Miss USA 2012
| Miss USA 2012 | |
|---|---|
| Date | June 3, 2012 |
| Presenters | Andy Cohen, Giuliana Rancic, Jeannie Mai, Kelly Osbourne |
| Entertainment | Akon, Cobra Starship |
| Venue | The AXIS, Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Broadcaster | NBC, Telemundo |
| Entrants | 51 |
| Placements | 16 |
| Winner |
Olivia Culpo Rhode Island |
| Congeniality |
Rebecca Hodge  Iowa |
| Photogenic |
Alaina Bergsma  Oregon |
Miss USA 2012, the 61st Miss USA pageant, was held on June 3, 2012, at the The AXIS in Las Vegas, Nevada. Alyssa Campanella of California crowned her successor Olivia Culpo of Rhode Island at the end of the event. Culpo represented the USA and won as the eighth American to win the Miss Universe.[1]
Pageant protocol forces Culpo to "resign" her Miss USA title in order to be Miss Universe. In this case, the first runner-up, Nana Meriwether, who competed as Miss Maryland USA 2012, inherited the Miss USA title. Meriwether became the first woman from Maryland to hold the Miss USA title; the first time a woman from Maryland won Miss USA was in 1957 with Mary Leona Gage who was dethroned shortly after winning.
The 50 states and the District of Columbia competed for the prestigious title. The pageant was televised live on NBC in the U.S.A. The full preliminary round, as well as highlights from the event, is available over Xbox Live via their YouTube and MSN applications.
For the first time, a question was solicited from Twitter for the final question asked of one of the five finalists. That question picked by the pageant organizers - "Would you feel it would be fair that a transgender woman wins the Miss USA title over a natural-born woman?" - was answered by the winner, Culpo.[2]
Controversy
Miss Pennsylvania USA Sheena Monnin claimed that the outcome was predetermined, a charge the organizing committee strongly denied, despite being corroborated by other contestants.[3] Monnin resigned from her title the day after the final, and was sued by the Miss Universe Organization for defamation, a lawsuit which they won in December, 2012.[4][5]
Results
| Final Results | Contestant |
| Miss USA 2012 | |
| 1st Runner-Up | |
| 2nd Runner-Up | |
| 3rd Runner-Up |
|
| 4th Runner-Up |
|
| Top 10 |
|
| Top 16 |
‡ Voted into Top 16 as America's Choice via Internet
∞ Culpo won Miss Universe 2012. Due to protocol, Culpo resigns her title as Miss USA 2012. 1st runner-up, Nana Meriwether, replaces her as Miss USA.
Special Awards
| Award | Contestant |
| Miss Congeniality |
|
| Miss Photogenic |
|
Delegates
| State | Name | Hometown | Age | Height | Placement | Notes |
 Alabama |
Katherine Webb | Phenix City | 23 | 5'11" | Top 10 | A "Featured Model" on the February 2012 issue of Sports Illustrated magazine. A "Guest Celebrity" on new reality show "Splash". |
 Alaska |
Jessica Kazmierczak | Salcha | 22 | 5'9" | ||
 Arizona |
Erika Frantzve | Scottsdale | 23 | 5'8" | ||
 Arkansas |
Kelsey Dow | Jonesboro | 21 | 5'7" | Top 16 | Voted into Top 16 as America's Choice via Internet/SMS Messaging |
 California |
Natalie Pack | Palos Verdes | 23 | 6'0" | Contestant on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 12 | |
 Colorado |
Marybel Gonzalez | Denver | 24 | 5'6" | Top 10 | |
 Connecticut |
Marie Lynn Piscitelli | North Haven | 26 | 5'6" | Previously Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2001 | |
 Delaware |
Krista Clausen | Georgetown | 19 | 5'6" | ||
 District of Columbia |
Monique Tompkins | Washington | 23 | 5'6" | ||
 Florida |
Karina Brez[6] | Wellington | 23 | 5'8" | Born in Ukraine | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Georgia |
Jasmyn "Jazz" Wilkins | Johns Creek | 21 | 5'11" | 4th Runner-Up | |
 Hawaii |
Brandie Cazimero | Kaneohe | 26 | 5'9" | ||
 Idaho |
Erna Palic | Boise | 25 | 5'7" | Born in Bosnia & Herzegovina | |
 Illinois |
Ashley Hooks | Flossmoor | 25 | 5'8" | ||
 Indiana |
Megan Myrehn | Carmel | 21 | 5'7" | Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2008, Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2008 | |
| Iowa |
Rebecca Hodge | Iowa City | 22 | 5'4" | ||
 Kansas |
Gentry Miller | Overland Park | 24 | 5'6" | Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2006, Top 10 at Miss Teen USA 2006 | |
 Kentucky |
Amanda Mertz | Louisville | 25 | 5'6" | ||
 Louisiana |
Erin Edmiston | Lafayette | 22 | 5'7" | Top 16 | |
 Maine |
Rani Williamson | Portland | 25 | 5'6" | Top 16 | Later resigned |
 Maryland |
Nana Meriwether | Potomac | 27 | 6'0" | 1st Runner-Up | Born in South Africa Later crowned Miss USA 2012 after Culpo won Miss Universe 2012 |
 Massachusetts |
Natalie Pietrzak | Boston | 26 | 5'9" | ||
 Michigan |
Kristen Danyal[7] | Detroit | 21 | 5'7" | Top 16 | Previously Miss Michigan Teen USA 2009, Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2009 |
 Minnesota |
Nitaya Panemalaythong | Savage | 26 | 5'8" | Born in Thailand | |
 Mississippi |
Myverick Garcia | Hattiesburg | 22 | 5'4" | ||
 Missouri |
Katie Kearney | St. Louis | 23 | 5'11" | ||
 Montana |
Autumn Muller[8] | Billings | 25 | 5'8" | Previously Miss Montana Teen USA 2004 | |
 Nebraska |
Amy Spilker | Malcolm | 22 | 5'8" | ||
 Nevada |
Jade Kelsall | Las Vegas | 26 | 5'9" | 3rd Runner-Up | |
 New Hampshire |
Ryanne Harms | Rochester | 23 | 5'7" | ||
 New Jersey |
Michelle Leonardo | Tinton Falls | 20 | 5'7" | Top 10 | Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2008. Miss Teen United States World - 2009 and 3rd Runner-Up at Miss Teen World 2009 |
 New Mexico |
Jessica Martin | Las Cruces | 21 | 5'6" | Previously Miss New Mexico Earth 2010, 2nd Runner Up at Miss Earth United States 2010 | |
 New York |
Johanna Sambucini | Brooklyn | 25 | 5'7" | Born in Dominican Republic | |
 North Carolina |
Sydney Perry | Wrightsville Beach | 21 | 5'7" | Previously Miss Vermont Teen USA 2008 | |
 North Dakota |
Jaci Stofferahn | Fargo | 23 | 5'6" | ||
 Ohio |
Audrey Bolte | Batavia | 23 | 5'10" | 2nd Runner-Up | |
 Oklahoma |
Lauren Lundeen | Edmond | 20 | 5'10" | Top 10 | |
| Oregon |
Alaina Bergsma | Eugene | 22 | 6'3" | ||
 Pennsylvania |
Sheena Monnin | Cranberry Township | 27 | 5'7" | Later resigned | |
| Rhode Island |
Olivia Culpo[9][10] | Cranston | 20 | 5'6"[11] | Miss USA 2012 | Later Miss Universe 2012 |
 South Carolina |
Erika Powell | Greenville | 27 | 5'6" | Top 16 | Previously Miss South Carolina 2005, Top 10 at Miss America 2006 |
 South Dakota |
Taylor Neisen | Rapid City | 20 | 5'9" | ||
 Tennessee |
Jessica Hibler | Nashville | 23 | 5'6" | Top 16 | |
 Texas |
Brittany Booker | Houston | 21 | 5'11" | Top 10 | |
 Utah |
Kendyl Bell | Sandy | 25 | 5'8" | ||
 Vermont |
Jamie Dragon | Stowe | 26 | 5'8" | ||
 Virginia |
Catherine Muldoon | Virginia Beach | 26 | 5'7" | Previously Miss New York Teen USA 2004, Top 10 at Miss Teen USA 2004 | |
 Washington |
Christina Clarke | Sammamish | 22 | 5'6" | ||
 West Virginia |
Andrea Rogers | Martinsburg | 24 | 5'11" | ||
 Wisconsin |
Emily Guerin[12] | Monroe | 23 | 5'6" | ||
 Wyoming |
Holly Allen[13] | Lander | 24 | 5'8" | ||
1 Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant
Judges
Preliminary Judges
- Michael Agbabian
- Cindy Barshop
- Stefan Campbell
- Renee Simon
- Alison Taub
- Kim Wagner
- Randall Winston
Final Judges
- Sol Vargas
- Ali Fedotowsky
- Arsenio Hall
- Marilu Henner
- Joe Jonas
- Rob Kardashian
- George Kotsiopoulos
- Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008 from Venezuela
Background Music
- Opening Fashion Show – "Turn Up the Radio" (Remix) by Madonna, and "LaserLight" by Jessie J featuring David Guetta (background music)
- Swimsuit Competition – "#1Nite (One Night)" and "You Make Me Feel..." by Cobra Starship (live performance)
- Evening Gown Competition – "Lights" (Original and instrumental versions) by Ellie Goulding (background music)
- Top 5 Final Look – "America's Most Wanted" by Akon (live performance)
Historical Significance
- Rhode Island won Miss USA for the 1st time. Later won Miss Universe 2012
- States that placed in the top 16 the previous year were Alabama, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
- Tennessee made its seventh straight placement.
- Alabama and Maine placed for the third consecutive year.
- Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas made their second consecutive placement. Maryland made its highest since Paulette Reck placed 1st Runner Up in 1968.
- Ohio last placed in 2006.
- Louisiana and Nevada last placed in 2007.
- New Jersey and Rhode Island last placed in 2008.
- Arkansas, Colorado, Michigan and Oklahoma last placed in 2010.
- Arkansas's Kelsey Dow made it past the first elimination due to new media technology (internet/SMS vote).
- Natalie Pack of California failed to place, breaking the state's 7 year placements.
Crossovers
1 contestant previously competed at Miss America 2006
- Miss South Carolina USA Erika Powell was previously Miss South Carolina 2005 and placed top 10 at Miss America 2006
1 contestant previously competed at Miss Earth United States
- Miss New Mexico USA Jessica Martin was previously Miss New Mexico Earth 2010 and second runner up at Miss Earth United States 2010
9 contestants previously competed at Miss Teen USA
- Miss Connecticut USA Marie-Lynn Piscitelli was previously Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2001
- Miss Indiana USA Megan Myrehn was previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2008 and placed top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2008
- Miss Kansas USA Gentry Miller was previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2006 and placed top 10 at Miss Teen USA 2006
- Miss Michigan USA Kristen Danyal was previously Miss Michigan Teen USA 2009 and placed top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2009
- Miss Montana USA Autumn Muller was previously Miss Montana Teen USA 2004
- Miss New Jersey USA Michelle Leonardo was previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2008
- Miss North Carolina USA Sydney Perry was previously Miss Vermont Teen USA 2008
- Miss Virginia USA Catherine Muldoon was previously Miss New York Teen USA 2004 and placed top 10 at Miss Teen USA 2004
References
- ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Miss USA 2012 is Olivia Culpo!". BeautyMania.Biz. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
- ↑ Miss USA 2012: Miss Rhode Island Takes the Crown
- ↑ http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47696589/ns/today-style/t/miss-usa-contestant-resigns-says-pageant-was-fixed/
- ↑ http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47696589/ns/today-style/t/miss-usa-contestant-resigns-says-pageant-was-fixed/
- ↑ http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/06/13/exclusive-second-miss-usa-contestant-says-overheard-list-top-5-finalists-before/
- ↑ "Wellington’s Karina Brez crowned new Miss Florida USA". The Palm Beach Post. July 16, 2011.
- ↑ Kristen Danyal Crowned Miss Michigan USA 2012
- ↑ Autumn Muller Crowned Miss Montana USA 2012
- ↑ Olivia Culpo Crowned Miss Rhode Island USA 2012
- ↑ Miss Rhode Island, Cranston's Olivia Culpo, wins Miss USA pageant
- ↑ Olivia Culpo: almost petite but absolutely beautiful
- ↑ Emily Guerin Crowned Miss Wisconsin USA 2012
- ↑ Holly Allen Crowned Miss Wyoming USA 2012