PAGEANT Circle

Haylee Puckett was crowned Miss Texas Teen USA 2023 in a glittering state competition held on Sunday, July 16 at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel. The 17-year-old high school student representing Space City bested over 60 other competitors to win the state title. She succeeds last year's winner Chanel Williams and will now proceed to represent Texas at Miss Teen USA 2023 later this year. Amaris Leon was named first runner-up while Dylana Estrella, Fernanda Gonzalez, and Rebecca Camposano were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The rest of the Top 17 were Stephanie Meza, Victoria Rendon, Abigail Margo, Alexis Linville, Elaina Forester, Milano Gutierrez, Priscilla Nichole Gonzalez, Ashtyn Merrill, Jaelynd Edwards, Sienna Nuno, Alison Appleby, and Cheyanna Frazier. Prior to winning the competition, the new Miss Texas USA represented her home state at Miss High School America 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas where she placed second runner-up. Haylee started her initi

Noelia Voigt bested 19 other competitors to win Miss Utah USA 2023 on Saturday, July 8 at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center (Jeanne Wagner Theater) in Salt Lake City. The 23-year-old Venezuelan-American interior designer and author representing Park City will now prepare to represent Utah at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada this fall. Her runners-up were Mariluz Cook of Salt Lake (first), Hannah Wagner of Greater Salt Lake (second), Kit Widmyer of Nothern Utah (third), Kennedi Sanders of Iron County (fourth), and Collin Vijenandan of South Jordan (fifth). "God’s timing is always right. I still can’t believe that I am Miss Utah USA 2023 and will be competing at Miss USA later this year," she shared online. "I took the biggest risk of my life thus far by moving across the country to chase this dream of mine and it paid off in the best way," she added. No stranger to pageantry, the new Miss Utah USA previously held the titles Miss Teen Florida United States 2018, Mis

Miss Sun Valley, Josie Stephens, was crowned Miss Nevada USA 2023 on Sunday, June 25 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The 27-year-old offshore chemical engineer for Baker Hughes is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She bested 16 other contestants to win the state title and will now prepare to represent Nevada at Miss USA 2023. Arianna Siefert of Valley of Fire was named first runner-up while Alexis Smith of Summerlin, Emily Delgado of Henderson, and Tylar Bester of Battleborn were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Emily Cox of Silver State clinched the title of Miss Nevada Teen USA 2023 and will now proceed to the Miss Teen USA 2023 pageant on a date yet to be announced. Her runners-up were Sofia Forrest Turner of Paradise, Kalli Mejia of Reno, Alexandra Kouretas of Summerlin, Kiera Heaven of Las Vegas, and Hannah Branca of Henderson. No stranger to pageantry, the new Miss Nevada USA has been participating in Miss L

Johnson County's Grace Lynn Keller was crowned Miss Iowa USA 2023 on Saturday, June 24 at the Staplin Performing Arts Center in West Des Moines. McKenzie Kerry of Des Moines was named first runner-up while Kaylyn Peel of Polk County, Caitlin Crome of Iowa City, and Hayley Buettell of Morning Sun were announced as the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Iowa USA is a host, writer, and producer with a degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Iowa. No stranger to pageantry, she previously won the title Miss Iowa 2021 and went on to compete in the 94th Miss America which was held at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. "I am deeply humbled to have been crowned Miss Iowa USA tonight! Much more to come, but tonight I must express my gratitude for everyone that made this weekend possible," she shared on social media after winning her new title. "Iowa, I am ready to serve you. Y’all - WE’RE GOING TO MISS USA,"

ALZ and mental health advocate Tianna Clark bested over 80 other competitors to be crowned Miss California USA 2023 on Sunday, June 18 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove, California. The 27-year-old soldier and professional model from Perris is a psychology graduate of Norco College in Riverside County. She succeeds last year's winner Tiffany Johnson and will now prepare to represent her home state at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada on a date yet to be announced. "Blessed and grateful. I'm truly grateful and excited for the year ahead. Thank you to the coach and all the sponsors who helped me along this journey," she shared online. Giselle Burgos of Boyle Heights was named first runner-up while Samantha Ramos of Fullerton, Athenna Crosby of NorCal, and Jaanu Patel of Huntington Beach were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Rounding out the Top 18 were Issah Rose Mata, Natalie Benson, Dominique Mihaljević, Lilian Thorington, Akanksha

Haley Berger, representing Lawrence, was crowned Miss Kansas USA 2023 on Sunday, June 18 at Polsky Theatre in the Midwest Trust Center, Overland Park. The 22-year-old pharmacy student at the University of Kansas will now prepare to represent Kansas at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada on a date yet to be announced. Darby Davis of Kansas City and Megan Reinhart of Wichita were declared the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Natalie Hotz of Topeka, Jaelynne Seirer of Russell County, and Aryssa Joel of Prairie Village rounded out the Top 6 finalists. "I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the sponsors and the pageant organization for providing this platform, allowing us to showcase our intelligence, and inner beauty," the new Miss Kansas USA shared on social media after winning her first pageant ever. "I have been inspired by the incredible women I have met throughout this competition. We have bonded, supported one another, and shattered stereotypes together

Miss Black Hills, Amber Hulse was crowned Miss South Dakota USA 2023 on Sunday, June 11 at Watertown Event Center in Watertown, South Dakota. The runners-up were Lexus Paulson (Sioux Falls), Cathyliana Santiago-Nunez (Harrisburg), Anna Bonnstetter (Southeast South Dakota), and Jaimye Wininger (Brookings). Amber is a former White House intern who holds a degree in political science and government from the University of South Dakota. She is currently pursuing her doctorate of law degree at Georgetown University Law Center. No stranger to pageantry, the 24-year-old is also a former Miss South Dakota winner who went on to participate in Miss America 2020 in Uncasville, Connecticut. She will now prepare to represent her home state South Dakota at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada on a date yet to be announced. "I am beyond grateful to be standing here today as your new Miss South Dakota USA. It is an absolute honor to represent this beautiful state and its people," she shared on socia

Badlands' Monni Nyaribo was crowned Miss North Dakota USA 2023 on Sunday, June 11 at Watertown Event Center in Watertown, South Dakota. The 27-year-old BBA in marketing graduate of North Dakota State University will now represent North Dakota at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada this fall. Morgan Layton (Minot), Haley Helmin (Fargo), Chelsey Faye Morlock (Dunn County), and Lauren Cannon (Jamestown) were announced as the first, second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. As a proud Kenyan-American, the new Miss North Dakota USA hopes to inspire young girls with the same skin color as hers. She wrote on social media: "I hope any little black girl watching knows that they are worthy of love. They are worthy to be successful." Monni also shared her foundation and social impact initiative "Find Your Match" which was cultivated from her own life-altering experience with burnout in her 20s. It aims to eliminate hustle culture and raise awareness for burnout prevent

Bianca Wright, representing Anthony, was crowned Miss New Mexico USA 2023 on Sunday, June 4 at the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Center for the Arts in Las Cruces. The 28-year-old environmental scientist and founder of a community organization Harvesting Help for Humanity will now prepare to represent New Mexico at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada this fall. She succeeds last year's winner and Miss USA 2022 Top 12 finalist Suzanne Perez.  Her court of runners-up were Chariona Bridges, Elizabeth Medina, Alondra Ruiz, Francesca Covino, and Priscilla Trujillo. For the teens' division, Hobbs' Asia Rose Simpson succeeds Caroline Babcock as she won the title of Miss New Mexico Teen USA 2023. The 15-year-old will go on to compete in Miss Teen USA 2023. Asia's runners-up were Jade Vargas, Carolina Ockerman, Analyssa Jaimes, Hailee Gallegos, and Mya Sanchez. The last time New Mexico won the Miss USA title was in 1984 with Mai Therese Shanley who went on to place in the Top 10

Nevaeh Harmon was crowned Miss West Virginia USA 2023 on Sunday, June 4 at the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts, West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon. The 21-year-old Filipino-American (Blasian) pre-med student from Charleston-Huntington Area will now prepare to represent West Virginia at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada this fall. Rounding out the Top 5 were Tamia Hardy, Emma Knapp, Cassidy Myers, and Erin Wellman. They were proclaimed the first, second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. "This is the most surreal feeling I have ever felt in my life. If you would have asked me one year ago today if I pictured myself winning, I would have said you were crazy," Nevaeh shared on social media. "I am honored and excited to represent my wild and wonderful state and community on the national stage, and I promise I won't let you down. This year is going to be a wild one, but I'm ready for the ride," she added. View this post