PAGEANT Circle

Miss Greater Lexington, Madalyne Kinnett, was crowned Miss Kentucky USA 2023 during the state competition held on Saturday, February 25 at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset, Kentucky. The 21-year-old model and student is a graduate of Lexington Christian Academy and currently attending the University of Kentucky. She will now represent Kentucky at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada. Miss Fayette County, Julia Long, and Miss North Central Kentucky, Kristen Bach were named first and second runners-up while Miss Lawrenceburg, Carley Duncan, Miss Louisville Waterfront, Sophia Baser, and Miss Northern Kentucky, Kristen Bach, rounded out the Top 6 finalists. The rest of the Top 16 were Cadie Taylor (Boyd County), Rebecca Cook (Capital City), Katie Fawn (Corbin), Gabrielle Norris (Columbia), Brooklynn Case (Danville), Sydney Poor (Jessamine County), Desiree Cross (Lexington), Courtney Rager (Purchase District), Rabiya Syed (South Lexington), and Emma Simms (Waverly). For the teens'

Miss Kentucky USA 2023 state finals will be held on February  24 to 25 at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset, Kentucky. Organized by Proctor Productions, over 50 young women are vying for the state title and the chance to compete in the Miss USA 2023 competition. The upcoming pageant will be held alongside Miss Kentucky Jr. Ambassador and Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2023 (will go to Miss Teen USA 2023). Last year's titleholders, Miss Kentucky USA 2022 Lizzy Neutz and Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2022 Gabriella Hembree will crown their respective successors at the end of the event. Head over to the Miss Kentucky USA official website to learn more about this year's competitors, buy your tickets for the show, or vote for your favorites. The highest-voted contestants for the Miss and Teen divisions will get a guaranteed spot in the finals while the second-highest will have a place in the semifinals. For the Jr. Ambassador division, the highest voted will receive the Fan Favorite aw

Kentucky's Danielle Mullins was proclaimed Miss Earth USA 2023 at the culmination of the national pageant held on Saturday, January 7 at the Linda Chapin Theater of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The 25-year-old professional stylist and makeup artist based in Louisville received her crown and sash from her predecessor Brielle Simmons of Connecticut. Maryland's Shawna Melvin was named Miss Earth USA Air while the representatives of Florida, Natalia Aldarondo, Nebraska, Angel Strong, and Tennessee, Gracie Pfaff were announced Miss Earth USA Water, Fire, and Eco, respectively. Rounding out the Top 12 were Arkansas, District of Columbia, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Washington while the rest of the Top 20 were California, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio and Virginia. The new Miss Earth USA is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in public relations. She will now prepare to represent the USA at th

Kentucky's Tayan Stansfield was crowned Teen Miss Earth USA 2023 on Saturday, January 7 at the Linda Chapin Theater of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The 15-year-old model, dancer, and sophomore student at Martha Layne Collins High School succeeded last year's winner Presley Patrick of Pennsylvania. Her platform on youth empowerment focuses on mental health, confidence, and personality. Rounding out the Top 5 finalists were Darianny Bautista of New Jersey, Isabella Bloedorn of Tennessee, Nicole Sandrik-Arzadi of New York, and Linda Derry of North East. They were respectively awarded the elemental titles Teen Miss Earth USA Air, Water, Fire, and Eco. The representatives of California, District of Columbia, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Southern States were the rest of the Top 10 while Mid-Atlantic, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia completed the Top 15. Meet the new Teen Miss Earth USA: View this post on Instagram A pos

The Miss USA organization has finally shared the crowning moment of this year's winner from Kentucky, Miss USA 2021 Elle Smith. The 23-year-old journalist was crowned by Asya Branch of Mississippi during Monday night's glittering final competition in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "I am thrilled and honored to be your Miss USA 2021. I can’t say thank you enough to every single person who has supported me on this journey. Every single comment, every single message, and prayer did not go unnoticed," she shared on her social media page. "To the great state of Kentucky, you will forever have my heart. You believed and loved on me since I was crowned in May and there is no other state I would have wanted to represent on the Miss USA stage," she added. Elle is now heading to Israel where she will represent the USA at the 70th Miss Universe pageant on December 12. Photos: Felipe Espinal / Miss USA

Miss Kentucky USA Elle Smith bested 50 other contestants to be crowned Miss USA 2021 on Monday, November 29 at the Paradise Cove Theater of River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 23-year-old reporter is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in broadcast journalism. She is the second woman from the state of Kentucky to win the national competition.  Caitlyn Vogel of North Dakota finished first runner-up while Ashley Carino of Florida and Sydni Bennett of Illinois were named the second and third runners-up, respectively. Maryland's Layilah Nasser, North Carolina's Madison Bryant, South Carolina's Marley Stokes, and Texas' Victoria Hinojosa completed the Top 8 finalists. The rest of the Top 16 semi-finalists were from Kansas, Gracie Hunt, Louisiana, Tanya Crowe, Mississippi, Bailey Anderson, Nebraska, Erika Etzelmiller, South Dakota, Caroline Pettey, Tennessee, Elizabeth Pistole, Utah, JessiKate Riley, and Virginia, Christina Thompson. The new