assistance. The 2013 Miss America Competition will mark its third consecutive year on ABC. The show will air on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 9:00 p.m., ET. Visit www.missamerica.org for more information.