Miss USA 2023

Maryland reigns over all the others.

Oregon's a man, baby!

[quote] Miss USA contestant Juliana Morehouse on being the 1st married woman allowed in the competition: 'It's a really positive message'

When newlywed and reigning Miss Maine USA Juliana Morehouse competes Friday in this year's Miss USA pageant, she will be doing what no other contestant has done before. It's all thanks to a change in the rules made last year that allows married women to be part of the competition.

"I was relieved and I was excited, because it was like finally these two things that I really want aren't competing with each other anymore. I could have both," Morehouse tells Yahoo Entertainment. "And that was a really gratifying feeling for me."

Morehouse was engaged but, as as she says contestants regularly do, she was putting the wedding off until after the Miss Maine pageant. Because if she won eligibility for Miss USA, she wanted to continue on. So she was planning for the nuptials, but with the understanding that everything would be postponed if she won.

When she heard that her pageant dreams could come true even after she walked down the aisle, she and fiancé Taylor Reed Locklear, whom she'd dated since she was 17, became husband and wife. She wore a light-up tiara and her sash at the April reception.

Another major change for the pageant world is on the way. Officials behind Miss Universe, which has the same owner as Miss USA, announced this month that it would abolish age limits there, beginning in 2024.

All of this is a big deal because pageants have, traditionally, not been very inclusive.

Miss USA, which was first held in 1952 and has produced celebrities such as Halle Berry, Olivia Culpo and Ali Landry, also is overcoming a year of scandal, after multiple contestants alleged that the 2022 contest was rigged. An investigation found the allegations to be false, per WWD. The Washington Post reports that the pageant had been under the leadership of the company Miss Brands from 2020 to 2022, but it has now been returned to Miss Universe.

Laylah Rose, the fashion designer and member of the U.S. National Committee for United Nations Women, took over as president of Miss USA in August. She tells Yahoo Entertainment that she's in favor of the changes the Miss Universe Organization is making under Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, who purchased it last October. Jakrajutatip, the CEO of a media company and the host of Project Runway in in her native Thailand, is also a transgender activist who's transgender herself.

Rose tells Yahoo: "I think today that we have just pushed so far to be where we are and we worked so hard to be where we are, that it just boils down to not limiting females on any level."

She says that she doesn't know why the decision was ever made to limit who could compete, but she wholeheartedly supports the change.

Morehouse is deep into her preparations for her big night. It's intense.

"I'm practicing my walk, my stage presence," she says. "Practicing putting myself together — my hair and makeup, styling all my outfits for while I'm there — practicing interview questions, reading up on what's going on in the world, making sure I can articulate an opinion about different issues, really knowing myself and knowing what I stand for, and, most of all, getting in the right mental head space. Pageants are a lot like sports where you really have to have control of your mind. It's a mind game."

The advocate for the non-profit Alzheimer's Association is aware that, as she competes, little girls will be watching her, looking up to her even.

"I think it's a really positive message that, whatever your path in life, you can continue to pursue your goals, whether that's as single or married," Morehouse says. "Marriage, for a lot of people, is a really wonderful decision and it can be hard work, but it also really enrich your life. And so I think that it just puts marriage in a positive light for little girls watching the Miss USA pageant."

Her husband will be cheering her on from the audience.

[quote] Another major change for the pageant world is on the way. Officials behind Miss Universe, which has the same owner as Miss USA, announced this month that it would abolish age limits there, beginning in 2024.

Wait, what?

So you can be 40 or 50 and enter this pageant????

That is going to be total shit show. You're going to get Real Housewives applying!

Sounds like a total money grab. The more people you let in, the more entry fees you can collect. Even though most of them have no chance of winning.

North Dakota for me, even though Virginia is objectively the biggest smoke show. ND, Kansas, and CT are the only ones with some personality shining through their shots, with California cusping.

Did Indiana just send in her driver's licence?

Nebraska is what Melania wishes she looked like back in the day.

Miss Maine snagged herself a hottie!

^^^ More photos = better link.

^^^ Last post on this topic I promise. Here's a creepy quote from the bride herself:

"The summer before my junior year in high school, I ran into Taylor and his family at the Highland Country Club’s Sunday brunch buffet. We exchanged some friendly words and I continued into the dining room. Taylor’s dad, Wayne, came up to me a little bit later and essentially told me that I needed to “wait” for Taylor. He expressed that I needed to wait until I got a little bit older to date Taylor. At the time, I was fifteen years old and Taylor was dating another girl. So while I found his dad’s request flattering, I brushed it off."

r7 What the fuck? He all but told her his son is only using that girl's cooch for target practice and that she could marry into his family's money as soon as the son has gotten it all out of his system. Deplorable and disgusting.

I voted for Mrs. Richard Carlson.

This is so old and archaic, and in the spirit of gender equality, it should be eliminated in favor of the all-nude Mister USA 2023.

South Dakota is beautiful.

I like North Dakota and her afro.

85% of them look like porn stars.

They’re all really lovely but hooched up. Minnesota is the most stunning to me.

Miss Delaware looks like she's gonna cut a bitch.

Nebraska…wow.

This is the one where they don't have to have a talent, isn't it? They just have to look good. And get Photoshopped to another dimention, right?

I wonder what each one looks like right out of the shower without the hair and make up. They all look cheap and trashy.

But Miss USA and Miss Universe have always been cheap and trashy.

At least Miss America used to position itself as a scholarship program and required contestants to have some kind of talent.

I'm surprised that no one here cares that there will be no age limit on contestants, starting in 2024!!

That is going to be a trip.

Can you imagine a 50 year old competing next to a 22 year old? Or a 60 year old standing next to an 18 year old?

I mean, that's just ridiculous.

Miss Georgia is beautiful. I look at them and try to imagine what they actually look like, without benefit of wigs and Frankenstein makeup. These days the makeup is so heavy and the sheer artistry required to create the looks these women possess proves that just about anyone can appear 'model-beautiful'. Some of these pageant girls are in reality, just not much to look at. There are more than a few that you wouldn't look twice at if they passed you on the street.

What is it with the eyes on these dames? Too much, ladies... Unless you're hoping for the Terminix Miss Raccoon prize (a great fallback if your teeth are too jacked to be a contender for the Crest Smile Award)l

The South used to rule these competitions…but judging from MS and TN…maybe not anymore.

r19 Why are you so pressed over that, who gives a shit? People can be beautiful at any age and the one with the full package will win. This bizarre fixation on youth needs to go, it's very 20th century.

One can only hope for a snatching of the crown at the end.

Miss Teen USA is being held today.

Miss Teen is crowned Thursday, and Miss USA is crowned Friday.

Who will win the crown?

I say South Carolina, Tennessee, or Wisconsin.

Miss New Hampshire Teen said "fuck it" and sent in her mug shot.

Miss Teen Pennsylvania looks like a Party City wig advertisement.

Miss New Jersey looks like Rachel Zelger after being shot with a makeup gun set to “whore”.

Teen Tennessee is really cute—better chances than the “Miss” Tennessee.

I quit watching these years and years ago, but man was I into them for a while. Even Miss Teen. I remember when the “dorky” chick won and then went on to marry Pete Sampras.

Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Miss Teen USA 1990.

I'm sorry, but I will be watching the horror classic TRILOGY OF TERROR with the immortal Karen Black at 8 pm on MeTV!!

Shelley Hennig, Miss Teen USA 2004.

Teen Wolf fans would know her as "Malia Tate."

Miss Teen USA 2004, Allie LaForce.

ESPN reporter.

That's 8pm Eastern time on the "Svengoolie" program!

Miss Teen USA 1998, Vanessa (Minnillo) Lachey.

Married to Nick Lachey, and currently acting on NCIS: Hawaii.

[quote]Married to Nick Lachey, and currently acting on NCIS: Hawaii.

Married to Nick Lachey, and currently on NCIS: Hawaii.

Don't forget me!

I was staying at the hotel where the Miss Universe contestants were housed in St. Louis in 1983. I was shocked at how plain most of those national representatives looked in the lobby, and this was in full makeup and hair styling. Some were downright ugly. It didn't matter which continent they came from, my idea of what a beauty queen looks like was shattered.

These photos presented by Miss USA are photoshopped to death. These women do not really look like these images. I'll wait until the live pageant on TV to make a determination of who I believe will win.

Wow, the top five at Miss Teen USA was a total shit show!

Texas should have won.

And the one that did win, is ugly.

Watching the contestants on-stage and on-camera always makes a huge difference from still photos.

In the opening introductions, I really liked Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, DC, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Alaska was showing her cooch in her evening gown!

Honestly most of the contestants in Miss USA look like contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race.

California looks pretty good.

I like Oklahoma’s simple blond bob and black dress. She doesn’t have a chance though against all the other blonds who look like they are attending the Adult Video Awards.

Virginia is my top pick, but I’m never good at this.

Who won?

We all did, R43 .

I looked through all of the pictures and I like Miss North Dakota the best. She looks kooky and fun.

Miss Oregon looks like a Cher impersonator.

That's "MANJU!!"

"They sure are ugly!"

Who won?

Miss Washington is a dentist. "Samantha Gallia, 25, is an Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Resident at the University of Washington Medical Center." Why on earth would she participate?

Years ago I met a women who had been Miss Missouri in the 80's. A pageant that required talent. It paid for her entire college degree. She was attractive and well put together, but no real beauty. Her talent had been piano.

These women look they are in an infomercial for Only Fans.

I’m up to evening gown. They just need to stop now and give it to Virginia.

What a shit show. I am going back to not watching this for another 10 years.

I have no idea where this is even showing on media.

[quote]85% of them look like porn stars.

We have allowed ourselves to slip

We have completely lost our grip

We have declined to an all-time low

Tarts have become the set to know

Utah r49. She did the best with the question at the end.

The Melania lookalike won the Trump pageant.

Miss Texas looked shocked that she was fourth runnerup.

Utah, the winner was half Venezuelan. That is (or was) a real pageant crazed country. They often win Miss Universe.

My top 5 from the evening gown didn’t even make it:

Wash. Virg. Illinois S.Carol. Calif.

I picked Hawaii and DC from the start of the show as the ones to watch. I should have bet. My pick almost won.

I thought Illinois and Nevada had the look that could win Miss Universe. After they were eliminated, it had to be Utah. Venezuelans will love her. If she advances further in Miss Universe than Miss Vzla, they will be all in for Miss USA.

[quote] In the opening introductions, I really liked Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, DC, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Out of my 14 picks, 12 made the top 20!!!!

Am I good, or am I good???

Wisconsin should have won.

She is so gorgeous.

Who watches this stuff? I don’t get the attraction to it.

Who were those nobodies hosting?? Back in the day they had STARS like Sandy Duncan and Joan Van Ark!

The male host was Jordan Kimball R65, who appeared on The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise.

I had no idea who he was, so I had to look him up.

He totally pinged my gaydar off the charts!

But apparently, he just got married and also had a kid.

That shocked me.

I would suck his nipples through the shirt.

Lots of black girls.

I thought Miss Hawaii would get the sympathy vote for the win due to Maui burning down, although she is beautiful.

Venezuelan women are gorgeous.

Utah really rocked "the question."

There was a palpable roar of approval after she spoke. I knew she'd win then.

I too thought Hawaii would win what with the sympathy factor and her looks.

Wisconsin seemed like a grown up Jon Benet. (she spoke of pageants being her goal from a young age.

Hawaii was ugly.

And she acted like a major cunt all night. Her facial expressions made me hate her.

I have no idea how she made it to first runner-up, except that maybe it was a pity vote.