Miss USA 2019

Miss USA Rolls the Dice and Wins Big in Reno

 

Reno, Nevada, The Biggest Little City in the World, welcomed the fifty-one enthusiastic representatives vying for the Miss USA 2019 crown, title, and prize package as they prepared for the much anticipated live show on FOX.

Broadcast from the beautiful Grand Theater at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, the Miss USA 2019 Pageant was once again hosted by the always entertaining duo of Nick and Vanessa Lachey, with special commentary from industry veteran Lu Sierra. The show was a testament to women and women empowerment. With the venue situated at the base of the snow-capped mountains, it was surely a night to remember.

As the theater crowd came alive, the opening production number set the evening’s energetic tone with Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, and producer T-Pain welcoming the delegates to the Miss USA 2019 stage. With the final contestant’s introduction, the Top Fifteen were announced: Miss Florida USA Nicolette Jennings; Miss New Mexico USA Alejandra Gonzalez; Miss Arkansas USA Savannah Skidmore; Miss Ohio USA Alice Magoto; Miss Oklahoma USA Triana Browne; Miss Iowa USA Baylee Drezek; Miss Minnesota USA Cat Stanley; Miss District of Columbia USA Cordelia Cranshaw; Miss Louisiana USA Victoria Paul; Miss North Carolina USA Cheslie Kryst; Miss Kansas USA Alyssa Klinzing; Miss Pennsylvania USA Kailyn Marie Perez; Miss Maryland USA Mariela Pepin; Miss Hawaii USA Lacie Choy; and Miss Nevada USA Tianna Tuamoheloa.

The Miss USA 2019 Top 15 competed in the first stage competition of the evening, Swimsuit, which would narrow the field to a Top 10. After the Swimsuit Competition, which confirms the delegates’ commitment to a fit and healthy lifestyle, the Top 10 were beckoned center stage to prepare for the next round of competition, Evening Gown. The Top 10 Miss USA 2019 contestants were: Miss Arkansas USA; Miss Ohio USA; Miss Kansas USA; Miss North Carolina USA; Miss District of Columbia USA; Miss New Mexico USA; Miss Maryland USA; Miss Florida USA; Miss Nevada USA; and Miss Oklahoma USA.

Serenaded by multi-platinum recording artist and Miss USA 2019 host Nick Lachey, the Top 10 Miss USA finalists gracefully took the stage during the Evening Gown portion of the night. Always the most anticipated competition, Evening Gown lived up to its perennial elegance with the live and television audience aptly rewarded for their dedication to this most glamorous event. As with any competition’s completion, the Miss USA field was once again winnowed to a Top 5: Alejandra Gonzalez (NM); Cheslie Kryst (NC); Tianna Tuamoheloa (NV); Triana Browne (OK); and Savannah Skidmore (AR).

It was time to hear from the Miss USA Top 5 in the Question Round, answering a question written and posed by one of her fellow contestants. Beginning the Question Round was Miss New Mexico USA’s question via Miss Colorado USA, “What is one issue you would like all the 2020 candidates to address and Why?”; followed by Miss North Carolina USA posed by Massachusetts, “Have the #metoo and #timesup movements gone too far?”, Miss Nevada USA answering Miss Michigan USA, “What is the largest contributing factor to the high rate of gun violence in our nation?”; Miss Oklahoma USA took the question “Should the incarcerated be allowed to vote?” from Miss North Dakota USA, with the final question “America is both racially diverse and divided, Why do you think that is?” answered by Miss Arkansas USA as queried by Miss Mississippi USA. These were extremely tough, poignant, and time pertinent questions and all answered with confidence and conviction. All that awaited was the Miss USA 2019 Selection Committee’s decision as to whom would advance to the final round of competition.

The Final Word & Final Look competition remained between the final Top 3 Miss USA contests and the Miss USA 2019 title. All would answer the same question, “What is one word you would use to describe your generation and why?” In order; Miss North Carolina USA, Miss Oklahoma USA, and Miss New Mexico USA. One of these women would soon earn the title of Miss USA 2019.

From the initial 51 Miss USA state representatives, the field had been narrowed to fifteen (Swimsuit), ten (Evening gown), five (Question Round), to a final three (Final word & Final Look). The final decision as to whom would capture the crown and title of Miss USA 2019 was now in the hands of the Selection Committee.

With the theater vibrating from applause and screams, it was the moment of truth as the Miss USA 2019 finalists were proclaimed with Second Runner-Up Miss Oklahoma USA Triana Browne the first to be announced. It was down to the final two, clutching hands, center stage and each hoping to hear her name called as Miss USA 2019. Miss New Mexico USA USA Alejandra Gonzalez became First Runner-Up as Miss North Carolina USA was announced, Cheslie Kryst, Miss USA 2019. Cheslie is a civil litigation attorney with both a Juris Doctor and MBA from Wake Forest University and becomes the third woman form the state of North Carolina to capture the Miss USA crown.

 

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