BRAINERD - For the second year in a row, a Brainerd woman is competing for the title Miss America.

Savannah Cole says she's been a busy woman since she was crowned Miss Minnesota in June.  She says she's taking this year off from school at North Dakota State University, to devote her full attention to her duties.

Cole graduated from Brainerd High School in 2013.

Cole says her personal platform is epilepsy awareness, because of a close family friend...

And, even though she hasn't even left for Atlantic City yet, you can help her get to the finals by voting for her online in the "America's Choice" category. Each contestant put together a one-minute selfie video...

There is a limit of one vote per person. The deadline to vote is Friday, September 12th.

Cole leaves for Atlantic City, New Jersey on Sunday (August 31st). She'll have two full weeks of rehearsals prior to the live television broadcast of the finals on ABC on Sunday, September 14th.

Last year, Miss Minnesota was Rebecca Yeh, who is also from Brainerd. She finished as the 4th runner-up.

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