Miss USA 2016, was the 65th Miss USA pageant. It was held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 5, 2016. All fifty states and the District of Columbia competed. Olivia Jordan of Oklahoma crowned her successor, Deshauna Barber of the District of Columbia, at the end of the event. This was the first Miss USA pageant to be broadcast on Fox. Barber represented the USA at the Miss Universe 2016 pageant.
For the first time, a 52nd entrant for the pageant was decided via a nationwide search through social media.
§ Voted into the Top 15 by America as the "People's Choice".
This year a 52nd contestant will take part of the competition. The Miss Universe Organization along with the fashion agency Sherri Hill decided to make a competition online where different women from all the US competed. Finally, 10 women were selected by a panel of judges, and these 10 finalists were revealed on May 10, 2016. The winner between these 10 candidates competed as Miss 52 USA in the Miss USA 2016 pageant on June 5, 2016. The winner, which was announced on May 18, 2016, was Alexandra Miller from Oklahoma City.
The 10 selected finalists were:
The panel of judges that selected the 10 finalists were:
Alessandra Garcia, American plus-size model.
Ashley Wagner, American figure skater.
Andrew Serrano, American IMG Fashion Director of Global Public Relations.
Lauren Giraldo, American social media star.
Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015 from the Philippines.
Sherri Hill, American fashion designer and businesswoman.
52 delegates competed for Miss USA 2016:
Two contestants had competed at Miss America:
Miss Maryland USA Christina Denny was Miss Maryland 2013 and top 10 at Miss America 2014
Miss Virginia USA Desi Williams was Miss Virginia 2013.
Fifteen contestants had competed at Miss Teen USA, breaking the record for the most Miss Teen USA crossovers. The previous record was at Miss USA 2015 with 12 crossovers.
Miss Alabama USA Peyton Brown was Miss Alabama Teen USA 2012 and placed Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2012
Miss Arkansas USA Abby Floyd was Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2013 and placed Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2013
Miss Colorado USA Caley-Rae Pavillard was Miss Colorado Teen USA 2011 and placed Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2011
Miss Connecticut USA Tiffany Teixeira was Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2009
Miss Indiana USA Morgan Abel was Miss Indiana Teen USA 2008
Miss Mississippi USA Haley Sowers was Miss Mississippi Teen USA 2010 and placed 4th runner up at Miss Teen USA 2010
Miss Missouri USA Sydnee Stottlemyre was Miss Missouri Teen USA 2011 and placed 4th runner up at Miss Teen USA 2011
Miss Montana USA Sibahn Doxey was Miss Montana Teen USA 2011
Miss Nebraska USA Sarah Hollins was Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2009
Miss Oklahoma USA Taylor Gorton was Miss Oklahoma Teen USA 2008 and Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2008
Miss Pennsylvania USA Elena LaQuatra was Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA 2010
Miss South Dakota USA Madison McKeown was Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2014
Miss Texas USA Daniella Rodriguez was Miss Texas Teen USA 2013
Miss Wisconsin USA Kate Redeker was Miss Wisconsin Teen USA 2013 and Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2013
Miss Wyoming USA Autumn Olson was Miss Wyoming Teen USA 2013
Miss USA 2016 contestants were evaluated by panels of judges.
Fred Nelson – President/Executive Producer of the People's Choice Awards
Jimmy Nguyen – Entertainment and digital media lawyer, diversity advocate, blogger, and technology advisor
Joey Boukadakis – Writer, director, producer, and media executive
Keltie Knight – Correspondent and weekend host of CBS's The Insider
Kristin Conte – Marketing and communications executive and event creator
Nick Phelps – Global Alliance Director at Droga5
Rebecca Bienstock – West Coast Bureau Chief at Us Weekly magazine
Ali Landry – Miss USA 1996 from Louisiana
Crystle Stewart – Miss USA 2008 from Texas
Joe Zee – Editor in Chief and Executive Creative Officer of Yahoo Fashion
Laura Brown – Features/Special Projects and Executive Director of Harper's Bazaar magazine
Nigel Barker – Fashion photographer and the host of The Face
District of Columbia won the competition for the third time.
States that have placed in the previous year are Alabama, Arizona, Hawaii, Oklahoma, and Virginia.
States that failed to place this year, ending streaks are Louisiana (4 years), Maryland (5 years), and Nevada (4 years).
Alabama placed for the seventh consecutive year.
Arizona, Oklahoma, and Virginia placed for the third consecutive year.
California, Georgia, and South Carolina last placed in 2014.
Connecticut, Ohio, and West Virginia last placed in 2013.
Arkansas last placed in 2012.
Missouri last placed in 2011.
District of Columbia last placed in 2006.
South Dakota placed for the first time since 1974 when Debra Ann Brickley placed in the top 12. Also, this is South Dakota's highest placement on record.
Alabama won Miss Congeniality for the first time, and Wisconsin won Miss Photogenic for the second time. However, unlike previous years, these results were not announced on the live telecast.
A total of 15 former Miss Teen USA delegates competed, making it the highest number ever.
2016 broke the streak where a state won for the first time.
