Wikipedia

Miss USA 2020

Miss USA 2020 was the 69th Miss USA pageant. It was held at the Exhibition Centre and the Soundstage at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 9, 2020.[2] Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and Allie LaForce served as hosts, while Cheslie Kryst and Christian Murphy served as backstage commentators, and Haley Reinhart performed. Cheslie Kryst of North Carolina crowned Asya Branch of Mississippi as her successor at the end of the event. Branch is the second consecutive African American to win the title, and the fourth one in five years. This is Mississippi's first win at the Miss USA pageant. Branch represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant and placed in the Top 21.[3]

Miss USA 2020
DateNovember 9, 2020
Presenters
EntertainmentHaley Reinhart
VenueExhibition Center and the Soundstage, Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee
Broadcaster
Entrants51
Placements16
WinnerAsya Branch
Mississippi
CongenialityImani Blackmon[1]
Washington
← 2019
2021 →

Originally scheduled to be held in spring 2020 and was initially to air on Fox, the competition was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On August 31, the Miss Universe Organization announced that the competition would be held on November 9 of the same year.[a][4]

FYI served as the new broadcaster of the pageant, replacing Fox, which had broadcast the pageant since 2016.[2][5] The show was also rebroadcast on November 18, 2020, on YouTube.[6] The competition marked the first year that a new crown made by jeweler Mouawad is used at Miss USA, effectively retiring the Mikimoto Crown.[7]

For a third consecutive year, the competition was held concurrently alongside the Miss Teen USA competition. This was the last Miss USA to be organized by Miss Universe Organization before being split into its separate organization beginning in Miss USA 2021.

Background

Location

 
Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, the host venue of the Miss USA 2020 competition.

On August 30, 2020, Graceland announced on their schedule that the competition would be held on November 9 on their premises in Memphis, Tennessee.[8] The MUO later confirmed that the competition would be hosted at Graceland the following day. This was the first time since Miss USA 1983 that the state of Tennessee would be hosting the pageant.[2]

Hosts and performer

On October 22, it was announced that the competition would be hosted by Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and Allie LaForce, while Cheslie Kryst and Christian Murphy would serve as backstage correspondents. Gbaja-Biamila is a commentator on American Ninja Warrior and former professional football player, while LaForce formerly was crowned Miss Teen USA 2005, and has worked as a sports reporter for Fox and Turner Sports.[9]

On the same day, American Idol alum Haley Reinhart was announced as the musical guest.[b][10]

Selection of contestants

Delegates from 50 states and the District of Columbia were selected in state pageants which began in September 2019 and concluded in February 2020. The first state pageant was Texas, held on September 1, 2019, while the final pageant was Kentucky, held on February 1, 2020. Nine of these delegates were former Miss Teen USA state winners, six of them were former Miss America state winners, one delegate was a former Miss America's Outstanding Teen state winner, and one was former Miss Earth United States winner who competed at Miss Earth 2017.

Rachel Slawson, Miss Utah USA 2020, became the first openly LGBT woman to compete in Miss USA; Slawson identifies herself as queer.[11][12] One state titleholder was appointed as a replacement after the original titleholder was unable to compete. Katie Bozner, the original Miss Wyoming USA 2020, resigned three weeks before Miss USA 2020 due to her academic obligations in optometry school. She was replaced by Lexi Revelli, who was the first runner-up of the Miss Wyoming USA 2020 pageant.[13]

COVID-19 restrictions

The pageant was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions implemented included an audience of only 300 spectators for both the preliminary and final competitions, and daily temperature checks, COVID-19 testing and social distancing measures for contestants and staff members. If a delegate tested positive from COVID-19, she would automatically withdraw from the competition, resulting in all of the delegates testing negative prior to arriving in Memphis. Other in-person events such as pre-pageant activities had been cancelled, including press briefings from pageant commentators.[14]

Results

 
The state map results of Miss USA 2020, colors shaded in each state

Placements

Placement Contestant
Miss USA 2020
1st runner-up
  •   Idaho – Kim Layne[15]
2nd runner-up
  •   Oklahoma – Mariah Jane Davis[15]
3rd runner-up
  •   Indiana – Alexis Lete[15]
4th runner-up
  •   Alabama – Kelly Hutchinson[15]
Top 10
  •   California – Allyshia Gupta[15]
  •   Hawaii – Samantha Neyland [15]
  •   Illinois – Olivia Pura[15]
  •   New Jersey – Gina Mellish[15]
  •   New York – Andreia Gibau[15]
Top 16
  •   District of Columbia – Cierra Jackson[15]
  •   Georgia – Alyssa Beasley[15]
  •   Louisiana – Mariah Clayton[15]
  •   Missouri – Megan Renee Kelly[15]
  •   Nevada – Victoria Olona §[15]
  •   Ohio – Sthephanie Miranda[15]

§ – Voted into Top 16 by viewers

Special award

Award Contestant
Miss Congeniality
  • Washington – Imani Blackmon[1]

Pageant

Format

For the first time since 2012, the number of finalists increased to sixteen, up from fifteen in previous years. The results of the preliminary competition — which consisted of the swimsuit competition, the evening gown competition, and the closed-door interview determined the first fifteen semi-finalists who advanced at the first cut.[16][17] The sixteenth finalist was determined through an online vote from the viewing public. During the final competition, the top sixteen competed in swimsuit, and the top ten in evening gown. The top five format returned for the first time since Miss USA 2015, where the five finalists competed in two question rounds. The winner and her runners-up were determined by a panel of judges.

Selection committee

Contestants

Fifty-one contestants competed for the title.[19]

State/district Contestant Age[c] Hometown Notes
Alabama Kelly Hutchinson[20] 23 Auburn Previously Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen 2013[21]
Alaska Hannah Carlile[22] 25 Fairbanks
Arizona Yesenia Vidales[23] 24 Phoenix
Arkansas Haley Pontius[24] 24 Houston
California Allyshia Gupta[25] 26 Los Angeles
Colorado Emily DeMure[26] 22 Boulder Later crowned Miss Grand United States of America 2022
Connecticut Chelsea Demby[27] 24 Farmington
Delaware Katie Guevarra[28] 27 Middletown
District of Columbia Cierra Jackson[29] 28 Washington, D.C. Previously Miss District of Columbia 2016
Florida Monique Evans[30] 28 Naples Previously Miss Texas 2014
Georgia Alyssa Beasley[31] 22 Brunswick Previously Miss Georgia 2017[32]
Hawaii Samantha Neyland[33] 24 Honolulu First African-American Miss Hawaii USA
Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2013
Idaho Kim Layne[34] 26 Nampa Previously Miss Idaho Teen USA 2012
Illinois Olivia Pura[35] 22 Chicago Previously Miss Illinois Teen USA 2016
Indiana Alexis Lete[36] 24 New Albany
Iowa Morgan Kofoid[37] 23 Leon Previously Miss Iowa Teen USA 2013
Kansas Hayden Brax[38] 21 Leawood
Kentucky Lexie Iles[39] 24 Louisville
Louisiana Mariah Clayton[40] 24 Zachary
Maine Julia Van Steenberghe[41] 22 Old Town
Maryland Taelyr Robinson[42] 28 Annapolis Starred in The Vineyard
Massachusetts Sabrina Victor[43] 23 Brockton
Michigan Chanel Johnson[44] 27 Detroit
Minnesota Taylor Fondie[45] 22 Blaine Former Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader
Mississippi Asya Branch[46] 22 Booneville First African-American Miss Mississippi USA
Previously Miss Mississippi 2018[47]
Missouri Megan Renee Kelly[48] 24 Kansas City
Montana Merissa Underwood[49] 28 Missoula
Nebraska Megan Swanson[50] 27 Omaha Previously Miss Nebraska 2014
Sister of Allie Swanson, Miss Nebraska 2019
Nevada Victoria Olona 27 Las Vegas Fan vote winner
New Hampshire Alyssa Fernandes[51] 26 Merrimack
New Jersey Gina Mellish[52] 21 Oceanport Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2016
New Mexico Cecilia Rodriguez[53] 28 Las Cruces
New York Andreia Gibau[54] 25 Brooklyn Previously Miss Earth United States 2017
North Carolina Jane Axhoj[55] 22 Charlotte Previously Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2015
North Dakota Macy Christianson[56] 24 Minot Previously Miss North Dakota 2016[57]
Ohio Sthephanie Miranda[58] 27 Campbell Later Top 6 at Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2021
Oklahoma Mariah Jane Davis[59] 24 Norman
Oregon Katerina Villegas[60] 27 Hillsboro
Pennsylvania Victoria Piekut[61] 24 Pittsburgh
Rhode Island Jonét Nichelle[62] 25 North Providence Former New England Patriots Cheerleader
South Carolina Hannah Jane Curry[63] 21 Greenville
South Dakota Kalani Jorgensen[64] 26 Sioux Falls Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2012
Tennessee Justice Enlow[65] 26 Nashville
Texas Taylor Kessler[66] 24 Houston
Utah Rachel Slawson[12] 25 Provo First openly LGBT person to compete at Miss USA[11][12][67]
Vermont Shannah Weller[68] 24 Middlebury
Virginia Susie Evans 27 Poquoson Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2011
Later winner of season 26 of The Bachelor
Washington Imani Blackmon[69] 25 Tacoma Previously Miss Washington Teen USA 2013.
West Virginia Charlotte Bellotte[70] 26 Charles Town
Wisconsin Gabriella Deyi[71] 28 Madison
Wyoming Lexi Revelli[13] 26 Lyman Originally first runner-up, but assumed the title after winner Katie Bozner resigned the title three weeks before Miss USA due to her academic obligations.

Notes

  1. ^ This was the first edition of pageant not to be held in February, March, April, May, June or July and also the first pageant to take place in the fall.
  2. ^ Although Haley Reinhart chose not to travel to Memphis for the final competition, but was pre-recorded from her home and sang Elvis Presley song "Can't Help Falling in Love" during the evening gown segment.
  3. ^ Ages at the time of the pageant

References

  1. ^ a b "Miss Congeniality is a classic movie to most of us, but to pageant girls it's beyond that. This year at Miss USA we didn't have time to vote in our Miss Congeniality 2020 so we decided to vote when we got home. I'm so proud and happy to say that I'm your MISS CONGENIALITY 2020🤩😭". Instagram. Miss Washington USA. November 15, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Petski, Denise (August 31, 2020). "2020 'Miss USA' Competition Moves To FYI Network From Fox". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  3. ^ "Miss USA 2020: Highlights from the coronavirus-era Graceland competition". USA Today. November 10, 2020. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  4. ^ "Miss USA & Miss Teen USA to take place at Graceland in November". localmemphis.com. August 31, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  5. ^ de Moraes, Lisa (October 28, 2015). "Fox To Broadcast Miss Universe & Miss USA Pageants". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  6. ^ "Miss USA". Facebook. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  7. ^ "Mouawad will be make an debut as official sponsor of Miss Universe 2019 crown". Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  8. ^ "MISS USA". Graceland. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "Meet Our Hosts". Miss USA. October 22, 2020.
  10. ^ "Meet Our Performer". Miss USA. October 22, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Being Queer is not a "platform." The reason I waited so long to come out as a member of the LGBT+ community was that I didn't think who I choose to love should define who I am". Rachel Slawson. January 17, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Walters, Mike (January 21, 2020). "Miss USA Pageant Has Its First Openly Bisexual Contestant In Over 60 Years". The Blast. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Romero, Hannah (October 23, 2020). "Rock Springs resident will be Miss Wyoming". Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  14. ^ "How This Year's Miss USA Contestants Are Adapting Amid COVID-19". Inside Edition. November 9, 2020. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Results Miss USA 2020 at Graceland crowns Miss Mississippi as winner". commercialappeal.com. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  16. ^ "That tie-dye skirt Sparkling heart..." Twitter. Miss USA. November 6, 2020. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  17. ^ The preliminary competition on the official Miss USA YouTube channel on YouTube
  18. ^ a b c d e f "Meet Our Selection Committee". Miss USA. October 22, 2020.
  19. ^ "Delegates". Miss USA. Archived from the original on October 4, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  20. ^ Colurso, Mary (October 6, 2019). "Miss Alabama USA 2020: Miss Auburn-Opelika takes the crown". AL.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  21. ^ Thrash, Rodney (June 24, 2013). "Cobb Contestants Shine at Miss Georgia Pageant". Marietta Patch. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  22. ^ "New Miss Alaska and Miss Alaska Teen USA are Crowned". Your Alaska Link. November 5, 2019. Archived from the original on November 7, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  23. ^ "Miss Arizona con toque latino" (in Spanish). Telemundo Arizona. January 17, 2020. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  24. ^ "Conway native crowned, will compete for Miss USA 2020". THV 11. November 25, 2019. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  25. ^ "Meet Allyshia Gupta of Miss California USA in West Hollywood". voyagela.com. March 9, 2020. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  26. ^ "CU Buffs volleyball's Emily DeMure claims the title of Miss Colorado USA 2020". Denver Post. November 21, 2019. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  27. ^ "Miss Connecticut USA and Miss Connecticut Teen USA Talk About Their Pageant Experiences". NBC Connecticut. December 16, 2019. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  28. ^ Richardson, Rodaris (December 20, 2019). "Miss Delaware USA 2020 Makes it Her Goal to Empower Young Women". WBOC. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  29. ^ Rowson, Erin (February 11, 2020). "Chatting with Miss DC USA and Miss DC Teen USA". WJLA. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  30. ^ Atkins, Andrew (January 21, 2020). "Southwest Florida contestants snag Miss Florida USA, Miss Florida Teen USA pageant title". Naples News. Archived from the original on January 22, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  31. ^ "MISS GEORGIA USA 2020". Miss Georgia USA. Archived from the original on April 11, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  32. ^ Coyne, Amanda C. (June 17, 2017). "Kennesaw State student wins Miss Georgia". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  33. ^ "Interviews with Miss Hawaii USA Samantha Neyland & Miss Teen Hawaii USA Kiʻilani Arruda". KHON2. November 12, 2019. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  34. ^ Robinson, Erin (October 29, 2019). "WSU veterinary student crowned Miss Idaho USA". KXLY. Archived from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  35. ^ "Polka najpiękniejszą kobietą w Illinois! Obiecuje, że nie zawiedzie Polonii" [Polish woman is the most beautiful woman in Illinois! She promises that will not disappoint a Pole] (in Polish). Super Express. September 15, 2019. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  36. ^ "Alexis Lete". Miss Indiana USA. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  37. ^ "Results". Miss Iowa USA. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  38. ^ "KU junior Hayden Brax crowned Miss Kansas USA 2020". www.kansan.com. February 5, 2020. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  39. ^ Whaley, Will (February 7, 2020). "Barker crowned Miss Kentucky Teen USA, heads to national competition". Bowling Green Daily News. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  40. ^ Foster, Kent (October 20, 2019). "Zachary native, Southern University alumna crowned Miss Louisiana USA 2020". WVUE-DT. Archived from the original on October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  41. ^ "Old Town woman crowned Miss Maine USA". Bangor Daily News. November 14, 2019. Archived from the original on November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  42. ^ "Newly crowned Miss Maryland USA 2020, Taelyr Robinson". Miss Maryland USA. November 13, 2019. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  43. ^ Corpuz, Mina (January 18, 2020). "Brockton native crowned Miss Massachusetts USA". Enterprise News. Archived from the original on January 19, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  44. ^ Wells, Brian M. (September 22, 2019). "Miss Michigan USA crowned at McMorran Theater". The Times Herald.
  45. ^ "Duluth teen crowned Miss Minnesota Teen USA". WDIO. December 2, 2019. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  46. ^ McWilliams, Adam (October 27, 2019). "Former Miss Mississippi Asya Branch wins Miss Mississippi USA 2020". WAPT. Archived from the original on November 16, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  47. ^ "Asya Branch, Miss Tupelo, crowned Miss Mississippi". Clarion Ledger. June 23, 2018.
  48. ^ Wehmer, Dan (December 15, 2019). "Seymour's Miss Missouri". Webster County Citizen. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  49. ^ Axworthy, Nicole; Starostinetskaya, Anna (October 31, 2019). "Miss Montana USA sparks backlash from meat industry for speaking out against factory farming". VegNews. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  50. ^ Ulcinaite, Ruta (January 15, 2020). "New Miss Nebraska USA crowned". 3 News Now Omaha. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  51. ^ "Granite State misses are a hit". Sentinel Source. Keene, New Hampshire. December 9, 2019. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  52. ^ "Oceanport's Gina Mellish crowned Miss New Jersey USA". USA Today. November 26, 2019.
  53. ^ "2020 Miss New Mexico, Miss NM Teen pageants". CBS 4 Local. January 20, 2020. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  54. ^ Leonardi, Julie (January 23, 2020). "Brockton native crowned Miss Massachusetts USA as 5 black women are reigning pageant champions". Boston 25 News. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  55. ^ Willson, Lucy (November 12, 2019). "La lección inclusiva de Madeline Delp en clasificatorio a Miss USA" (in Spanish). Mujer Dinamo. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  56. ^ "Grand Forks' Amanda Higginbotham selected Miss North Dakota Teen USA 2020". Grand Forks Herald. September 22, 2019. Archived from the original on September 23, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  57. ^ "Miss Grand Forks becomes the new Miss North Dakota". Grand Forks Herald. June 13, 2016. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  58. ^ "Campbell woman crowned Miss Ohio USA". WKBN. November 11, 2019. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  59. ^ "MISS OKLAHOMA USA 2020". Miss Oklahoma USA. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  60. ^ Urenda, Gabby (January 23, 2020). "Hillsboro resident wins Miss Oregon USA". Pamplin Media. Archived from the original on January 24, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  61. ^ Hurst, David (November 4, 2019). "Here she is: Miss Pennsylvania crowned". The Tribune Democrat. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  62. ^ "Two new ladies take the crown". WPRI. October 16, 2019. Archived from the original on November 3, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  63. ^ Davis, Kimberlei (November 25, 2019). "Newberry College junior crowned Miss South Carolina USA 2020". ABC Columbia. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  64. ^ Heemstra, Jody (September 23, 2019). "Jorgensen named Miss SD USA 2020; Kreger named Miss SD Teen USA 2020". DRG News. Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  65. ^ "Miss Belle Meade crowned Miss Tennessee USA". WZTV. October 12, 2019. Archived from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  66. ^ "Miss Texas USA 2020 talks about winning crown, preparing for Miss USA pageant". The CW 39 Houston. September 3, 2019. Archived from the original on September 14, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  67. ^ Andrew, Scottie (January 23, 2020). "She is the first openly bisexual contestant in Miss USA's 68-year history". CNN. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  68. ^ Manxhari, Polikseni (November 13, 2019). "Miss Vermont USA and Teen USA 2020 discuss plans for their reign". My Champlain Valley. Archived from the original on November 13, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  69. ^ "Newly-crowned 2020 Miss Washington USA Imani Blackmon & 2020 Miss Teen Washington Marianne Bautista discuss what they hope to accomplish during their reigns". KING 5. November 4, 2019. Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  70. ^ "Meet Miss West Virginia USA 2020". Miss West Virginia USA. Archived from the original on November 3, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  71. ^ "Madison woman named Miss Wisconsin USA". WKOW. September 9, 2019. Archived from the original on September 10, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miss USA.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Miss_USA_2020&oldid=1262073453"