FAVORITES: Miss USA 2023 Top 16 early favorites

Miss USA 2023 kicked off this weekend with the arrival and check-in of the 51 contestants at this year's official venue, the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada.

The week-long event will conclude this Friday, September 29 with the coronation of the 72nd Miss USA who will go on to represent the United States of America at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador on November 18.

As the prestigious national competition begins, it is not easy to predict which of the contestants will take home the crown as it could be anyone's game.

A distinguished panel of judges will have the most difficult task of choosing the next Miss USA based on their interviews, and performances during the preliminary swimsuits and evening gown competitions.

One contestant will earn a sport in the semifinals through a People's Choice fan vote. Voting is open until September 28 on the Miss USA official website.

Who will be crowned Miss USA 2023?

Meet our Top 16 early favorites:


TOP 16

(in alphabetical order)

Alabama - Sophie Burzynski

Arizona - Candace Kanavel

Arkansas - Mackenzie Hinderberger

California - Tianna Clark

Florida - Caroline Dixon

Iowa - Grace Lynn Keller

Kentucky - Madalyne Kinnett

Louisiana - Sylvia Masters

Maine - Juliana Morehouse Locklear

Minnesota - Sarah Anderson

New York - Rachelle Di Stasio

North Carolina - Jordyn McKey

Tennessee - Regan Ringler

Texas - Lluvia Alzate

Utah - Noelia Voigt

Virginia - Ashley Williams

Special mentions: 

District of Columbia, Hawaii, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, Rhode Island, Wisconsin

RELATED POSTS:



Popular posts from this blog

Meet the 5 winners of Miss Czech Republic 2026

Image
The final show for Miss Czech Republic 2026 took place on Saturday, May 23, at Forum Karlín in Prague. A total of ten beautiful women were chosen to compete in the esteemed national beauty pageant, and last night, five of them were crowned. FINAL RESULTS: View this post on Instagram A post shared by MISS CZECH REPUBLIC (@missczechrepublic) Miss Czech Republic 2026 (Miss World Czech Republic 2027) - Lucie Pisková for Miss World 2027 Miss International Czech Republic 2026 - Laura Anna Glozarová for Miss International 2026 Miss Earth Czech Republic 2026 - Hana Dědková for Miss Earth 2026 Miss Supranational Czech Republic 2026 - Barbara Plintová for Miss Supranational 2026 Miss Grand Czech Republic 2026 - Dominique Alagia for Miss Grand International 2026 Barbara Plintová, Dominique Alagia, Lucie Pisková, and Aneta Vizinová were also awarded Top Model, Miss Popularity, Miss Photogenic, and Best Start Up Winner respectively. Last year's winners, along with the ...
Read more

Czech Republic's Isabella Rossini wins Miss Aura International 2026

Image
Isabella Rossini, 20, from Czech Republic, was crowned Miss Aura International 2026 at the conclusion of the pageant on Friday, May 22 at FashionTV Luxe Resort in Antalya, Turkey. The professional model, singer and theater actress bested over 40 other contestants to win the international title. She succeeds Krishan Pauline Alerre of the Philippines. Barbara Wolfenson of Chile was named first runner-up while Azaliya Timergalieva of Bashkortostan, Aleksandra Kochergina of Tatarstan, Melanie Portocarrero Cury of Colombia were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 11 finalists were the contestants from Japan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Spain and Thailand. The rest of the Top 20 were from Brazil, Latvia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the USA. Prior to winning the title, the new Miss Aura International was proclaimed first runner-up and bagged the Miss Sympathy award at Miss České Republiky 2025. Isabella became the sec...
Read more

La Union's Bea Millan-Windorski is the new Miss Universe Philippines

Image
Bea Millan-Windorski of La Union was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2026 during the final of the national pageant on Saturday, May 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The 24-year-old Filipino-American beauty succeeded Maria Ahtisa Manalo from Quezon Province. She will represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2026 pageant, which is set to take place in Puerto Rico later this year. Nicole Borromeo of Cebu Province, Apriel Smith of Cebu City, Allyson Hetland of Pampanga, Jenrose Javier of Sultan Kudarat, Bella Ysmael of Taguig, and Marian Arellano of Tarlac made the Top 7. Completing the Top 15 were from Baguio, Roxie Baeyens, Camiguin, Erica Cadayday, Iloilo City, Zestah Espinosa, Negros Occidental, Alex Colmenares, Manila, Justine Felizarta, Muntinlupa, Adela-Mae Marshall, Quezon Province, Ella Evangelista, and Tacloban, Jacqueline Gulrajani. The new Miss Universe Philippines is an alumna of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is no stranger to pageantry, having ...
Read more

Miss Universe Paraguay 2026 is Gretha Matiauda

Image
Former Miss Earth Paraguay Gretha Matiauda has recently been appointed as her country's official representative in the Miss Universe 2026 pageant. The 24-year-old beauty from Asunción is an economist, international model and entrepreneur. She succeeds last year's titleholder Yanina Gómez who made the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2025. No stranger to pageantry, Gretha has previously placed fourth runner-up at Miss United Continents 2022 in Ecuador and competed in Miss Earth 2023 in Vietnam. In a recent post on social media, she wrote, "Today I begin writing a new story, a new chapter where dreams cease to be promises, and become responsibilities." "Being Miss Universe Paraguay is not just about wearing a crown; it's about carrying the voice of a country, the soul of its people, and the strength of every woman who never stopped believing," she added. The 75th Miss Universe pageant will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico later this year. Meet the new Miss Universe...
Read more

The Miss Philippines 2026 titleholders officially crowned

Image
The coronation ball for The Miss Philippines 2026 took place on Sunday, May 10, at the Grand Ballroom in City of Dreams Manila. Hosted by former titleholder and Miss Supranational runner-up Pauline Amelinckx, the glittering event was graced by reigning international queens Miss Cosmo 2025 Yolina Lindquist and Miss Charm 2025 Anna Blanco. Following their participation in the recently concluded Miss Universe Philippines 2026 competition, eight new queens have been crowned to represent the Philippines in various international pageants overseas. Meet the new queens: Miss Supranational Philippines 2027 - Allyson Hetland for Miss Supranational 2027 Miss Cosmo Philippines 2026 - Bella Ysmael for Miss Cosmo 2026 Miss Charm Philippines 2026 - Apriel Smith for Miss Charm 2026 Miss Eco International Philippines 2027 - Jenrose Javier for Miss Eco International 2027 Miss Eco Teen Philippines 2026 - Trexy Paris Roxas for Miss Eco Teen International 2026 Miss Tourism World Philippines 2026 - Ma...
Read more

Russia's Varvara Yakovenko wins Miss Intercontinental 2025

Image
Varvara Yakovenko beat over 50 other contestants to win Miss Intercontinental 2025 on Thursday, January 29 at V Hotel Sahl Hasheesh in Egypt. The 18-year-old model became the fourth woman from Russia to hold the international beauty title. She succeeds last year's winner María Cepero from Puerto Rico. Lorena Suárez Lara from Cuba was named first runner-up while Vanessa Natcha Wenk of Thailand and Faidha Kassim Kivuyo of Tanzania were the second and third runners-up, respectively. The rest of the Top 7 were Christina Vanhefflin of the Philippines (fourth runner-up), Kika Marques Das Neves of Ecuador (fifth runner-up), and  Brilliant Mukanda Maroko of Kenya (sixth runner-up). Completing the Top 12 finalists were the contestants from Cameroon, Colombia, USA, India, and Romania. Germany, Brazil, Spain, Macau, Mexico, Nigeria, New Zealand, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and Vietnam made the Top 23. Aside winning the crown, the new Miss Intercontinental also bagged the Mis...
Read more

Miss World Thailand 2026 is Kanteera Techaphattanakul of Chiang Mai

Image
Kanteera "Namphueng" Techaphattanakul was proclaimed Miss World Thailand 2026 on Sunday, May 10 at MCC Hall of The Mall Lifestore Ngamwongwan in Bangkok. The 25-year-old medical technologist representing Chiang Mai beat 20 other contestants to win the national title. She was crowned by her predecessor Opal Suchata Chuangsri who became Thailand's first Miss World last year. Malaika Khan and Jirapat Dathumma were respectively announced the first and second runners-up while Atina Khontarosaphan Vasnaarchasakul and Pannika Boonsiritakorn rounded out the Top 5 finalists. The newly crowned Miss World Thailand will now prepare to represent her country at the Miss World 2026 competition this August in Vietnam. Road to the 73rd Miss World: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss World Thailand Official (@missworldthailand.official) Photos: Miss World Thailand / Instagram
Read more

Miss Universe Peru 2026 is Luren Márquez

Image
Luren Márquez was crowned Miss Peru 2026 (Miss Universe Peru) in a special ceremony held on Wednesday, April 15 at the Teatro Municipal del Callao. The 27-year-old television presenter and model received the crown from her predecessor Karla Bacigalupo with the presence of the reigning Miss Universe Fátima Bosch from Mexico. Born in Ica, the new Miss Universe Peru is a business administration graduate from the University of Lima. She also obtained her degree in communication from the Florida Internationl University in the USA. No stranger to pageantry, Luren placed first runner-up at the Miss Peru 2024 pageant. She will now prepare to represent her country at Miss Universe 2026 to be held in Puerto Rico later this year. Road to the 75th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by CARLOS RODRIGUEZ (@carlosrodriguez.bo) Photos: 321VAESTUDIO, Carlos Rodriguez / Instagram
Read more

Miss Turkey 2022: Meet the Top 20 finalists

Image
Miss Turkey Organization has officially revealed on Wednesday, September 14 the Top 20 finalists for the Miss Turkey 2022 pageant. The official finalists were selected out of more than 100 aspirants that were invited to the pre-qualification round that took place yesterday. Who will be the next Miss Turkey World, Miss Turkey Universe, and Miss Turkey Supranational? The Miss Turkey 2022 grand coronation will be held on Tuesday, September 20 at the Lazzoni Hotel in Istanbul. At the end of the event, last year's winners Dilara Korkmaz, Cemrenaz Turhan, and Şira Sahilli will crown their successors who will represent Turkey at the next Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss Supranational editions. Meet this year's finalists: 1. Hande Deniz Uluğ, 21, advertising student 2. Gizem Koşar, 19, dentistry student 3. Derya Çetinkaya, 22, law student 4. Esil Kaya, 19, textile and fashion design student 5. Aleyna Şirin, 21, interior architecture and environmental design student 6. İrem Su...
Read more

The 71st Miss Universe is Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel

Image
Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel beat 83 other contestants to win Miss Universe 2022, the 71st Miss Universe pageant on Saturday, January 14 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The 28-year-old fashion designer, model, and sewing instructor received the new Mouawad crown "Force for Good" from her predecessor Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu of India. Amanda Dudamel of Venezuela and Andreína Martínez were named the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Gabriëla Dos Santos of Curacao and Ashley Cariño of Puerto Rico rounded out the Top 5 finalists. The rest of the Top 16 were beauties from Australia, Monique Rile, Canada, Amelia Tu, Colombia, María Fernanda Aristizábal, Haiti, Mideline Phelizor, India, Divita Rai, Laos, Payengxa Lor, Peru, Alessia Rovegno, Portugal, Telma Madeira, South Africa, Ndavi Nokeri, Spain, Alicia Faubel, and Trinidad & Tobago, Tya Jané Ramey. Chile's Sofia Depassier and Malta's Maxine Formosa Gruppetta were both...
Read more