PAGEANT Circle

Miss Benton County, Manju Bangalore, was crowned Miss Oregon USA 2023 on Saturday, October 15 at the Sherwood Center for the Arts in Sherwood, Oregon. The 25-year-old physicist, actor, model, and founder of two nonprofits edged out over 20 other competitors to win the state title in her third attempt. She succeeds last year's winner Arielle Freytag and will now prepare to represent Oregon at Miss USA 2023. "As an Oregonian, this has been a dream of mine for so long and I'm just in shock," she excitedly told her predecessor in a video clip shortly after winning her title. "It's literally surreal, I mean, this is the pageant that I grew up watching, like admiring all the intelligent, beautiful, strong girls. I'm just in shock," she added. Rounding out the Top 5 finalists were Miss Klamath Falls, Amulya Chava; Miss Progress Ridge, Brooklyn Lowery; Miss Multnomah County, Kelly Smith; and Miss West Portland, Aly Nordie. The new Miss Oregon USA is also an ...

Fashion designer and model R'Bonney Gabriel was crowned Miss Texas USA 2022 at Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel on Saturday, July 2. The 28-year-old Friendswood representative became the first-ever Filipina woman to win the state title. She also joined last year and finished as first runner-up to Victoria Hinojosa. Sydni Leonard, Allie Drake, Lluvia Alzate, and Gisela Contreras were the first, second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. "My heart is filled with joy," the new Miss Texas USA wrote in a statement on social media. "It's an honor to become Miss Texas USA 2022. I want to thank everyone involved in this special time! I have so much gratitude for your support," she added. R'Bonney will represent Texas in Miss USA 2022 while another winner Miss Texas Teen USA 2022 Chanel Williams will go to Miss Teen USA 2022. The final date and venue for the national competitions are yet to be announced. View this post on Instagram A pos...

Miss Sugar Hill, Heather Nunez, was crowned Miss New York USA 2022 in a glittering state competition held Friday, June 4 at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls. Originally from the Dominican Republic, the 26-year-old beauty who holds a degree in criminal justice grew up in New York City. Before finally winning her state title, she only placed as runner-up during the past two editions of Miss New York USA. "I am representing survivors of domestic violence, all the hard work I’ve accomplished was for you. So that you can see me and feel hope. We aren’t afraid to use our voice and we aren’t victims. We are survivors," she shared on social media before the competition. Last year's titleholder, Briana Siaca, relinquished her reign and crowned her successor at the end of the event. Heather will now prepare to represent New York at the national Miss USA 2022 pageant, whose date and venue are yet to be announced. View this post on Instagram ...

Miss Okeechobee USA, Taylor Fulford, was crowned Miss Florida USA 2022 in a state pageant held at Coral Springs Center for the Arts on Sunday, May 29. The 27-year-old life sciences graduate of the University of Florida and a teacher won her state title after trying for several years. She is the director and founder of Fit2BeYou and Crowns for a Cure. "Today I will compete for the title of [Miss Florida USA] for the last time. This journey I will always cherish for a lifetime and I wouldn’t change one thing regardless of the outcome because it has made me the person I am today," she wrote on social media before winning the competition. "No matter what challenges you may face that you can still pursue your wildest dreams," she added. Palm Coast's Sara Zeng and Lake Nona's Shakera Quince were the first and second runners-up, respectively, while West Delray Beach's Victoria DiSorbo, Homosassa's Caroline Dixon, and Central Delray Beach's Amy Rosado co...

Miss Southern Magnolia, Hailey White, bested 43 other contestants to be crowned Miss Mississippi USA 2022 in a glittering state competition held on Saturday, April 2 at the Pearl River Resort in Choctaw, Mississippi. The 23-year-old beauty from Hattiesburg succeeds last year's winner, Bailey Anderson. She will represent the southern state at the Miss USA 2022 national pageant. Hanna Perrigin of Lowndes County was named the first runner-up while Michaela Lian from South Mississippi finished as the second runner-up. Lauderdale County's Sydney Russel and Heart of Oxford's Maggie Ulmer were the third and fourth runners-up, respectively. The newly crowned Miss Mississippi USA took to social media to share that winning her title was a dream and she is so proud to wear Mississippi across her chest and represent such an amazing state. "It is such a humbling experience to be chosen from the amazing group of women I spent the past several days getting to know. I hope to make eve...