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Miss USA 2021

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Miss USA 2021
DateNovember 29, 2021
Presenters
EntertainmentJa Rule
VenueParadise Cove Theater, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Broadcaster
Entrants51
Placements16
WinnerElle Smith
Kentucky
CongenialityTaylor Hale, Michigan
Best State CostumeElizabeth Pistole, Tennessee
PhotogenicSydney Robertson, Pennsylvania
← 2020
2022 →

Miss USA 2021 was the 70th Miss USA pageant, held at the Paradise Cove Theater of River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma on November 29, 2021. The edition marked the first year of the competition under Crystle Stewart's directorship.[1]

At the end of the event, Asya Branch of Mississippi crowned Elle Smith of Kentucky as Miss USA 2021.[2] This was Kentucky's first title in fifteen years. Smith is also the third consecutive African-American to win the title, and the fifth one in six years.[3] Smith went on to represent the United States at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant, placing in the top ten. The scheduling for the succeeding year's pageant that Smith would serve the pageant for ten months and four days as one of the shortest reigning titleholders in the pageant.[4]

The competition was hosted by Zuri Hall and Patrick Ta, while Nicole Adamo served as a lounge host.[5] American rapper Ja Rule performed in this edition. This was the second consecutive year that the pageant was broadcast on FYI, and the first to be streamed live on Hulu.

Background

On December 31, 2020, it was announced on Good Morning America that Miss USA and Miss Teen USA would be split from the Miss Universe Organization into a new organization under the helm of Crystle Stewart. Stewart had previously been crowned Miss USA 2008.[1]

Location

Tulsa, Oklahoma, the host city of Miss USA 2021.

On April 20, 2021, it was confirmed by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation that the 2021 edition of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA would be held at the Paradise Cove Theater of River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The competition spanned four days, beginning on November 26 and concluding on November 29, 2021. The event reverted to its full spectator capacity after the previous event was downsized to 300 spectators as a precaution to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[6][7]

Impact of the COVID-19 on state pageants

See also: COVID-19 pandemic in the United States

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the schedule of Miss USA 2020, postponing it from spring 2020 to November 2020. Each state organization had initially planned to schedule their 2021 pageants for the fall 2020 and winter 2020–21, the typical timeframe for state pageants dating back to the 1970s. However, most state pageants were later rescheduled to spring and summer 2021 to avoid scheduling conflicts with Miss America 2022 state pageants typically took place in most of June 2021, and were further extended to late summer and early fall due to the concerns over the possibility onto the threats of COVID-19 resurgence.[8]

Due to restrictions implemented in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, numerous health and safety guidelines have been implemented for contestants, production members, and audiences at state pageants, such as taking a negative COVID-19 test and following social distancing. Additionally, a number of state pageants have had to alter their initial venue choices due to shut-downs implemented by their governor; either held behind closed doors such as Alaska and Hawaii, with only the contestants and staff were present; most state pageants had limited audition capacity with applying social distancing measures, or some with full capacity.[9][10][11][12][13]

Selection of contestants

Delegates from the fifty states and District of Columbia were selected in state pageants which began in September 2020. The first state pageants were Idaho and Montana, held together on their original dates of September 27, 2020, and the last state pageant was California, held on September 12, 2021, 350 days after the start of the 2021 pageant season, became the longest in the Miss USA history.

Eleven delegates previously competed in Miss Teen USA and Miss America, in which eight delegates are former Miss Teen USA state winners and three are former Miss America state winners. Kataluna Enriquez, Miss Nevada USA 2021, became the first openly transgender woman to compete in Miss USA.[14]

Results

Miss USA 2021 results map, colors shaded in each state

Placements

Placement Contestant
Winner
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
Top 8
Top 16

§ – Voted into top 16 through the online vote

Special awards

Award Contestant
Best State Costume Winner
Second Place
Third Place
Miss Congeniality
Miss Photogenic

Pageant

After the last year's event was impacted by the still-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, events such as pre-pageant activities and press briefings from pageant commentators were returned across Tulsa.[18]

Preliminary competition

Prior to the final competition, the delegates competed the preliminary competition, where they competed in swim wear and evening gown. It was held on November 26 at River Spirit Casino Resort hosted by Nicole Adamo and Asya Branch.[19]

Finals

As was the case the prior edition, 16 contestants were chosen to advance to the semifinals; 15 of the semifinalists were chosen by the preliminary judges, while one was chosen through the online fan vote. The Top 16 then competed in both swimsuit and evening gown, before eight were chosen to advance. The Top 8 participated in a group discussion round conducted in two groups of four, and afterwards answered their final questions from the judges. The winner and her runners-up were announced afterwards.[20]

Judges

Preliminary

  • Paul Anthony – American hairstylist
  • Elan Biongiorno – American celebrity make-up artist
  • LeeAnne Locken – American reality television personality and Miss Arizona USA 1989
  • Pamela Price – American marathon runner
  • Chuck Steelman – American fashion analyst and expert

Finals

Contestants

Fifty-one contestants competed for the title.[29][30]

State/district Contestant Age[a] Hometown Notes
Alabama Alexandria Flanigan[31] 25 Cullman
Alaska Madison Lea Edwards[32] 25 Anchorage
Arizona Cassidy Jo Jacks[33] 27 Mesa Later contestant on season 1 of Farmer Wants a Wife
Arkansas Stephanie Barber[34] 23 Fayetteville
California Sabrina Lewis[35] 24 Berkeley Later Miss California 2023
Colorado Olivia Lorenzo 20 Fort Collins
Connecticut Amanda Torchia[36] 25 Middlebury
Delaware Drew Sanclemente 25 Odessa
District of Columbia Sasha Perea 28 Washington, D.C.
Florida Ashley Ann Cariño Barreto[37] 27 Kissimmee Later Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022[38]
Georgia Cora Griffen[39] 25 Columbus
Hawaii Allison Chu[40] 27 Honolulu Previously Miss Hawaii 2016[41]
Sister of Julianne Chu, Miss Hawaii USA 2018
Idaho Katarina Schweitzer[42] 27 Boise
Illinois Sydni Bennett[43] 20 Algonquin Previously Miss Illinois Teen USA 2018[44]
Indiana A'Niyah Birdsong[45] 26 Anderson
Iowa Katie Wadman[46] 21 Iowa City
Kansas Gracie Hunt[47] 22 Overland Park Daughter of Clark Hunt and Tavia Shackles, Miss Kansas USA 1993, and granddaughter of Lamar Hunt[48]
Kentucky Elle Smith[49] 23 Louisville
Louisiana Tanya Crowe[50] 28 Amite City Professional cheerleader for the New Orleans Saintsations
Maine VeronicaIris Bates[51] 21 Portland Active member of the United States Air Force[51]
Maryland Layilah Nasser[52] 26 Montgomery Village
Massachusetts Sarah DeSouza[53] 25 Dracut
Michigan Taylor Mackenzie Hale[54] 26 Detroit Later winner of Big Brother 24 and America's Favorite Houseguest[55]
Minnesota Katarina Spasojevic[56] 20 Minnetonka
Mississippi Bailey Anderson[57] 22 Hurley
Missouri Joye Forrest[58] 26 Spanish Lake Former professional cheerleader for the Los Angeles Laker Girls
Montana Jami Forseth[59] 24 Huntley Previously Miss Montana Teen USA 2016[60]
Nebraska Erika Etzelmiller[61] 24 Lincoln Previously Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2016
Nevada Kataluna Patricia Enriquez[14] 27 Las Vegas First openly transgender woman to compete at Miss USA[14]
New Hampshire Taylor Fogg 26 Newbury
New Jersey Celinda Ortega 26 Fair Lawn
New Mexico Christa Schafer 26 Las Cruces
New York Briana Siaca[62] 27 Brentwood
North Carolina Madison Bryant[63] 24 Fayetteville
North Dakota Caitlyn Vogel[64] 21 Minot Previously Miss North Dakota Teen USA 2019[65]
Ohio Nicole Wess[66] 23 Cincinnati
Oklahoma Albreuna Dominique Gonzaque 28 Oklahoma City
Oregon Allison Cook[67] 27 Portland Previously Miss Oregon 2013[68]
Pennsylvania Sydney Robertson[69] 24 Williamsport Previously Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA 2014
Rhode Island Karly Laliberte 27 Pawtucket
South Carolina Marley Stokes[70] 24 Lexington Previously Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2016[71]
South Dakota Caroline Pettey[72] 27 Rapid City
Tennessee Elizabeth Pistole[73] 21 Franklin
Texas Victoria Hinojosa[74] 22 McAllen Granddaughter of U.S. Representative Rubén Hinojosa
Utah JessiKate Riley 25 Beaver Previously Miss Utah's Outstanding Teen 2014[75]
Previously Miss Utah 2017[76]
Vermont Joanna Nagle[77] 27 Colchester
Virginia Christina Thompson[78] 25 Leesburg Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2013
Daughter of Hallie Bonnell, Miss Ohio USA 1987
Washington Christine Brodie[79] 26 Seattle
West Virginia Alexis Bland[80] 22 Parkersburg
Wisconsin Samantha Keaton[81] 20 Milwaukee
Wyoming Mackenzie Kern[82] 21 Casper Previously Miss Wyoming Teen USA 2018[83]

Later Miss Wyoming 2023

Notes

  1. ^ Ages at the time of the pageant

References

  1. ^ a b Brantley-Jones, Kiara (December 30, 2020). "Exclusive: Crystle Stewart takes on new leadership role for Miss USA, Miss Teen USA". Good Morning America.
  2. ^ Dupre, Elyse (November 30, 2021). "Miss Kentucky Elle Smith Crowned Miss USA 2021". E! Online. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  3. ^ Johnson, Krista; Adams, Kirby (November 30, 2021). "Miss Kentucky Elle Smith, a Louisville TV reporter, crowned 2021 Miss USA. What to know". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Halperin, Shirley (October 27, 2021). "Miss Universe Competition Heads to Israel for 70th Anniversary Edition; Pop Star Noa Kirel to Perform". Variety. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  5. ^ Fernandez, Celia (November 26, 2021). "How you can watch the 2021 Miss USA pageant from home". Insider. Retrieved July 24, 2023 – via Yahoo! News.
  6. ^ "Miss USA, Miss Teen USA coming to Tulsa this fall". KTUL. April 20, 2021.
  7. ^ "Tulsa's River Spirit will host Miss USA, Miss Teen USA pageants". Fox 23. April 20, 2021.
  8. ^ Beifuss, John (November 6, 2020). "Miss USA preliminary competition: Swimsuits, evening gowns, mini-bios and more". Memphis Commercial Appeal.
  9. ^ "For the health and safety of our contestants..." Instagram. RPM Productions. July 8, 2020. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "Thinking of the health and well-being of our contestants..." Instagram. Greenwood Productions. July 17, 2020. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  11. ^ "We are thrilled to announce..." Instagram. Future Productions. January 12, 2021. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  12. ^ "NEW PAGEANT DATE! We've moved the event..." Instagram. Nice and Wonderful Productions. January 21, 2021. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
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  23. ^ @MissUSA (November 1, 2021). "We are thrilled to have Chloe Flower joining us for the Miss USA competition this year!" – via Instagram.
  24. ^ @MissUSA (November 4, 2021). "We are so excited to have Ty Hunter joining our judges panel for this year's Miss USA competition!" – via Instagram.
  25. ^ @MissUSA (November 3, 2021). "We are so excited to have Haley Kalil join our judges' panel for the Miss USA competition this year!" – via Instagram.
  26. ^ @MissUSA (November 1, 2021). "We are so excited to announce our first judge for the Miss USA competition this year, Alton Mason!" – via Instagram.
  27. ^ @MissUSA (November 3, 2021). "We are so excited to announce that Pascal Mouawad will be joining us as a judge for this year's Miss USA Competition!" – via Instagram.
  28. ^ @MissUSA (November 3, 2021). "We are thrilled to have actor, host, and philanthropist, Oliver Trevena join our judges' panel for this year's Miss USA competition!" – via Instagram.
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  31. ^ Driggers, Abby (January 11, 2021). "Miss Cullman Alexandria Flanigan crowned Miss Alabama USA". Opelika-Auburn News. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  32. ^ Aramburo, Ariane (May 10, 2021). "Miss Alaska USA and Miss Alaska Teen USA crowned over the weekend". Alaska's News Source. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  33. ^ Thomas, Erica (July 12, 2021). "Springville native wins Miss Arizona USA". The Trussville Tribune. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  34. ^ Suel, Jason (June 17, 2021). "Newly Crowned Royalty to Represent Arkansas". KNWA-TV. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  35. ^ "Miss California USA is an Equestrian". The Plaid Horse Magazine. September 21, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  36. ^ "2021 Miss Connecticut USA and Miss Connecticut Teen USA crowned over the weekend". WTNH. June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  37. ^ "Joven boricua de Kissimmee gana la corona de Miss Florida USA" [Young Puerto Rican from Kissimmee has crowned Miss Florida USA] (in Spanish). WTMO-CD. July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  38. ^ "Miss Fajardo, Ashley Ann Cariño Barreto, se corona como Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022" [Miss Fajardo, Ashley Ann Cariño Barreto, is crowned as Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). August 12, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
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  40. ^ Dudley, Malika (December 12, 2020). "Miss Hawai'i USA 2021 is . . ". KITV4. Archived from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
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  42. ^ "2021 Miss Idaho USA Crowning Moment!". Miss Idaho USA. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  43. ^ Heather, Kade (June 28, 2021). "Watch now: Chicago woman crowned Miss Illinois USA 2021 at Braden Auditorium". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  44. ^ Johnson, Christen (October 16, 2017). "16-year-old is first African-American to win Miss Illinois Teen USA in 34-year history". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  45. ^ de la Bastide, Ken (July 29, 2021). "Anderson's A'niyah Birdsong to represent state at Miss USA". The Herald Bulletin. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  46. ^ James, Bob (May 10, 2021). "University of Iowa Student Named Miss Iowa USA 2021". KHAK. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  47. ^ Meier, Travis (April 12, 2021). "Gracie Hunt, daughter of Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt, wins Miss Kansas USA". WDAF-TV.
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  49. ^ Daniels, CJ (May 22, 2021). "WHAS11's Elle Smith wins Miss Kentucky USA". WHAS-TV.
  50. ^ Pellittieri, Raley (January 22, 2021). "Tangipahoa native wins state crown". Hammond Star.
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