Miss USA 2026

Miss USA 2026
DateAugust 27, 2026[1]
Presenters
VenueAdrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami, Florida
Broadcaster
Entrants51
Placements20
WinnerJustus Kelley
Virginia
CongenialityAmber Uhler, Michigan
Best State CostumeKatie Tetreault, Idaho
PhotogenicAcacia McBride, California

Miss USA 2026 was the 75th Miss USA pageant, known as the 75th Diamond Anniversary of the pageant, held at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida on August 27, 2026.

Audrey Eckert of Nebraska crowned Justus Kelley of Virginia as her successor at the end of the event. This marked the state's first title in 56 years, with Kelley also becoming the oldest woman and the first married mother to be crowned.[2] Kelley will represent the United States at the Miss Universe 2026 pageant to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[3]

Background

Location

Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, venue of the pageant

On March 5, 2026, it was announced that the competition will take place in Miami, Florida, marking the first pageant in the state since 1986. A month later, it was announced the venue will be held at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.[1][4]

Broadcaster

On June 23, 2026, it was announced the pageant was originally to be aired on The CW on what would be its third time in four years after having previously signed a three-year deal in 2024. However, on August 20, a week before the pageant, The CW pulled off from the schedule along with concurrent Teen USA pageant in favor for the Queen Beauty Network streaming platform for its second consecutive year and still scheduled as planned.[5][6]

Selection of contestants

The selection of contestants for the state pageants took place in May to July 2026. The first state pageant was Arkansas and held on May 3, 2026, the final state pageant was the tri-states of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York, was held on July 26, 2026.[7]

Brittany Boltinhouse, the original Miss North Carolina USA 2026, dethroned weeks before the pageant was due to begin in Miami, due to past racism and homophobic slurs. She is replaced by Myla Hadley, who was the first runner-up of the pageant. This was the first time since the 2020 pageant where the original winner being replaced by an appointee, the last time was Katie Bozner of Wyoming.[c][8][9]

Appointed contestants

As with the previous year, several states in the competition can not hold traditional state pageants due to state directorship contract issues and will get via an open casting call conducting by the national organization. On May 15, 2026, it was announced sixteen states will give an open casting call with applications in separate parts.

The first Open Call began voting in early June and those states are Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont into three voting rounds each, the top two on each assigned group from the final voting round would make it to the judges round upon submitting their videos determining those hopefuls would select the eight women to appoint each of the eight state titles. The second Open call for the remaining eight states began voting at the end of June with the "Redemption Round" twist to have selected first batch eliminated hopefuls would have got a second chance, with new hopefuls began voting in mid-July; those states are Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming with the same format.[1][10]

Results

External videos
Miss USA 2026 Finals
Youtube logo
video icon MISS USA 2026 - FINAL COMPETITION by Miss USA
Miss USA 2026 results.


Placement Contestant
Miss USA 2026
1st Runner-Up
2nd Runner-Up
3rd Runner-Up
  • Iowa – Madeline Erickson
4th Runner-Up
  • Utah – Alayzia Christopher
Top 10
Top 20

§ Voted into the Top 20 by viewers

Special awards

Award Contestant
Miss Photogenic
Chelsi Smith Congeniality Award
Best in State Costume
  • Idaho – Katie Tetreault
Preliminary Best in Swimsuit
Cheslie Kryst Interview Award
  • Iowa – Maddie Erickson
FLIXXE Ambassador Award
People's Choice

Pageant

Format

The process for determining the semi-finalists was similar to that of the previous year. The preliminary competition will consist of three segments: the swimsuit competition, the evening gown competition, and a closed-door interview, which will determine the first 16 semi-finalists to advance from the initial cut.

For the second consecutive year, an internet vote was held, in which the three contestants with the most votes will automatically advance to the semifinals.

The remaining 20 semi-finalists will compete in the swimsuit competition, from which 10 will be selected to advance. These 10 then will compete in the evening gown competition, narrowing the field to five finalists. Finally, the five finalists will face the final question round, after which the winner of Miss USA 2026 and her runners-up will be announced.

Judges

Legacy celebration

As part of the pageant's 75th anniversary, a number of Miss USA titleholders from the second pageant in 1953 to the former titleholders are in attendance.

Contestants

All 51 contestants are competing for the title.

State/District Contestant Age[e] Hometown Notes
Alabama Samantha Havenstrite 27 Birmingham
Alaska Holly Huber[12] 26 Juneau
Arizona Kaitlyn Humphrey 23 Scottsdale
Arkansas Anna Claire Hay 23 Siloam Springs Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2020[13]
Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2020
California Acacia McBride 28 Calabasas
Colorado Jordyn Owen† 30 Catalina Foothills, AZ
Connecticut Jaeden Hamelly 30 New London
Delaware Julia Hatoum 24 Hockessin
District of Columbia Kennedy Lucas 28 Washington, D.C.
Florida Aileen Cerchiara 26 Tampa
Georgia Jade Kircus† 36 Southside, AL
Hawaii Darja Bassut[14] 23 Waiʻanae
Idaho Katie Tetreault† 30 Eagle
Illinois Vivica Lewandowski 21 Barrington Previously Miss Illinois Teen USA 2023
Top 20 at Miss Teen USA 2023
Daughter of Miss Illinois USA 1998 Mandy Lane Lewandowski
Indiana Eniolá Oke 21 Brownsburg
Iowa Madeline Erickson 22 Ankeny Previously Miss Iowa Teen USA 2023
Top 20 at Miss Teen USA 2023
Kansas Madilynn Becker 22 Herington Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2021
Kentucky Brijet Finister† 36 Stockton, CA
Louisiana Ella Clark 24 Baton Rouge
Maine Mykala Green 25 Biddeford
Maryland Holly Plank 35 Baltimore
Massachusetts Kayshauna Montaño[15] 28 West Springfield
Michigan Amber Uhler† 41 Tampa, FL
Minnesota Rachel Betterley[16] 35 Hastings Previously Miss Minnesota 2015 under her maiden name Rachel Latuff[17]
Mississippi Victoria Cantu† 27 Brownsville, TX
Missouri Madison Beck 22 Barnhart Previously Miss Missouri Teen USA 2023[18]
Top 20 at Miss Teen USA 2023
Montana Lisbeth Fernández† 28 Miami, FL
Nebraska Emily Lenser 25 Elkhorn
Nevada Natalie Bode 27 Las Vegas
New Hampshire Samantha LaBonne† 34 Southbury, CT Previously Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2011 under her maiden name Samantha Sojka
New Jersey Katarina Lengyel 25 Middletown
New Mexico Cara Rgnonti 26 Rio Rancho
New York Jenna Dykstra 30 New York City Previously Miss Supranational USA 2024
1st runner-up at Miss Supranational 2024
North Carolina Myla Hadley 24 Charlotte Originally first runner-up[c], later assuming the title after winner Brittany Boltinhouse was stripped of her title in August 2026 due to a violation of conduct.[8]
North Dakota Sophia Richards[19] 25 Hope Previously Miss North Dakota 2024[20]
Ohio Kayelin Tiggs† 34 Dayton
Oklahoma Annamaria Thomas[21] 22 Miami
Oregon Claire Wildey† 24 Clovis, CA
Pennsylvania Elizabeth Voight† 26 Fredericksburg
Rhode Island Victoria Cuartas 33 East Providence
South Carolina Victoria Vesce 33 Charleston
South Dakota Lexus Paulson 28 Sioux Falls
Tennessee Sydney Grace Young† 26 Clarksville
Texas Alexis Fuetsch† 20 San Antonio
Utah Alayzia Christopher 30 Park City
Vermont Katherine McQuade† 31 Whitestone, NY
Virginia Justus Kelley 31 Arlington
Washington Ellise Kakazu† 35 Pearl City, HI
West Virginia Alanna Lynch 25 West Liberty
Wisconsin Olivia Lulich[22] 23 Lyndon Station Previously Miss Wisconsin Teen USA 2020
Wyoming Melanie San Roman† 30 Austin, TX

† The chosen delegate was appointed from an Open Casting Call

Notes

  1. ↑ To be streamed only in the United States
  2. ↑ International, mainly Southeast Asia only including the Philippines
  3. 1 2 Hadley also competed in Miss Alabama USA and finished fifth runner-up.
  4. ↑ Kryst's mother April Simpkins, attended the legacy on her behalf
  5. ↑ Ages at the time of the pageant

References

  1. 1 2 3 "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | The CW Network Named Exclusive Broadcast Partner For Both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA 2026 Competitions on August 26–27". The Next Miss USA. June 23, 2026. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Justus Kelley of Virginia wins Miss USA and makes history". www.uppermichiganssource.com. August 28, 2026. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  3. ↑ Parent, Tabitha (August 27, 2026). "Miss USA 2026 Crowns Miss Virginia as Winner, Marking First Mom to Win Pageant". People (magazine). Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  4. ↑ "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |Miss USA Announces Adrienne Arsht Center as Miami 2026 Venue". The Next Miss USA. April 7, 2026. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  5. ↑ White, Peter (June 23, 2026). "Miss USA Returns To The CW Following Pageant Ownership Change". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  6. ↑ Konstantindes, Anneta (August 20, 2026). "Miss USA has been dropped by The CW network a week before the pageant". Business Insider. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  7. ↑ "2026 STATE PAGEANTS". Miss USA. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Kahn, Melina (August 6, 2026). "Miss North Carolina USA stripped of title weeks after win". USA Today. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Miss North Carolina USA stripped of crown weeks before national pageant". www.bbc.com. August 6, 2026. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  10. ↑ "2026 Open Call". Miss USA. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vulpo, Mike (August 24, 2026). "Meet the Hosts and Judges for Miss Teen and Miss USA 2026: Kelsey Swanson, Kylan Darnell and More (Exclusive)". US Weekly. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  12. ↑ Fellows, Charlie (July 7, 2026). "Juneau's first Miss Alaska USA winner helps raise awareness for suicide prevention". KTUU, Alaska’s News Source. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Good Day NWA: Miss AR USA & Miss AR Teen USA". KNWA FOX24. December 5, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  14. ↑ Kamoku, Keila; Unebasami, Trent (May 16, 2026). "Miss Hawaii USA 2026: Full list of winners". KHON-TV. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  15. ↑ Odiah, Areta (June 23, 2026). "West Springfield native Kayshauna Montaño crowned Miss Massachusetts USA 2026". WWLP. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Art teacher and mom crowned Miss Minnesota USA". KMSP-TV. June 19, 2026. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Hastings native wins Miss Minnesota pageant". www.hastingsstargazette.com. June 17, 2015. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  18. ↑ Caltrider, Mary (June 23, 2023). "Miss Missouri USA and Miss Missouri Teen USA stop by Show Me St. Louis". KSDK-TV. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  19. ↑ Larson, Chris (June 1, 2026). "From small town USA to Miss North Dakota USA, Hope's Sophia Richards to compete for Miss USA". WZFG. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Sophia Richards crowned Miss North Dakota 2024". NewsDakota.com. June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  21. ↑ Stogsdill, Sheila (June 17, 2026). "Ottawa County's Annamaria Thomas crowned Miss Oklahoma-USA". KODE-TV. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  22. ↑ Peters, Corey (June 3, 2026). "Viroqua agriculture teacher crowned 2026 Miss Wisconsin USA". WKBT-DT. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
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