Miss Florida wins third place in Miss America pageant

ORLANDO, Fla. (WCJB) - The woman who became Miss Gainesville, then Miss Florida, was the second runner-up in Sunday night’s Miss America pageant.

Paris Richardson was the first Gainesville resident to become Miss Florida since 1952.

Sunday night, at the 2025 Miss America pageant, she became the only Gainesville resident to reach the top three.

She won second runner-up and championed a platform of advancing health equity.

The overall winner tonight was Miss New York.

RELATED: Paris Richardson crowned Miss Florida, first person from Gainesville to win since 1952