Miss USA facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Miss USA

Type	Beauty pageant
Parent organization	Miss Universe Organization
Headquarters	New York City, U.S.
Country represented	United States
Qualifies for	Miss Universe
First edition	1952
Most recent edition	2024
Current titleholder	Alma Cooper Michigan
Owners	Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip (2022 – Present) Raul Rocha (2024 – Present)
President and CEO	Laylah Rose
Language/s	English

Miss USA is a famous American beauty pageant held every year since 1952. The winner of Miss USA gets to represent the United States in the Miss Universe pageant.

For a long time, the Miss Universe Organization ran both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. In 2020, they licensed the pageants to Crystle Stewart, who won Miss USA in 2008. However, in 2022, the pageants returned to the Miss Universe Organization and are now run by Laylah Rose.

From 1996 to 2015, the pageant was owned by Donald Trump. In 2015, it was sold to the company WME/IMG. In 2022, JKN Global Group bought the pageant. You can watch the Miss USA pageant on The CW television network.

The current Miss USA is Alma Cooper from Michigan. She won the title on August 4, 2024, in Los Angeles, California.

How the Pageant Began

The Miss USA pageant was created in 1950. The winner of the Miss America pageant, Yolande Betbeze, refused to pose for photos in a swimsuit. The sponsor, a swimsuit company called Catalina, was unhappy. They decided to pull their sponsorship and start their own pageant. This new pageant became Miss USA.

The first Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants were held at the same time in Long Beach, California, in 1952. The first winner was Jackie Loughery from New York. In the beginning, not every state sent a contestant. But since the 1970s, every state and the District of Columbia has participated each year.

For many years, the pageant was shown on CBS and later on NBC. It was very popular in the 1980s.

What Does the Winner Do?

The winner of Miss USA signs a one-year contract. She travels across the United States and sometimes to other countries. Her job is to raise awareness for causes she cares about.

The winner also receives many prizes. These include money, a modeling portfolio, beauty products, clothes, and shoes. She also gets access to special events like fashion shows and parties in New York City.

If the winner can't complete her duties, the first runner-up takes over the title. This has happened several times, including when a Miss USA winner went on to win the Miss Universe title.

Recent Changes and Events

New Rules for Contestants

Starting in 2023, the pageant made some big changes. The rules were updated to allow women who are married, divorced, or mothers to compete. The next year, the age limit was removed. Now, any woman 18 or older can participate in the pageant.

2015 Controversy

In 2015, the pageant's owner, Donald Trump, made some controversial comments while running for president. Because of this, the TV networks NBC and Univision decided not to air the pageant. The show was streamed online instead, and the Reelz channel later decided to broadcast it. After this, Trump sold the pageant.

2022 Controversy

After the Miss USA 2022 pageant, there were claims that the competition was unfair to some contestants. People said the winner, R'Bonney Gabriel, had been favored. The Miss Universe Organization looked into these claims and suspended the pageant's director, Crystle Stewart. She later stepped down and was replaced by Laylah Rose.

2024 Resignations

In May 2024, a surprising event happened. The reigning Miss USA 2023, Noelia Voigt, resigned from her title. She said she needed to focus on her mental health. Just two days later, the Miss Teen USA winner, UmaSofia Srivastava, also resigned.

Their mothers later said that the young women had a very difficult time. They claimed the winners were treated poorly in what they called a "toxic work environment." Because of their contracts, the winners could not speak about it themselves. After Voigt resigned, the first runner-up, Savannah Gankiewicz of Hawaii, took over the title of Miss USA 2023.

How the Competition Works

Kalie Wright, Miss Minnesota USA 2018, and Laine Mansour, Miss Mississippi USA 2018, at Barksdale Air Force Base

Before the main event, there is a preliminary competition. All contestants are judged in three categories:

• Swimsuit
• Evening Gown
• Interview

To compete in Miss USA, a woman must first win her state's pageant. Each state holds its own competition to choose a winner. The winner of the state pageant holds a title like "Miss California USA" or "Miss Florida USA" for one year.

Texas is the most successful state, with ten winners. California is second with six wins.

Famous Winners

Over the years, many Miss USA winners have become famous in the entertainment industry.

• Brandi Sherwood (1997) is the only person to have held both the Miss Teen USA and Miss USA titles.
• Shandi Finnessey (2004) and Asya Branch (2020) also competed in the Miss America pageant.
• Rima Fakih (2010) was the first Middle Eastern American to win.
• Olivia Culpo (2012) went on to win Miss Universe and has become a successful model and influencer.
• Cheslie Kryst (2019) became a correspondent for the TV show Extra.

Nine Miss USA winners have gone on to win the Miss Universe title, which is a huge achievement.

List of Recent Winners

Special Awards

Besides the main crown, other awards are given out during the pageant.

• Miss Amity: This award is voted on by the contestants themselves. It goes to the friendliest and most helpful delegate. It is also called Miss Congeniality.
• Miss Photogenic: This award is for the contestant who looks best in photos. It was once chosen by journalists, but now it is decided by online voting.

See also

In Spanish: Miss Estados Unidos para niños

• Miss Teen USA
• Miss America
• Miss Universe