Miss USA 2022

Miss USA 2022 was the 71st Miss USA pageant. The competition was held on October 3, 2022 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada and was broadcast on the FYI cable channel. The competition was hosted by Zuri Hall for the second consecutive year, while Julissa Bermudez and Micah Jesse served as sideline correspondents. This competition was also rebroadcast on October 19, 2022 on the official YouTube channel.[1]

Miss USA 2022
DateOctober 3, 2022
Presenters
EntertainmentChloe Flower
VenueGrand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nevada
Broadcaster
Entrants51
Placements16
WinnerR'Bonney Gabriel
Texas Texas
(Relinquished)
Morgan Romano
North Carolina North Carolina
(Assumed)
CongenialityCourtney Schuman
Alaska Alaska
Best State CostumeR'Bonney Gabriel
Texas Texas
PhotogenicAngel Reyes
Illinois Illinois

Elle Smith of Kentucky crowned R'Bonney Gabriel of Texas as her successor at the end of the event. She later represented the United States at Miss Universe 2022. This was Texas' tenth Miss USA title and first win in 14 years. At the age of 28 years, 6 months and 13 days, Gabriel became the oldest Miss USA winner in the pageant's history, surpassing Cheslie Kryst in 2019, who was also 28 when she crowned, the first Asian-American to win the title since Brook Lee in 1997, and the first titleholder of Filipino descent.[2]

Gabriel went on to win the Miss Universe title roughly three months later in New Orleans, becoming the ninth American woman to do so. With her win, her first runner-up, Morgan Romano of North Carolina, assumed the Miss USA title on January 27, 2023 in a crowning ceremony in Auburn, Alabama. Romano became the fourth woman from North Carolina to hold the Miss USA title.

Background

Location, hosts, and performer
Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, the host venue of the Miss USA 2022 competition.

On July 14, 2022, it was reported that the competition would be held in Reno, Nevada, with the city securing a three-year deal to host the pageant for the next three years.[3] This would be the second time that the pageant is held in Reno, following Miss USA 2019.[4][5] The following day, it was confirmed that the pageant would be held at the Grand Sierra Resort on October 3. Crystle Stewart confirmed that the location was chosen to honor Cheslie Kryst, whom had been crowned Miss USA 2019 in the same venue and had committed suicide in January 2022.[6]

In September 2022, it was announced that the competition would be hosted by Zuri Hall for the second consecutive year, while Julissa Bermudez and Micah Jesse would serve as sideline correspondents and Chloe Flower would perform.[7]

Selection of contestants

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the duration between most of the state pageants from the previous year's competition, with previous year's state titleholders' reign being shortened to eight to eleven months into their calendar year, depending on state. Delegates from the 50 states and the District of Columbia are selected in state pageants in a period began in September 2021 and scheduled to end in July 2022 to avoid scheduling conflicts with Miss America 2023 state pageants, as the state pageant schedule can become very dense between the last state pageant held from 2021. The first state pageants were Idaho and Montana, held together on September 12, 2021, and the last state pageant was Colorado, held on July 3, 2022.

Eleven delegates have previously competed in Miss Teen USA and Miss America, eight are former Miss Teen USA state winners, two are a former Miss America state titleholders, and one is a former Miss America's Outstanding Teen state titleholder.

Controversy

Moments after the final competition when R'Bonney Gabriel was crowned Miss USA, allegations emerged that the competition had been rigged for Gabriel to win. Several of the contestants, including Miss Montana USA Heather Lee O'Keefe and Miss Georgia USA Holly Haynes, expressed in disbelief and claimed that Gabriel allegedly travelled to Nizuc Resort and Spa in Cancún a couple of weeks after Gabriel was crowned Miss Texas USA and was able to shoot promotional material, which the resort's Instagram account posted less than 24 hours after the final competition. Nizuc has been become one of the pageant's sponsors since national director and Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart took over at the end of 2020 after Miss USA and Miss Teen USA were separated from the Miss Universe Organization.[8] Both Gabriel and Miss Colorado USA Alexis Glover, were not included in the official Cancún retreat along with the rest of the contestants as Texas and Colorado had not yet crowned at the time of the retreat.[9][10] In an interview with E! News, Gabriel denied claims that the pageant was rigged, stating "I would never enter any pageant or any competition that I know I would win."[11]

Results
Miss USA 2022 results map, colors shaded in each state

Final results
Placement Contestant
Miss USA 2022
1st Runner-Up
2nd Runner-Up
3rd Runner-Up
  • Ohio Ohio – Sir'Quora Carroll
4th Runner-Up
Top 12
Top 16

§ – Voted into Top 16 through the online vote.
∞ – Gabriel won Miss Universe 2022. Due to protocol, Gabriel relinquished her title and the 1st Runner-Up, Morgan Romano, assumed the Miss USA title.

Special awards
Award[12] Contestant
Best State Costume Winner
Second Place
Third Place
  • Maine Maine – Elizabeth Kervin
Miss Congeniality
Miss Photogenic

Pageant

Judges
  • Ashlee Clarke – American businesswoman and producer[7]
  • Soo Yeon Lee – South Korean table tennis player and model[7]
  • Kirk Myers – American fitness trainer[7]
  • Olivia Ponton – American model and social media influencer[7]
  • Aaron Potts – American fashion designer[7]
  • Nicole Williams-English – Canadian fashion designer and model[7]

Contestants

51 contestants competed for the title.[13]

State Contestant Age[lower-alpha 1] Hometown Notes
Alabama Alabama Katelyn Vinson[14] 22 Dothan
Alaska Alaska Courtney Schuman[15] 28 Anchorage Previously Miss Alaska 2018
Arizona Arizona Isabel Ticlo[16] 28 Phoenix Previously Miss Arizona 2018
Arkansas Arkansas Rylie Wagner[17] 22 Ozark
California California Tiffany Johnson[18] 26 Lancaster
Colorado Colorado Alexis Glover 23 Colorado Springs Previously Miss Colorado Teen USA 2017
Connecticut Connecticut Cynthia Dias[19] 23 Wolcott Previously Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen 2014
Delaware Delaware Grace Lange[16] 22 Newark Previously Miss Delaware Teen USA 2017
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Faith Porter[20] 23 Washington, D.C.
Florida Florida Taylor Fulford[21] 28 Okeechobee
Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia Holly Haynes[22] 26 Sugar Hill
Hawaii Hawaii Kiana Yamat[23] 28 Honolulu
Idaho Idaho Jordana Dahmen[24] 27 Boise
Illinois Illinois Angel Reyes[25] 26 Chicago
Indiana Indiana Samantha Toney[26] 27 Clarksville
Iowa Iowa Randi Estabrook[27] 25 Des Moines
Kansas Kansas Elyse Noe[28] 23 Lawrence
Kentucky Kentucky Lizzy Neutz[29] 23 Louisville
Louisiana Louisiana KT Scannell[30] 22 Denham Springs
Maine Maine Elizabeth Kervin[31] 20 Winterport
Maryland Maryland Caleigh Shade[32] 23 Ocean City Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 2018
Massachusetts Massachusetts Skarlet Ramirez[33] 28 Lawrence
Michigan Michigan Aria Hutchinson[34] 24 Plymouth Daughter of Chris Hutchinson and Melissa Sinkevics Hutchinson, Miss Michigan Teen USA 1988, and sister of Aidan Hutchinson
Minnesota Minnesota Madeline Helget[35] 24 Clearwater
Mississippi Mississippi Hailey White[36] 23 Picayune
Missouri Missouri Mikala McGhee[37] 28 St. Louis
Montana Montana Heather Lee O'Keefe[38] 25 Bozeman
Nebraska Nebraska Natalie Pieper 27 Omaha
Nevada Nevada Summer Keffeler 21 Paradise Previously Miss Washington Teen USA 2018
Sister of Stormy Keffeler, original titleholder of Miss Washington USA 2016
New Hampshire New Hampshire Camila Sacco[39] 27 Portsmouth
New Jersey New Jersey Alexandra Lakhman[40] 26 Hoboken
New Mexico New Mexico Suzanne Perez[41] 25 Portales
New York (state) New York Heather Nunez[42] 26 Queens
North Carolina North Carolina Morgan Romano[43] 24 Concord Later assumed Miss USA 2022 after Gabriel won Miss Universe 2022
North Dakota North Dakota SaNoah LaRocque[44] 25 Belcourt
Ohio Ohio Sir'Quora Carroll[45] 23 Canal Winchester
Oklahoma Oklahoma Ashley Ehrhart 25 Oklahoma City Previously National Sweetheart 2021
Oregon Oregon Arielle Freytag[46] 28 Harrisburg
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Billie LaRaé Owens[47] 25 Phoenixville Daughter of Billy Owens
Rhode Island Rhode Island Elaine Collado[48] 27 Providence Previously Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2013
South Carolina South Carolina Meera Bhonslé[49] 26 Lexington
South Dakota South Dakota Shania Knutson[50] 22 Viborg Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2018
Tennessee Tennessee Emily Suttle[51] 26 Franklin Previously Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2013
Texas Texas R'Bonney Gabriel[52] 28 Houston Later crowned Miss Universe 2022
Utah Utah Elisabeth Bradley-Gandara[53] 28 Salt Lake City
Vermont Vermont Kelsey Golonka[54] 23 Montpelier Previously Miss Vermont Teen USA 2017
Sister of Kenzie Golonka, Miss Vermont Teen USA 2022
Virginia Virginia Kailee Horvath[55] 23 Ashburn
Washington (state) Washington Mazzy Eckel[56] 22 Seattle
West Virginia West Virginia Krystian Leonard[57] 25 Morgantown
Wisconsin Wisconsin Hollis Brown[58] 26 Milwaukee
Wyoming Wyoming Morgan McNally[59] 27 Casper

Notes
  1. Ages at the time of the pageant

References
  1. MISS USA 2022 FULL SHOW on YouTube
  2. Bellamy-Walker, Tat (October 5, 2022). "Miss Texas makes history as 1st Filipina American to win Miss USA". NBC News. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  3. Hidalgo, Jason. "Reno secures 3-year Miss USA and Miss Teen USA deal". Reno Gazette Journal.
  4. "It's official: Miss USA Pageant to be held in Reno". KOLO-TV. March 29, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  5. Hidalgo, Jason (March 28, 2019). "It's official: Miss USA pageant coming to Reno after RSCVA approves $350,000 in funding". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  6. Vulpo, Mike; Sobol, Beth (July 15, 2022). "How the Miss USA 2022 Pageant Will Honor Cheslie Kryst After Her Death". E! Online.
  7. "THE 71st MISS USA® COMPETITION TO AIR LIVE FROM RENO, NEVADA ON OCTOBER 3, 2022 ON A&E's FYI AND HULU LIVE TV". Yahoo! Finance. September 23, 2022.
  8. Chung, Gabrielle (October 6, 2022). "Miss USA 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel Responds to Allegation Her Win Was "Rigged"". E!. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  9. Kao, Brooke (October 6, 2022). "Contestants claim Miss USA 2022 was 'rigged': 'We were humiliated'". The New York Post. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  10. Pageant world implodes amid claims Miss USA was ‘rigged’
  11. ""Miss USA 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel responds to the allegations"".
  12. "And the winner of the Costume Show is…. @misstxusa @rbonneynola ✨". Instagram. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  13. "July 15 Newsletter". Miss USA Organization. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  14. Colurso, Mary (January 15, 2022). "Miss Alabama USA 2022: Miss Dothan USA wins the crown". AL.
  15. Krause, Samantha Grindell, Anneta Konstantinides, Amanda. "15 of the best and most daring state costumes from the 2022 Miss USA pageant". Insider. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  16. Konstantinides, Anneta. "What 12 Miss USA contestants look like without makeup". Insider. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  17. Taylor, Ian (April 11, 2022). "Miss Arkansas USA winners crowned during pageant in Fort Smith". KFSM-TV. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  18. Krause, Samantha Grindell, Anneta Konstantinides, Amanda. "15 of the best and most daring state costumes from the 2022 Miss USA pageant". Insider. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  19. "Cynthia Dias continues Wolcott's winning pageant tradition". Republican-American. April 11, 2022.
  20. America, Good Morning. "Miss USA officials respond to allegations the competition was rigged". Good Morning America. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  21. "Taylor Fulford from Okeechobee Is Miss Florida USA 2022". WQCS88.9 FM. May 29, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  22. Fowler, Joy (February 26, 2022). "North Gwinnett High School graduate wins Miss Georgia USA". North Gwinnett Voice. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  23. "Newly Crowned Miss Hawaii USA and Miss Hawaii Teen USA Talk Plans For 2022". KHON-TV. February 21, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  24. Jannetta, Greg (January 20, 2022). "New Miss Idaho Born 120 Mi From Twin Falls; Worked At St. Luke's". 98.3 The Snake. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  25. "Hermosa native wins Miss Illinois, discusses preparing for Miss USA 2022". ABC7 Chicago. June 19, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  26. Fowler, Ashley (April 15, 2022). "Getting to know Samantha Toney, Miss Indiana USA". WISH-TV. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  27. Hawk, Emily (May 30, 2022). "Miss Oskaloosa named first runner up at Miss Iowa USA". The Oskaloosa Herald. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  28. Walters, Elizabeth (June 5, 2022). "The beauty of vulnerability: KU graduate crowned Miss Kansas USA 2022". The University Daily Kansan. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  29. "Miss Kentucky discusses personal finances at Assumption". The Record Newspaper. April 27, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  30. Gray, David (March 28, 2022). "City Council recognizes Miss Louisiana USA". Livingston Parish News. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  31. Krosnowski, Tom (March 23, 2022). "Miss Maine USA and Miss Maine Teen USA look to inspire". WABI-TV. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  32. Sharpe, Charlene (May 17, 2022). "OC Woman Named Miss Maryland USA". Maryland Ocean Dispatch.
  33. Harmacinski, Jill (March 30, 2022). "The new Miss Massachusetts is Lawrence's own Skarlet Ramirez". The Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  34. Barghouthi, Hani (May 29, 2022). "Miss Michigan 2022 hails from football family". The Detroit News. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
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  36. "Local plans to represent state during Miss USA pageant after being named Miss Mississippi". Picayune Item. April 9, 2022.
  37. "Former FOX 2 reporter Mikala McGhee wins Miss Missouri USA pageant". KTVI. May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  38. "Heather Lee O'Keefe chosen as Miss Montana USA 2022". The ETimes. September 17, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  39. Lenahan, Ian (June 29, 2022). "'Be true to passions' Portsmouth woman never quit in journey from Paraguay to Miss NH USA". The Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  40. Moyeno, Victoria Marie (April 7, 2022). "After 7 Years of Competing, Hoboken Resident Crowned Miss NJ USA". Hoboken Girl. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  41. Cortinas, Karen (June 6, 2022). "Two ladies crowned as Miss New Mexico USA and Miss New Mexico teen USA". KFOX14. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  42. "Miss USA 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel responds to accusations she won because of 'favoritism'". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  43. "Miss North Carolina discusses tragic death of Cheslie Kryst". FOX 46. February 2, 2022.
  44. Woosley-Collins, Hannah (May 5, 2022). "SaNoah LaRocque crowned Miss North Dakota USA 2022". KXMB-TV. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  45. Jackson, Mercedes (May 24, 2022). "Miss Ohio USA Sir'Quora Carroll shares inspiration after winning first ever pageant". WSYX. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  46. "Arielle Freytag selected as Miss Oregon USA 2022". The Times of India Photogallery. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  47. Herbert, Geoff (April 26, 2022). "SU alum Billie Owens, daughter of Syracuse basketball legend, wins Miss Pennsylvania USA". The Post-Standard. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  48. Russo, Amy. "Dominican festival brings MLB superstar, famed artists and food to Providence". The Providence Journal. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  49. "Lexington's Meera Bhonslé wins Miss South Carolina USA crown". West Metro News. March 17, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  50. "Knutson crowned Miss South Dakota USA, Welker Miss South Dakota Teen USA". Watertown Public Opinion. April 11, 2022.
  51. Shoup, Craig (March 13, 2022). "Franklin woman, Memphis teen crowned Miss Tennessee, Tennessee Teen USA in Clarksville". The Leaf-Chronicle. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  52. Diaz, John (July 4, 2022). "First Filipina crowned Miss Texas USA". KHOU-TV. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  53. Askinasi, Samantha Grindell, Anneta Konstantinides, Amanda Krause, Rachel. "Meet the 51 women competing to be Miss USA 2022". Insider. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  54. Perron, Darren (March 28, 2022). "Sisters crowned Miss Vermont USA and Miss Vermont Teen USA". WCAX-TV. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  55. Nelson, Mia (April 18, 2022). "New Miss Virginia USA and Miss Virginia Teen USA are crowned". WSET-TV. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  56. "Mazzy Eckel, a Queen on and off the Runway". Seattle Spectator. February 16, 2022.
  57. "Morgantown native wins Miss West Virginia USA 2022 title". Buckhannon News. June 5, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  58. Kirby, Hannah (May 11, 2022). "Miss Wisconsin USA 2022 also works for the Milwaukee Bucks. Here's what she plans to do with her title". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  59. Stagner, Taylar (June 21, 2022). "For the first time a Northern Arapaho woman participated in Miss Wyoming USA Pageant". Wyoming Public Media. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
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