PAGEANT Circle

Derby Chukwudi was named Miss New Jersey USA 2023 on Sunday, March 19 at the Hilton Parsippany Hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey. The 25-year-old Hoboken resident hails from Nigeria. She is a graduate of Berea College in Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics. Christine Pierre, Rashmi Naik, Katarina Lengyel, and Vritti Patel rounded out the Top 5 finalists. Derby was crowned by her predecessor Alexandra Lakhman and she will now prepare to represent New Jersey at Miss USA 2023 national final in Reno, Nevada. This is her second attempt at the state pageant. She previously joined in 2021 but unfortunately failed to make it to the semifinals. Hosted by former Miss Earth USA and Miss New York USA Andreia Gibau, the event also culminated with another winner — Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava. The Indian-Mexican teenager succeeded Isabella Galan and she will now proceed to compete in Miss Teen USA 2023 pageant. Meet the new Miss New Jersey US

Miss Downtown Nashville, Regan Ringler, was crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2023 on Saturday, March 11 at the Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. The 25-year-old model originally from Clinton, Mississippi, bested over 40 other competitors to win the state title. She succeeds last year's winner, Emily Suttle, who placed in the Top 12 at Miss USA 2022. Rounding out the Top 5 finalists were Emma Conn (Nashville), Christell Foote (Historic Franklin), Madison Knust (Madison County), and Alexis Sanders (Mid-South). They were named first, second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The rest of the Top 16 were Demi Patoris, Emma Hill, Christian Bevere, Tatum Sheppard, Kinsley Williams, Sabrina Pointe, Livi Self, Allyssa Weyant, Corrin Stellakis, Rosie Westerbeck, and Taylor Gipson. No stranger to pageantry, the new Miss Tennessee USA previously joined several times at Miss Mississippi Teen USA and Miss Mississippi USA pageants but unfortunately failed to clinch the t

For the third time, Acacia McBride will try again for Miss California USA. Will she finally bring home the state title and go to Miss USA 2023? The 25-year-old international model and advocate for autism recently announced her participation in the upcoming Miss California USA 2023 on her social media. She first joined the state pageant in 2021 and placed second runner-up then came back the following year and bagged the third runner-up position. After two strong finishes in previous attempts, she is more than ready to fight for her Miss USA and Miss Universe dreams. Acacia, now a resident of Los Angeles, California, was born and raised in rural Mississippi and earned her bachelor's degree in communications with a concentration in radio, television, and film from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. Besides modeling, she is also an influencer and a digital content producer for major beauty brands. She is passionate about beauty, fashion, pageantry, and the media, especially

Kirby Elizabeth Self, representing Upstate, was crowned Miss South Carolina USA 2023 on Saturday, March 4 at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center in North Charleston. The 23-year-old beauty from Greenwood, South Carolina, is a former track athlete champion and a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in political science and women's leadership. She bested over 20 other competitors to win the state title and will now prepare to represent South Carolina at the Miss USA 2023 pageant in Reno, Nevada later this year. Riley Copans (Isle of Palms), Hunter Dest (Sea Islands), Brooklyn Brewster (Clemson), and Maritsa Platis (Golden Corner) were named the first, second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Riley Copans (Isle of Palms), Hunter Dest (Sea Islands), Brooklyn Brewster (Clemson), and Maritsa Platis (Golden Corner) were named the first, second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Rounding out the Top 10 were Analise Healy (Daniel Island), Wa

Miss West Omaha, Mimi Wood, was crowned Miss Nebraska USA 2023 in a state competition held on Sunday, February 26 at The Rose Theater in Omaha, Nebraska. The 23-year-old dance coach from Omaha won the state title in her fourth attempt and will now prepare to represent Nebraska at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada later this year. She was third runner-up in 2020, and second runner-up in 2021 and 2022. Rounding out the Top 4 finalists were Miss Omaha, Michaela Edstrand (first runner-up and Miss Photogenic), Miss David City, Bailey DeWispelare (second runner-up), and Miss Elkhorn, Grace Smith (third runner-up). The rest of the Top 8 were Miss Lincoln, Emma Wilkinson, Miss Midwest, Charity Williams (Miss Congeniality), Miss Papillion, Ravyn Craver, and Miss Waterloo, Mary Foster. Natalie Pieper, last year's winner who placed second runner-up at Miss USA 2022, relinquished her reign at the end of the glittering event. Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2023 was also held at the same venue and Miss Linc

Miss Uptown, Jordyn Ashlee McKey, was crowned Miss North Carolina USA 2023 during the glittering state competition held on Saturday, February 25 at the High Point Theatre in High Point, North Carolina. The 25-year-old advocate against domestic violence and a healthcare customer services professional from Charlotte is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University and currently working as a specialist for a health technology company. Jordyn succeeded last year's winner and current Miss USA Morgan Romano, and will now go on to represent North Carolina at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada. The runners-up were Miss South Park, McKenzie Hansley, Miss Mint Hill, Courtney Smith, Miss RDU, Caroline Credle, and Miss Pittsboro, Celia Stafford. Miss Capital City, Scarlett Freeman, Miss Charlotte, Jarin Simmons, Miss Davidson County, Terra Johns, Miss Fourth Ward, Serenity Edwards, and Miss Rowan County, Chelsea Skeens (Rowan County) rounded out the Top 10. Emma Knapp (City of Oaks), Genna Lockle

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'

The Miss Nebraska USA 2023 and Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2023 will be held this weekend February 25-26, 2023 at The Rose Theater in Omaha, Nebraska. A total of 14 contestants will be vying for Miss Nebraska USA 2023. They are Tyler Shields, Bailey DeWispelare, Ted'Dee Buffalo-Harrell, Grace Smith, Anna Mock, Emma Wilkinson, Charity Williams, Rebecca Haug, Shamyla Wells, Kristen Green, Michaela Edstrand, Rayn Craver, Mary Foster, and Mimi Wood. For Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2023, the 12 contestants are Avery Collins, Micahlyn Loucks, Reagan Lampe, Alexandra Huffman, Kyla Patel, Ashlynn Kasik, Madyson Zoucha, Aubrie Charter, Addilyn Wilson, Gisell Duarte Rosas, Krista Andersen, and Maycee Sulinski. The winners will not only get the opportunity to represent Nebraska at Miss USA 2023 and Miss Teen USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada but will also take home a fabulous prize package including cash allowance, scholarships, and a whole lot more courtesy of the sponsors and Vanbros and Associates, Inc. Las

Miss North Carolina USA 2023 state competition will take place on Saturday, February 25 at the High Point Theatre in High Point, North Carolina. RPM Productions gathered over 100 contestants (including the Miss Teen USA 2023 division) to compete for the state titles and the chance to represent North Carolina at Miss USA 2023 and Miss Teen USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada. Last year's winners, Gabriela Ortega who went on to win Miss Photogenic at Miss Teen USA 2022, and newly designated Miss USA 2022 Morgan Romano are expected to crown their respective successors at the end of the event. According to the organizers, the Miss North Carolina USA and Miss North Carolina Teen USA pageants are looking for diverse young women who are not only beautiful but intelligent and willing to share their hearts and minds as ambassadors of the state and the nation. The upcoming state finals will be hosted by Emmy Award-winning television host and producer from Colorado, Tim Tialdo who has been a part of the

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