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Miss USA 2004

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Date
  
April 12, 2004

Entrants
  
51

Broadcaster
  
NBC, KNBC-TV

Placements
  
15

Miss USA 2004

Presenters
  
Billy Bush, Nancy O'Dell

Venue
  
Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, California

Miss USA 2004, the 53rd Miss USA pageant, was held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on April 12, 2004. The winner of the beauty pageant was Shandi Finnessey, who became the first winner from the state of Missouri. Finnessey was crowned by outgoing Miss USA Susie Castillo, of Massachusetts.

Contents

The pageant was hosted by Billy Bush and Nancy O'Dell, the first time this partnership had hosted the pageant. Bush had previously hosted Miss USA 2003 and Miss Universe 2003.

For the first time since 1970, fifteen semi-finalists competed in the final competition, although not all the semi-finalists competed in both the swimsuit and evening gown. Following the new format established at Miss Universe 2003 and Miss Teen USA 2003, the top fifteen semi-finalists were reduced to ten after the evening gown competition, and then to the final five after swimsuits. This was the first time that contestants did not have the opportunity to compete in both competitions.

Top 15

  1. Arizona
  2. Missouri
  3. Texas
  4. North Carolina
  5. New Hampshire
  6. South Carolina
  7. Florida
  8. Alabama
  9. Oregon
  10. Georgia
  11. New Mexico
  12. Washington
  13. Idaho
  14. Oklahoma
  15. Tennessee

Delegates

The Miss USA 2004 delegates were:

Historical significance

  • This became the first win for Missouri in pageant history.
  • South Carolina had its highest placement since Lu Parker won Miss USA 1994. South Carolina also placed for the fourth time in five years.
  • North Carolina had its best finish in 10 years and its best finish for the third time in pageant history. North Carolina finished 2nd Runner-Up in 1975 and 1994.
  • Oklahoma had its best finish in the pageant since 1989.
  • Tennessee repeated its highest placement for the second time since Lynnette Cole won Miss USA 2000.
  • Alabama makes it through the first cut for the third time in a row.
  • Florida makes it through the first cut for the first time since 1997.
  • Idaho had its first placement since Brandi Sherwood inherited the Miss USA 1997 title after Brook Lee won Miss Universe 1997.
  • New Hampshire had its first placement since 2000, and became only the fourth placement by a New Hampshire delegate in pageant history.
  • New Mexico placed for the second time since 1999.
  • Texas made the first cut of delegates for the third time in a row since Kandace Krueger won Miss USA 2001.

    • Judges

  • Jerry Buss
  • Rocco DiSpirito
  • Jeff Gordon
  • Vanessa Haydon
  • Tricia Helfer
  • Liza Huber
  • Brandi Sherwood
  • Jill Stuart

    • For the second year, there was a Miss USA Fear Factor special, in which Tara Darby of Alabama won the $50,000 prize (half of which to be donated to the charity of her choice).

    References

    Miss USA 2004 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA