Miss Teen USA 2023 is UmaSofia Srivastava of New Jersey


UmaSofia Srivastava was crowned Miss Teen USA 2023 in a glittering national competition held on Thursday, September 28 at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada.

The 16-year-old representing New Jersey beat 50 other competitors to become the 41st Miss Teen USA. She succeeds last year's winner Faron Medhi of Nebraska.

Stephanie Skinner of New York was named first runner-up while Maggie Ross of Pennsylvania, Haylee Puckett of Texas, and Carolina Sola of Ohio were the second, third, and fourth runner-up, respectively.

The new Miss Teen USA is of Mexican-Indian descent and is a high school student from Morris Plains, New Jersey. She runs her own blog "That's Fan Behavior" where she covers topics from feminism, her experiences as a woman of color, interviews with changemakers, and her passions.

UmaSofia is also the author of "The White Jaguar" book. She shared: "My own journey of self-acceptance is what inspired me to write The White Jaguar, and I hope that it can be a beacon of light for people of all ages to encourage them to embrace what makes them unique."

Aside from winning the national title, she also bagged the Best in Costume award last night for her costume inspired by New Jersey's state bug, the honeybee.

Photos: Miss Teen USA, UmaSofia Srivastava / Instagram

RELATED POSTS:

Popular posts from this blog

Nigeria's Samuel Nwajagu wins Mister International 2024

Image
Samuel Nwajagu of Nigeria was proclaimed the grand winner of the Mister International 2024 pageant on Saturday, December 14 in Bangkok, Thailand. Aside from the international title, the 23-year-old model also bagged the Best in Swimsuit award. He succeeds last year's winner from Thailand, Kim Goodburn. Nguyen Man Lan of Vietnam and Glenn Victor Sutanto were announced as the first and second runners-up, respectively. Anthony Henricus of the Netherlands, Justine Carl Ong of the Philippines (fan vote winner), and Rafael Dominguez of Spain rounded out the Top 6 finalists. The contestants from China, Liu Xu Adrien Lorin, Ecuador, Abel Diaz, Italy, Leonardo Castaldo, Korea, Joon-Sung Heo, and Mexico, Brian Arturo Faugier made the Top 10. Completing the Top 15 semifinalists were Colombia, Sebastian Melo Nieves, Cuba, Christian Jesus Anoceto, France, Lavigne Swann, Thailand, Chutipong Buddharak, and Venezuela, Emmanuel Serrano. The Philippines, USA, and the Netherlands received the Best in...
Read more

Miss France 2025 is Angélique Angarni-Filopon of Martinique

Image
Angélique Angarni-Filopon from Martinique beat 29 other contestants to win Miss France 2025 on Saturday, December 14 at the Futuroscope Arena in Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The 34-year-old flight attendant became the oldest winner of the prestigious national pageant. She also made history as the first woman from Martinique to become Miss France. Sabah Aïb of Nord-Pas-de-Calais was named first runner-up while Stella Vangioni of Corsica, Moïra André of Guadeloupe, and Lilou Emeline-Artuso of Côte d'Azur were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Contestants from Alsace, Isabella Hébert, Aquitaine, Laura Marque, Bourgogne, Clara Diry, Champagne-Ardenne, Louison Thevenin, Lorraine, Assia Roosz-Tomenti, Midi-Pyrénées, Olivia Sirena, Normandie, Lucile Lecellier, Picardie, Marina Przadka, Rhône-Alpes, Alexcia Couly, and Tahiti, Temanava Domingo made the Top 15. This year's competition marked the 95th edition of the annual Miss France pageant and was the first edition...
Read more

Plus-sized Sara Milliken crowned Miss Alabama for National American Miss 2024

Image
Plus-sized beauty Sara Milliken was crowned the National American Miss Alabama 2024 during the state final held on May 27 at the Renaissance Marriot in Montgomery. The 23-year-old model and mental health advocate from Atmore, Alabama is now expected to represent her home state at the National American Miss 2024 competition later this year. "This is a dream that has been 8 years in the making for me," said the new National American Miss Alabama who first joined the state pageant when she was 15 years old. After enduring bullying upon her return at the age of 16, she decided to take a break from joining for 7 years. However, this year, she mustered up the courage to give the crown another shot. "I returned to the NAM stage to prove to myself I didn't give up. I could do this. I was more than the mean things that was said to me," Sara wrote online. "I was authentically myself. I had fun. I had the most genuine smile on my face. I wasn't perfect." In r...
Read more

Miss Alabama USA 2024 is Diane Westhoven

Image
Miss Southern Plains, Diane Westhoven was crowned Miss Alabama USA 2024 during the state final on Saturday, June 1 at Auburn University's Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center. The 21-year-old student from Birmingham will now prepare to represent Alabama at Miss USA 2024 this summer in Hollywood, California. She succeeds Sophie Burzynski, last year's winner and Miss USA 2023 Top 20 semifinalist. Diane is currently studying psychology at Auburn University with the goal of empowering others to feel confident in their physical and emotional well-being. View this post on Instagram A post shared by RPM Productions, Inc (@rpmproductions) FINAL RESULTS Miss Alabama USA 2024 - Diane Westhoven (Southern Plains) 1st runner-up - Ashlyn Powers (Fairhope) 2nd runner-up - Allyssa Weyant (Lake Jordan) 3rd runner-up - Olivia Burchfield (Magic City) 4th runner-up - Halle Sullivan (Northport) TOP 10 Maleigha Lewis (Enterprise) Melody Mills (Bailey Cove) Margaret Anne Mc...
Read more

Miss Polski 2024: Meet the 32 finalists

Image
The semifinal round of Miss Polski 2024 (Miss Poland 2024) took place on Friday, April 26 at Hotel Kolumna Park in Przygoń. From 59 semifinalists, only 32 beauties (two from each region) have been selected to move on to the final competition to be held this July. The next Miss Polski, to be crowned by last year's titleholder  Angelika Jurkowianiec , is expected to represent Poland at Miss Universe 2024 and/or Miss Supranational 2025. Angelika went to Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador last November and will be heading to Nowy Sącz in the summer to participate in Miss Supranational 2024. Who will be the next Miss Polski? Meet the 32 official finalists: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Polski Official 👑 (@miss.polski) Kinga Cyran Dominika Kowalczyk Daria Stogińska Karolina Szwajłyk Aleksandra Czerwińska Aleksandra Rudzka Anna Cichomska Natalia Chmurzyńska Antonina Piotrowska Karolina Zbiejczyk Zuzanna Balonek Magdalena Szewczyk Weronika Piątek Zu...
Read more

Mr World 2024: Meet the Top 12 finalists of the Top Model competition

Image
The Mr World 2024 Top Model competition was held during the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest on Saturday, November 9 at the spectacular Villa Blanche in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Over 50 contestants vying for this year's title walked the runway wearing creations by talented local designers and outfits they prepared specially for the challenge. The fast-track event culminated with the announcement of the Top 12 finalists: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mr World (@mrworld.official) Italy - Bruno Barbieri Northern Ireland - James Moody Spain - Antonio Company China - Wei Zihong India - Gokul Ganesan Philippines - Kirk Bondad Türkiye - Ege Karabenli Vietnam - Pham Tuan Ngoc Kenya - Teddy Rossiter Colombia - Juan Esteban Rodriguez Mexico - Alan Salazar Venezuela - Juan Alberto Garcia The winner of the Top Model competition, to be announced during the final in Phan Thiet this November 23, will automatically advance to the Top 20. Photos: Mr World / Instagram
Read more

LIVE UPDATES: Miss Universe 2024 Final Competition Results

Image
Tonight, the much-awaited culmination of the Miss Universe 2024 pageant will broadcast live from the Arena CDMX in Mexico City. For the past two weeks, equally beautiful and empowered beauties from 125 countries and territories have been busy filming, touring, and preparing for the upcoming final show. Actor, TV host, and producer Mario Lopez and Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo will serve as hosts while Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and TV personality Zuri Hall will be backstage commentators. Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Robin Thicke, Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, Brazilian artist Richaelio, Nico Ruiz, Latin pop star Vikina, and The Mariachi will be the musical guest performers. The selection committee consists of Camila Guiribitey, Emilio Estefan, Eva Cavalli, Fariana, Gabriela Gonzalez, Gary Nader, Gianluca Vacchi, Jessica Carrillo, Lele Pons, Margaret Gardiner, Michael Cinco, Nova Stevens and Romero Britto. Tonight's final competition will feature the Top 30 semifin...
Read more

Puerto Rico's María Cepero crowned Miss Intercontinental 2024

Image
María Cepero Jiménez of Puerto Rico was crowned Miss Intercontinental 2024 on Friday, December 6 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The 26-year-old law student beat over 50 other contestants to win her country's 5th Miss Intercontinental title. She succeeds last year's winner Chatnalin Chotjirawarachat from Thailand. Georgette Musrie of Venezuela was named first runner-up while Alyssa Redondo of the Philippines finished as the second runners-up. Bui Khanh Linh of Vietnam, Celina Weil of Germany, Kenyatta Beazer of the USA, and Amanda Peresu of Zimbabwe were the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 22 were the representatives of Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Japan, Kenya, Moldova, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Wales, and Zambia. The continental titles were awarded to Zimbabwe (Africa), Vietnam (Asia and Oceania), Germany (Europe), the USA (North America), and Venezuela (South America). This year's competiti...
Read more

Miss Nederland 2024 is Amber Rustenberg from Amsterdam

Image
Amber Rustenberg was crowned Miss Nederland 2024 (Miss Netherlands 2024) in a national competition held on Sunday, June 16 at Studio 21 in Hilversum. The 23-year-old entrepreneur from Amsterdam edged out nine other finalists to win the national title. She succeeds Rikkie Valerie Kollé , last year's winner and the first-ever transgender woman to represent the Netherlands at Miss Universe. According to the distinguished panel of judges, they chose the new Miss Nederland because she is "eloquent, authentic, intelligent, confident, positive in life, and has a warm personality which she radiates on stage." Headed by national director Monica van Ee, the Miss Nederland organization previously held the right to send Dutch delegates to the Miss Universe pageant. This year, the license for Miss Universe Netherlands was taken over by Milou Verhoeks, founder of the Miss Beauty of the Netherlands. Meet the new Miss Nederland: View this post on Instagram A post shar...
Read more

Puerto Rico's Daniel Mejía wins Mr World 2024

Image
Daniel Mejía from Puerto Rico was proclaimed the winner of the Mr World 2024 competition on Saturday, November 23 in Phan Thiet, Vietnam. The 28-year-old talented singer became the first Puerto Rican to win the international title. He holds a degree in health sciences and works as a mortgage loan originator. Pham Tuan Nhoc of Vietnam, Antonio Company of Spain, and Felipe Salvador Maria of Angola were announced as the first, second, and third runners-up, respectively. Tomas Haring of the Czech Republic, Gokul Ganesan of India, Teddy Rossiter of Kenya, Megha Sooriyaarachchi of Sri Lanka, Ege Karabenli of Turkey, and Juan Alberto García of Venezuela were the Top 10 finalists. Contestants from Argentina, Tomas Ghigo, Belgium, Nathan de Schepper, Italy, Bruno Barbieri Roggiero, Lebanon, Mario El Hajj, Mexico, Alan Salazar, Myanmar, Sai Toung Law, Peru, Mickael Peña Olivieri, Philippines, Kirk Bondad, Sierra Leone, Alhaji Hassan Mansaray, and the USA, Daryn Friedman completed the Top 20. Thi...
Read more