PAGEANT Circle

Sarah Anderson was crowned Miss Minnesota USA 2023 in a glittering state competition held on Sunday, July 30 at the Ames Center in Burnsville. The 20-year-old model representing Maple Grove bested more than 30 other competitors to win the state title. She succeeds last year's winner Madeline Helget (Miss USA 2022 Top 12) and will now prepare to represent her home state at Miss USA 2023. "Wow, the last 24 hours have been a whirlwind. Last night was so incredible and one I will never forget. I am so thrilled to be representing our amazing state at Miss USA as your new Miss Minnesota USA 2023," Sarah shared online after the pageant. Samantha Mangseth Akins of Grand Rapids was named first runner-up while Cara Rgnonti of Mendota Heights, Elle Gilbert of Apple Valley, and Kala Schmidt of Eden Prairie finished as the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. For Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2023, 18 contestants competed for the title that eventually went to Saint Paul's

Haley Jordan, representing Central Indiana, was crowned Miss Indiana USA 2023 in a state competition held on Monday, July 17 at the Noblesville High School Auditorium. The 25-year-old sports reporter and broadcasting teacher from Indianapolis is a graduate of Indiana University where she double-majored in broadcast journalism and Spanish. She succeeds Miss Indiana USA 2022 Sammy Toney and will now prepare to represent her home state at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada later this year. Her court of runners-up consists of Audrey Schiegel (Spirit of Indiana), Ariah Leary (Evansville), Lexie Dames (Indianapolis), Olivia Johnson (Owen County), and Kiki Walls (Gary). The rest of the Top 16 were Kyra Hoss, Taylor Collins, AK Flude, Katie Whippie, Amanda Pirkowski, Kayla Owens, Adrianna Moore, Ruby Aurora, Lauren Frank, and Caroline Kerr. Kinley Shoemaker of Indianapolis bagged the title of Miss Indiana Teen USA 2023 and will now proceed to the Miss Teen USA 2023 pageant. She succeeds last year&#

Arianna Lemus, representing Gunnison, was crowned Miss Colorado USA 2023 on Sunday, July 16 at the Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley. The 27-year-old beauty of Mexican descent succeeds Alexis Glover and will now prepare to represent Colorado at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada. Tianna Cooks of Cimarron Hills finished as first runner-up while Sydney Hella of Red Rocks, Brina Bily of Central Colorado, and Haley Lara of Brighton were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively.  The new Miss Colorado USA is a filmmaker, model, actress, writer, producer, and student pursuing a degree in pre-counseling at Capela University. No stranger to pageantry, Arianna placed first runner-up to her predecessor during last year's competition. She also participated in Miss California USA and finished in the Top 16 twice (2017 and 2019). Sunday's event also culminated with the crowning of Miss Colorado Teen USA 2023 Grace Covney who will now proceed to compete in the Miss Teen USA 2023

Miss Houston, Lluvia Alzate, edged out over 90 other competitors to win Miss Texas USA 2023 on Saturday, July 15 at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel. The 26-year-old beauty of Colombian descent won the pageant in her second attempt. She finished as third runner-up to R'Bonney Gabriel when she joined last year's competition. Lluvia is a business administration in finance graduate of the University of Houston and an ALS advocate. She will now prepare to represent Texas at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada later this year. Mary Sickler of Northwest Houston was named first runner-up while Lillian Claire Perez of San Antonio, Taylor Lauren Davis of Collin County, and Samantha Havenstrite of Post Oak were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Rounding out the Top 17 were Gisela Contreras, Bryceidee Leos, Taj Dright, Paris Sierra Beal, Destiny Anbar, Sydney Ying, Preslie Watson, Delaney Davis, Valerie Whiddon, Katharine Alexander, Catherine Ivey, and Elish Young. Alliso

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