by Derek Miller

With rapid fire camera work, pyrotechnics hotter than a Gary, Indiana steel mill furnace, thumping base and riff-heavy guitar rock-n-roll opening music, 51 red, white, and blue-clad patriotic young ladies from across the nation, a two-time Super Bowl winning host, along with the return of former Miss USA Ali Landry as co-host, this new installment of the Miss USA competition promised to bring down the house and fire the collective imagination of a nationwide viewing audience.

Janet Lynn Sutton, Miss Rhode Island USA 2002, "feels the heat" during the swimsuit competition.

Telecast from the Genesis Center in snow-laden Gary, Indiana, the 2002 Miss USA pageant was once again attempting to reinvent herself as a popular and relevant icon. As has been the case in recent years, the Miss USA competition was determined to play to the younger, fast-paced MTV-style audience. With the two-second, quick-shot introductions of the 51 delegates speeding across the television viewing screen, one was left to wonder what would fill the time-slot allotment for this network special, if not the contestants. Once again, the telecast and resulting ratings would answer the question of "Will it work and will our core audience accept this format?"

With the stage and audience heating up for the eventual competition, rhythm and blues crooner Michael Bolton entered the center stage spotlight to keep the audience on the edge of their seats before the announcement of the expected top-10 semi-finalists. But, alas, not everything would proceed as expected. In an exciting twist of fate, after two weeks of preparation and competition, the preliminary judge's panel ballots returned from the auditor with a tie that would produce not a top-10, but a top-12 group of determined, and confident young women who would vie for the honor of being chosen Miss USA and the opportunity to represent her country in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant to be held once again in Puerto Rico this May. Only seasoned Florida presidential ballot auditors and a few long-shot casino odds makers would have understood the rarity of a top-12 competition tie-breaker.

But which lucky 12 from 51 would vie for the coveted title? With a few surprises, we would now focus our undivided attention on Miss District of Columbia, Shauntay Hinton; Miss New York, Karla Cavalli; Miss Kansas, Lindsay Douglas; Miss Minnesota, Lanore VanBuren; Miss Louisiana, Anne-Katherine Lené; Miss Rhode Island, Janet Sutton; Miss South Carolina, Ashley Williams; Miss Texas, Kasi Kelly; Miss Connecticut, Alita Hawaah Dawson; Miss Alabama, Tara Tucker; Miss California, Tara Marie Peters; and hometown favorite, Miss Indiana, Kelly Lloyd. A diverse group of delegates from both small and large demographic viewing areas, these young ladies would now begin the final competition that many of them had prepared for and dreamed of since their first preliminary event.

...the preliminary judges panel ballots returned from the auditor with a tie that would produce not a top-10, but a top-12 group of determined, and confident young women...

Throughout the telecast, viewers were given the opportunity to learn more about the unique makeup of the contestants by way of a streaming footer (at the bottom of the screen) depicting such information as the percentage of the average contestant beginning her pageant career at the age of 17, the percentage of this being their first pageant (a head scratcher), and the percentage who competed to advance their careers, which is obviously the overwhelming majority and the main objective in competing. In addition, we were fortunate enough to learn what the contestants felt about looks, how old they were when they had their first boyfriend and kiss, and what they didn't like about their personal appearance. By the way, 60 percent of these capable young ladies are on their way to a well-deserved bachelor's degree in the field of their choice.

As with any competition, a certain group of individuals would determine the outcome and success of these 12 individuals. This particular group would be the "celebrity panel of judges" who had the unenviable task of determining the delegate most deserving of the title, Miss USA 2002. This is the "celebrity panel of judges" which would have to make a major decision based upon a fleeting impression as they, the judges, were seeing the delegates in person for the very first time just as we, the viewing audience. As diverse a group as the top-12, the panel of judges consisted of two recording stars, two model/actresses, a Super Bowl MVP, an actor, a psychologist/columnist, and a television reality series participant. Whatever your personal view on the relevancy of celebrity panels, this one was about to view the contestants in their video montage and begin the balloting with the Swimwear competition.

With the final "get to know the contestant" video completed, the contestants began the competition in earnest. Swimsuit, the favorite competition of many, as reported by Ali Landry, was kicked into high gear with a blast of light and blazing fire which heated the stage and viewing audience. With a patriotic flair, all 12 finalist competed in red swimwear, with 11 of them opting for the two-piece and one choosing a more conservative one-piece swimsuit. As the TV viewing audience tallied the judges scores as they appeared on-screen, it was evident that only a few tenths to one-half a percentage point would separate the contestants within this beginning phase of competition. As the flames flickered out and the last delegate's supporters screamed their approval, the winning announcement of the swimsuit competition was revealed to the live audience, Miss Minnesota. With only one more phase of competition to complete before the announcement of the top-five, the pressure and excitement began to build.

Miss USA 2001Kandace Krueger (R), congratulates and crowns the overwhelmed 23-year-old Shauntay Hinton, as Miss USA 2002.

As a truly interesting trivia segment between competitions and musical performances, we learned that it is not all play and frivolity during the two weeks of competition. We only see the final, completed work that has been months in the planning, designing, and implementing. Who could guess, that in addition to rehearsing for over 175 hours for the final televised presentation and running over 6,000 miles on treadmills, these representatives performed such noteworthy activities as building two houses for those in need. Also, they attended over 35 events, met over 5,000 people, signed 3,200 autographs, ate 2,300 meals (collectively), and drank over 18,000 bottles of water. And one more interesting fact, they collectively wore over 7,000 outfits while shaking over 5,500 hands. Now that's what we call, "busy"! Stamina, endurance, and perseverance. These delegates proved they were worthy of the right to represent their states and be proud of their accomplishments.

The Evening Gown presentation. Usually the epitome of elegance. Usually the phase of competition reserved for the contestant to project her true inner self, her confident, elegant self. But, like an over-hyped fashionista runway show, where they attempt to present the entire collection of a particular designer within an extrememly limited time-frame, the contestants purposely bounded down the runway, marching to the heavy beat of the background music and video collage, not gliding elegantly before the audience and judges panel as many in the audience had hoped and dreamed. Elegance aside, the Evening Gown competition, as close in balloting as Swimwear, was awarded to Miss Kansas.

With the two main phases of competition complete, the time had come to announce the judge's decision regarding which five finalist would proceed to the interview phases of competition. Amidst screams of delight and surprise, Misses Kansas, Indiana, District of Columbia, Minnesota, and Connecticut won the opportunity to proceed into the final segments of competition and show that they had the brains and conversational skills to match their beauty. All that stood between them and the ultimate goal of the evening was a series of thought-provoking questions posed by their fellow delegates.

Catching her breath as the final television credits begin to roll, Miss USA 2002 Shauntay Hinton thanks her supporters and viewing audience.

From questions regarding the personal effects of September 11, questions of ethics and morals, to questions of valued freedoms and the values of casino gambling, these questions proved there was substance behind the beauty. Each delegate answered as forthrightly as possible, and hoped that their views were concise and clear enough to impress their validity and sincerity upon the judges. However, this was not enough. In addition to the thought-provoking questions presented by their peers, one final question would be posed to each of them. In fact, the exact same question would be posed to each of them. One final question which would determine which deserving young woman would capture the title and accolades of Miss USA 2002. The question? "What do you find most mind boggling about the opposite sex?" Huh? Of all the current affairs, and newsworthy events from around the globe, we would now discover their personal views on the mind boggling paradigm that exists between the sexes!

With the final walk and presentation of Miss USA 2001 Candace Krueger, the ballots were tallied and the final results sealed for the announcement. After all the preparation, commitment, and sacrifice, how would each delegate be rewarded for her performance? Could the judges consider all of the information of just one evening and bestow the title upon a worthy and complete delegate who could represent the United States accordingly? The answer was in the envelope. Upon opening the envelope, the results were proclaimed in order of the judges decision. 4th alternate Connecticut, 3rd alternate Minnesota, 2nd alternate Indiana, the ever important 1st alternate, should Miss USA capture the title of Miss Universe, Kansas, and the new Miss USA 2002 — as predicted by Candace Krueger before the final announcement — Shauntay Hinton from the District of Columbia. Miss District of Columbia as the new Miss USA 2002. A worthy and befitting coincidence of our nations representative spirit.

SPECIAL AWARDS
Category	Winner	State
Swimsuit	Lanore VanBuren	Minnesota
Photogenic	Shannon Ford	Florida
Congeniality	Meredith Lynn McCannel	Montana