PAGEANT Circle

UmaSofia Srivastava was crowned Miss Teen USA 2023 in a glittering national competition held on Thursday, September 28 at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada. The 16-year-old representing New Jersey beat 50 other competitors to become the 41st Miss Teen USA. She succeeds last year's winner Faron Medhi of Nebraska. Stephanie Skinner of New York was named first runner-up while Maggie Ross of Pennsylvania, Haylee Puckett of Texas, and Carolina Sola of Ohio were the second, third, and fourth runner-up, respectively. The new Miss Teen USA is of Mexican-Indian descent and is a high school student from Morris Plains, New Jersey. She runs her own blog "That's Fan Behavior" where she covers topics from feminism, her experiences as a woman of color, interviews with changemakers, and her passions. UmaSofia is also the author of "The White Jaguar" book. She shared: "My own journey of self-acceptance is what inspired me to write The White Jaguar, and

The state costume show for Miss Teen USA 2023 was held on Wednesday, September 27 at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada. Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava was announced as the winner for her honeybee-inspired costume designed by fashion designer Simon Villalba. The Honeybee is New Jersey's official state bug. "This costume is very special to me because my mom has called me her little bee all my life (swipe to the end), and to discover that the honeybee is New Jersey's state insect made the connection I feel to my wonderful state, that much deeper," she shared on social media after winning the award. "I'm so proud I got to channel my inner queen bee tonight because I believe that all of us can learn from the hardworking and selfless nature of the honeybee," she added. The award for best state costume for Miss USA 2023 went to Miss Hawaii USA 2023 Savannah Gankiewicz for her Maui's banyan tree-inspired costume. Photos:

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

Ann Pennington of New Jersey won the Mrs USA Earth 2023 national pageant on Saturday, January 7 at the Linda Chapin Theater of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The sustainability advocate, fashionista, and businesswoman from Rumson was crowned by her predecessor Mrs USA Earth 2022 Christine Rich of Delaware. Her elemental court winners include Liz Bernard Clark of Kentucky, Amy Keed of Nevada, Lindsay Shockey of Georgia, and Jayne Black of Wisconsin. They were named Mrs USA Air, Water, Fire, and Eco, respectively. Rounding out the Top 10 were District of Columbia, Florida, Mid-Atlantic, New Hampshire, and North Carolina while the rest of the top 15 were New England, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah. "Can't wait to get home and put my crown to work. I'm beyond honored and excited," the new Mrs USA Earth shared on her social media. No stranger to pageantry, Ann previously won the United States of America's Mrs 2021 national title