Did she mean… Eleanor Roosevelt? Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson gave the most memorable response when she was asked during the question and answer portion of Miss America pageant's live broadcast, which woman should be featured on the $10 bill.
"This is about money, my favorite topic," Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary told Johnson. "The treasury wants to put the face of a woman on the $10 bill, besides Alexander Hamilton. Which woman should get that honor and you tell me why."
The grinning blonde closed her eyes for a fleeting moment and replied: "Oh my goodness! Thank you for that question. The person that I would put on the $10 bill would be Ellen DeGeneres. I think that woman is so amazing."
Meanwhile, the audience roared in response while cameras panned to a clearly amused O'Leary. The Internet speculated that Johnson, 22, intended to say Eleanor Roosevelt, but the Colorado state rep went with her answer and elaborated why DeGeneres deserved to be on the currency.
"Not only is she kind. Not only is she intelligent," Johnson noted. "Not only is her entire platform speaking tolerance and equality for all and kindness, but she's able to be funny without insulting someone and I think that is an incredible feat. Thank you."
Johnson, a nurse, was favored at first after she broke from tradition and delivered a heartwarming monologue about one of her patients who struggles with Alzheimer's — complete with scrubs — during the talent portion. Ultimately, she was edged out by Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell and first runner-up Miss Mississippi Hannah Roberts.
Watch her response above.
