THE PRETHOUGHTS

FIRST ROUND PRETHOUGHTS (August 14, 2026)


Who will succeed Miss USA 2025, Audrey Eckert of Nebraska and be crowned Miss USA 2026??


We are back on the air! Last year, the 2025 Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants were streamed on the Queen Beauty Network website with some hiccups in the initial webcast with the main one being someone forgetting to mute commentator Taylor Hale's microphone which disrupted the first part of the livestream but a cleaned-up version of Miss USA 2025 later showed. This year, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA have returned to being broadcast on television once again on the CW network which also broadcasted the 2023 Miss USA and 2024 Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants. The 2023 Miss Teen USA pageant aired on the CW app. The days of pageants being aired on the major American networks (CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX) are long gone so we'll have to take what we can get.

AND we have some Gone-With-The-Wind Fabulous hosts this year! Kenya Moore-Miss USA 1993 and star of "Real Housewives of Atlanta" will be co-hosting the 2026 Miss USA pageant with Ian Ziering of Beverly Hills 90210 fame. Ian is no stranger to the pageant world as he was a judge for Miss America 1999 and Miss USA 2014 and even Ian's ex-wife Nikki was a judge for Miss USA 2002. This will be Kenya and Ian's first time hosting Miss USA so it will be interesting to see how this turns out!
All competitions take place at the will take place at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts (specifically in the Ziff Ballet Opera House) in Miami, Florida.
State Costume Presentations for both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA are on August 24.
August 25 is preliminary competition day for both Miss Teen USA and Miss USA.
Miss Teen USA FINAL Competition is on August 26 at 5 p.m. PST
Miss USA FINAL Competition is on August 27 at 5 p.m. PST
Watch Miss USA 2026 on the CW at 5 p.m.(Pacific Standard Time)/8 p.m.(Eastern Standard Time)!


For now, here are my highly anticipated First Round Prethoughts!



Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend


With 2026 being the 75th Miss USA pageant, we are celebrating the diamond anniversary of this beloved pageant which also means honoring the former titleholders that held this prestigious title. Many of the titleholders were invited to Miami so we are expecting some sort of showcasing of these titleholders during the telecast. I hope. Even though Miriam Stevenson-Miss USA and Miss Universe 1954 is the oldest living of all the Miss USA and Miss Universe titleholders, at age 93, she is not expected to attend as she may be deemed too elderly to travel. However, Myrna Hansen-Miss USA 1953 (who is one year younger than Miriam) is 92 years of age and is expected to attend and be the oldest in attendance for the 75th anniversary. You will remember that Myrna was featured as a guest of honor at the 2024 Miss USA pageant. Of the 9 Miss USA's that won Miss Universe, rumor has it that none of them may show up. Three are deceased: Sylvia Hitchcock (won in 1967 but passed in 2015), Linda Bement (won in 1960 but passed in 2018) and Chelsi Smith (won in 1995 and passed in 2018). Carol Morris who won both Miss USA and Miss Universe 1956 is 90 years of age but she hasn't attended any Miss Universe pageants for a long time. Shawn Weatherly who won both titles in 1980 also is not expected to attend.

Reunions are fun!


Former Miss USA titleholders attend the 1986 Miss USA pageant (from back to front, left to right: Mai Shanley-1984, Barbara Peterson-1976, Mary Therese Friel-1979, Kim Tomes-1977, Terri Utley-1982, Julie Hayek-1983, Jineane Ford-1980, Bobbi Johnson-1964, Maria Remenyi-1966, Sue Downey-1965, Marite Ozers-1963, Linda Bement-1960, Cheryl Patton-1967, Miriam Stevenson-1954, Charlotte Sheffield-1957, Sharon Brown-1961 and Laura Martinez-Herring-1985



Former Miss USA titleholders attend the 2001 Miss USA pageant (from left to right, back row to front row: Marite Ozers-1963, Summer Bartholomew-1975, Charlotte Sheffield-1957, Terry Huntingdon-1959, Gretchen Polhemus-1989, Cheryl Patton-1967, Bobbi Johnson-1964, Mary Therese Friel-1979, Barbara Peterson-1976, Kim Tomes-1977)



Former Miss USA titleholders attend the 2011 Miss USA pageant (from left to right, back row to front row: Karen Morrison-1974, Jineane Ford-1980, Barbara Peterson-1976, Bobbi Johnson-1964, Wendy Dascomb-1969, Marite Ozers-1963, Brook Lee-1997, Sue Downey-1965, Rachel Smith-2007, Terri Utley-1982, Julie Hayek-1983, Judi Andersen-1978, Gretchen Polhemus-1989, Carole Gist-1990, Terry Huntingdon-1959, Tara Conner-2006, Kim Tomes-1977, Tanya Wilson-1972, Miriam Stevenson-1954, Myrna Hansen-1953, Shannon Marketic-1992, Sylvia Hitchcock-1967, Kristen Dalton-2005, Brandi Sherwood-1997, Kandace Krueger-2001, Shanna Moakler-1995, Alyssa Campanella-2011, Kenya Moore-1993, Paula Shugart, Shandi Finnessey-2004, Chelsea Cooley-2005 and Charlotte Sheffield-1957

However, the more recent winners are possibilities like Brook Lee who won both titles in 1997, Olivia Culpo won in 2012 and R'Bonney Gabriel won in 2022 so she is the most likely to appear. Several formers appeared in 2011 for the 60th anniversary and there was a memorable moment with a montage then capturing all of them sitting together in the audience which was a very good way to give us a glimpse of all of them which put the 50th anniversary in 2001 to shame when there was just a quick shot of a few formers sitting in the audience. I hope they have an excellent way to showcase the formers this year and I think under the management of Thom Brodeur that it likely will happen. I feel like some formers that will show are: Cheryl Patton-Miss USA 1967 (originally 2nd runner up but inherited the crown when Sylvia Hitchcock won Miss Universe and 1st runner up, Susan Bradley declined), Tanya Wilson-Miss USA 1972. Miss USA 1989-Gretchen Polhemus Jensen is on staff with the current Miss USA organization so naturally she will be there. Of course, Kenya Moore-Miss USA 1993 is hosting but many of the more recent titleholders should show. Shandi Finnessey-Miss USA 2004 still looks unbelievably amazing at age 48 being a wife and mother of three sons and Shandi even had a recent swimsuit photoshoot with Fadil Berisha.

Shandi Finnessey-Miss USA 2024 still looking like perfection during a 2026 photoshoot with Fadil Berisha.

There will be a Yacht Celebration on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, aboard the Seafair Mega Yacht featuring legacy titleholders, live music, an open bar, and custom hors d'oeuvres. Of course, we will know who shows and who doesn't during the telecast on August 27 but I am curious to see if those formers that didn't show in 2011 will show in 2026 and who will be missing this time. Time rolls on and youth is gone and you can't straighten up when you bend but stiff back or stiff knees, you stand straight at Tiffany's. Diamonds, diamonds, I don't mean rhinestones! But diamonds are a girl's best friend.



Living At Large

Remember last year when 8 states were left directorless after the onslaught of former state director resignations resulting in a last minute open casting being held for those remaining states and with less than one month to go (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming) with many of the representatives chosen actually being from other states? Well, guess what? There were even more open castings this year and one very notable one which will be discussed in the next article. This year, the directorless states that resulted in at large open castings increased and those states are: the same 8 as last year (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming) with 4 more: Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania (which are new this year and were formerly directed by Melissa Proctor-Miss Ohio USA 1990) and another 3: Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee(which are new this year and were formerly directed by Kim Greenwood-Miss Tennessee USA 1989) and a big one: Texas (which was directed by Will Henderson who took over from the Crystal Group's Al and Gail Clark in 2022) so yes, the number of open casting states doubled this year to 16. It has been said by current Miss USA leadership that the state directorship issue should hopefully be resolved for the 2027 season and we will see normal state pageants like we used to. We will talk about 13 of the delegates selected via open casting in this article and 3 others in the next 3 articles.

Colorado's Jordyn Owen is 30 years of age and hails from Catalina Foothills in Arizona. Jordyn is quite an example of persistence since she has been competing in pageants for 23 years. If you can believe it, Jordyn was a runner-up at Miss Arizona USA a whopping six times from 2021 to 2026 and she even hopped to California placing as a semifinalist there in 2021. Now, persistent Jordyn has been awarded the Miss Colorado USA title and will finally fulfill her dream of competing on the Miss USA stage. Jordyn holds a Master's degree of Science specializing in Sports Medicine from the University of Arizona.

Georgia's Jade Kircus is a 36-year-old from Franklin, Tennessee and she is a mother and navy veteran but she doesn't appear to have much of a pageant history and maybe the judges might find that refreshing?

Idaho's Katie Tetreault is actually from the state she represents living in the city of Eagle. She made three attempts to win her state title not placing in 2016, then placing as 3rd runner up in 2021 and 1st runner up in 2024 and as fate would have it, Katie at age 31 is now representing her state of Idaho at Miss USA! She is a Vice President of Marketing and Events for the Societe Privee and founded Achieve Now and Notes to Self.

Kentucky's Brijet Finister is originally from Stockton, California and even placed as a semifinalist for Miss California USA 2017. Now at age 36, Brijet finally has her chance to walk the Miss USA stage. Brijet danced in dance teams for the NFL and NBA and she is a a licensed Financial Coach and founder of Pretty Pensions, the first and only Feminine Finance Academy.

Mississippi's Victoria Cantu is actually from Edinburg, Texas. Gasp! Cantu?? Is she any relation to former Miss Universe owner in hiding, Raul Rocha Cantu??? I haven't heard anything but if she wins, it will look suspicious! I'm kidding...or am I? Victoria recently announced she has joined CBS 4 and NBC 23 as a weekend news anchor serving the Rio Grande Valley. Apart from broadcasting, she is also a Mississippi State University Pilates instructor and owner of Secret Sculpt Studio.

Montana's Lisbeth Fernandez should feel right at home during the competition as she is from this year's host city, Miami, Florida! She was previously a non-finalist at Miss Florida USA 2026 but was 1st runner-up at Miss Cuba Universe 2025. She is an entrepreneur, an international motivational speaker, and a woman of faith. She earned a degree in Theology from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has delivered leadership conferences throughout Latin America. Lisbeth is also studying Government Intelligence at Liberty University. Her long-term goal is to work in diplomacy and international relations. She hopes one day to represent the United States as an ambassador.

Ohio's Kayelin Tiggs is actually from Ohio! Hailing from Dayton, Kayelin holds a Master of Arts in Applied Psychology from the University of Cincinnati, where her research exposed period poverty and reproductive injustice in Ohio's prison system. That work led to her authorship of HB29, legislation that makes it illegal to withhold menstrual products as a form of punishment or discrimination in all Ohio correctional facilities. Kayelin has an interesting pageant history too as she went unplaced at Miss Ohio USA 2017, was a semifinalist at Miss Ohio USA 2018 and 2019 but reached 4th runner-up at Miss Kentucky USA 2020. Now at age 34, a distinguished and achieved Kayelin has been appointed to represent her state so let's see how she does!

Oregon's Claire Wildey is from Clovis, California and she even placed among the semifinalists of the 2026 Miss California USA won by Acacia McBride. Claire is 24 and models professionally in California.

Pennsylvania's Elizabeth Voight is 26 years old and actually lives in Pennsylvania in the city of Fredericksburg and was 1st runner up to Miss Pennsylvania 2023 and 2024 so her being appointed to represent Pennsylvania this year seems like a natural choice. She is a first grade teacher in the Cornwall-Lebanon School District and is pursuing a Master's degree as a Reading Specialist.

Tennessee's Sydney Grace Young actually lives in Tennessee from Clarksville which is the city that Miss USA 2007, Rachel Smith represented when she won her state title prior to her national win. Sydney is 26 years of age and previously competed for Miss Tennessee USA going unplaced in 2023 and 2024 but getting 2nd runner up in 2025 so it looks like Sydney's experience is paying off!

Vermont's Katherine McQuade was raised in Whitestone, New York. She also has previous pageant experience going unplaced at Miss New York Teen USA 2014 but placing as a semifinalist at Miss New York USA 2020 and 2021. Katherine is a model, author, advocate, four-time national ti­tleholder, and professional working as a Client Relations Specialist at a New York City national law firm. She recently published her storytelling coloring book, "Dexter the Dyslexic" which encour­ages children to dream big no matter the challenges they face. Katherine graduated Magna Cum Laude from Marymount Man­hattan College in New York City, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in 2018 in Communications Arts, with a concentration in Creative Media and a minor in Photography.

Washington's Ellise Kakazu is from Pearl City, Hawaii which is the same city that former Miss Universe, Brook Lee hails from so maybe another Pearl City girl will be the pearl??? Ellise is 35 years of age and has competed multiple times for the Miss Hawaii USA title placing 1st runner up in both 2017 and 2018, semifinalist in 2025 and 4th runner-up in 2026 but she now has her chance. Ellise is a mental health advocate and board member of the Hawaii chapter of Postpartum Support.

Wyoming's Melanie San Roman is from Austin, Texas and is 30 years old and she also has competed in the USA system many times going unplaced at Miss Texas USA 2024 and 2025, placing as a semifinalist in Miss Arizona USA 2025 and placing as 2nd runner up at Miss New Mexico USA 2026 before being assigned to represent Wyoming.

We will discuss the other three open casting delegates but you'll notice that of these 16 open casting delegates, the ones actually from their states are: Idaho, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas. I'm sure a lot of people are shocked to see Texas on this list and the story of how this became an open casting state will be discussed in the next article and the following articles will discuss the delegates representing Michigan and New Hampshire...



Who's Choosin' Texas? I Can Tell!


Alexis is from Texas, I can tell by the way he's two steppin' 'round the room...
The Miss Texas USA pageant has long been described as a time-honored tradition and during its heyday when Richard Guy and Rex Holt known as the team GuyRex held directorship of the state starting in 1975 and all their Texan titleholders placed until the very end in 1991 when Chris Bogard finished in a disturbing 39th place at Miss USA 1991. 6 Miss USA's from Texas were crowned during GuyRex's tenure and they were Kim Tomes in 1977 and the Five Aces when Texas won an unprecedented five years in a row thanks to Laura Martinez Herring in 1985, Christy Fichtner in 1986, Michelle Royer in 1987, Courtney Gibbs in 1988 and Gretchen Polhemus in 1989. GuyRex stopped directing the Miss Texas USA pageant in 1990 after a falling-out and legal battle with the parent company, Miss Universe Inc. (then owners of Miss USA), following the non-renewal of their Miss California USA franchise agreement so it looks like Chris Bogard's low placement at Miss USA 1991 was the powers that be making their powers known. GuyRex would divert and take the franchise for Miss World America and Mexico from 1992 and 1994 and they staged pageants crowned the Miss World representative for the USA and Mexico from 1992 to 1994 but after Kristie Harmon went unplaced at Miss World 1994, GuyRex then advanced in age opted to stop staging pageants and the American Miss World contestants for 1995 to 1997 were appointed by GuyRex. The Miss World USA franchise went to Hirsh Wilck in 1998 and he selected Shauna Gambill, Miss Teen USA 1994 who later placed as 1st runner up at Miss USA 1998 and Shauna would finish in the top 10 of Miss World 1998. Richard Guy passed away on November 20, 2019 at age 80 and Rex Holt passed away on September 25, 2015 at age 74. Miss Texas USA was directed by Al and Gail Clark from 1992 to 2022 handing the reigns to Will Henderson, also known as the Pageant Guy, and his first Miss Texas USA, R'Bonney Gabriel would go on to win Miss USA 2022 and Miss Universe 2022. However, reminiscent of the GuyRex era, beauty pageants can turn ugly behind the scenes. Thom Brodeur who took ownership of Miss USA in 2025 under the company name of BDE Miss USA LLC took this case to court saying that Will Henderson's company The Pageant Guy Productions LLC previously held limited-term licenses to operate Miss Texas USA pageants for the 2022-24 seasons. BDE became the exclusive interim operator for the Miss USA pageant and licensee of associated intellectual property rights in September 2025. In its May 27 complaint, BDE alleged that Henderson continued to plan a July pageant in Houston even after Pageant Guy's pageant license expired. The judge ruled in Thom Brodeur's favor and Will Henderson could no longer use the trademarked "Miss Texas USA" title for his pageant which was scheduled for July but didn't happen. Will argued that most state directors had their licences expire in 2024. The result that shocked many pageant followers worldwide was that for the first time in a very long time, there was no Miss Texas USA pageant for 2026 and Texas' delegate for Miss USA 2026 was selected via the open casting process and the Miss USA team is Choosin' Texas, I can tell... The delegate they chose is Alexis Maxine Fuetsch who is this year's youngest contestant competing at the age of 20. She hails from San Antonio and placed as 3rd runner up for Miss Texas Teen USA 2024. She attends the University of Texas, Austin majoring in public relations and describes herself as a youth mentor, photographer and advocate for Children's Rehabilitation Institute TeletonUSA. Texas is easily the most successful state in Miss USA history boasting 10 winners including 2 that went on to win Miss Universe: the late Chelsi Smith in 1995 and R'Bonney Gabriel for 2022. Will Alexis succeed at Miss USA and erase the controversy behind how she was selected? It doesn't take a crystal ball to see!



Fat To Fit


Michigan's Amber Uhler lost 160 pounds since 2021 and previously won Mrs. Florida USA 2024 and Mrs. Universe USA 2025

Michigan's Amber Uhler is this year's oldest contestant competing at age 41 but she has lived quite the life. She also actually lives in Tampa, Florida but she is very experienced in pageantry having won Mrs. Florida Universe 2024 and then Mrs. Universe USA 2025 and she did this after she battled weight loss as she nearly weighed 300 pounds in 2021 and she stood at a crossroads as she was becoming more physically exhausted and emotionally depleted but her dream of competing in pageants never died. This determined mother of three decided to turn her life around and lived a disciplined life to get in shape and fulfill her dream of competing in pageants. Amber says she did it in small steps by doing daily walks, making better food choices and crying through workouts and committing herself to this pattern over three long years despite obstacles and failures. She overcame her struggles and gradually became the fit woman she is today. She took risks by competing in pageants and she found that more rewarding than winning a crown and the risk of showing up day after day with no guarantee and betting on herself made her whole and self-fulfilled and she believes taking the scariest risks are the ones that set you free. She started competing in pageants to share her message that you are not too much and you are never too late. She is now a motivational speaker and her keynote called 'Shedding Limits' shares how we can let go of the physical, emotional, and mental baggage holding us back and claim the boldest version of ourselves. Amber is also an advocate for swim safety and drowning prevention after almost drowning herself. One day, she decided to jump in a foam pit when she took her kids to a trampoline amusement park. She didn't realize her weight would hold her down and after much struggle, three people had to help her out and she had a panic attack in front of her children. Amber would later save a child from drowning in 2022 and in 2024, she successfully advocated for legislation in Florida that now provides free swim lessons for children under five in the state of Florida collaborating with international water safety organizations to raise awareness and inspire action. Amber jumped into that same foam pit after losing weight with her kids and climbed out with ease and she overcame her fears. Amber has a great story so she is definitely one to watch.

Michigan's Amber Uhler is crowned Mrs. Universe USA 2025 after winning Mrs. Florida USA 2024





Whoa-oh-oh-oh
For The Longest Time!

I should say pageantry hasn't been there for the longest time but this article is about something different... With the age limits eliminated as of the 2024 season, it was only a matter of time before we broke the record from the longest gap for a contestant competing in Miss Teen USA and then Miss USA. That record used to belong to two women: Maine's Ashley Lynn Marble who represented her state going unplaced at Miss Teen USA 2000 but 11 years later, Ashley would represent Maine at Miss USA 2011 making the top 8. The next year, Connecticut's Marie Lynn Piscitelli represented Connecticut at Miss Teen USA 2001 going unplaced and 11 years later, she represented Connecticut at Miss USA 2012 again going unplaced and making a notable pouty face during the introduction of the 2012 Miss USA competition set to the song "Lights" by Ellie Goulding. Coincidentally, both Ashley and Marie had the middle names "Lynn" so maybe that was a sign. Well, with the age limits gone in 2024, Ashley and Marie's records have been comfortably broken by Samantha Sojka-LaBonne. Samantha Sojka was Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2011 going unplaced at Miss Teen USA 2011 and now, 15 years later, Samantha is competing for Miss USA 2026 at the age of 34 under her married name, Samantha LaBonne and she was an open casting delegate chosen to represent New Hampshire. Samantha has made multiple attempts to win her state title placing as 3rd runner-up at Miss Connecticut USA 2026, 2nd runner-up in 2025, 1st runner-up in 2018, semifinalist in 2017, 1st runner-up in 2016 and 4th runner-up in 2015. She was even 4th runner up to Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2010 prior to her Teen win in 2011. Samantha is one persistent and determined woman! Samantha has a young son and daughter and she describes herself as a dancing queen and pageant mentor having extensive experience. With Samantha's participation in Miss USA 15 years after her stint at Miss Teen USA 2011, we can only wonder if this record will soon be broken and if we will see more candidates like this and perhaps even Teen USA delegates from the 80s! We haven't been there for the longest time!



Supra Troupra
Lights Are Gonna Find Me


Jenna Dykstra is representing the state of New York and she should look familiar to most pageant followers as Jenna recently placed as 1st runner up at the 2024 Miss Supranational pageant representing the USA. The 2024 Miss Supranational title went to Indonesia's Harashta Haifa Zahra. Jenna was a standout in the Miss Supranational competition given her modelesque height and amazing looks so with her experience representing the USA on an international stage, will this glamazon capture the Miss USA title and dominate at the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico? During the opening ceremony of the 2024 Miss Supranational pageant, Jenna greeted the audience saying, "Good evening, everybody. My name is Jenna Dykstra and I am a board-certified physician associate. I'm also truly passionate about fighting human trafficking. An interesting fact about me is that I recently started a perfume oil business and also, I am Polish, Dutch, German, Finnish and Czechoslovakian ao I proudly represent both the diversity and the opportunity that awaits you in the United States of America! Thank you!" When announced into the top 12, Jenna gave a speech saying, "Good evening. As a physician associate and a business owner, I believe that I represent the ability of women everywhere to excel in positions of power and leadership while also embracing their beauty and femininity. I hope to use this platform to always inspire others to choose courage over comfort every day." When called into the final 5, Jenna was shown three childhood photos of herself and she said, "Oh my gosh. How did I know they would choose that one? Well, what I would tell especially her, I would tell that version of myself to keep going and remember that it always gets better and something that I live by is the quote that every rejection is a redirection and sometimes God's plan for you is bigger than your own plan and so with that in mind, you can get up every morning and know that you're moving in the right direction regardless of if you think it's the right or the wrong way. Either way, it's God's plan." Jenna was a very gracious runner-up at Miss Supranational hugging the chosen delegate from Indonesia but like she said, maybe it's God's plan that she become Miss USA and possibly Miss Universe! New York has won the crown three times: the first Miss USA was the late Jackie Loughery who won in 1952 and passed away in 2024, Mary Therese Friel won in 1979, Kimberly Pressler won in 1999 and Shanna Moakler inherited the 1995 Miss USA crown after Texas' Chelsi Smith won Miss Universe 1995. Is it time again for the Empire State?



Here Comes the McBride


California is sending us an outstandingly natural beauty in Acacia McBride who currently lives in Los Angeles but is from Starkville, Mississippi. Acacia currently works as a prestigious Wilhelmina model and has a strong social media presence and is a digital creator who regularly discusses topics relating to beauty, fashion, entertainment and lifestyle. At age 28, Acacia has extensive experience in pageantry achieving high placements multiple times. She was 1st runner-up at Miss Utah USA 2024, unplaced at Miss California USA 2023, 3rd runner-up at Miss California USA 2022, 2nd runner-up at Miss California USA 2021, semifinalist at Miss Mississippi USA 2019, 2nd runner-up at Miss Mississippi USA 2018, 2nd runner-up at Miss Mississippi USA 2017 and 2nd runner-up Miss Mississippi Teen USA 2016. Acacia has worked long and hard to achieve her dream of competing on the Miss USA stage and that dream came true! Acacia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass media arts from Clark Atlanta University. She has been featured in international campaigns for major beauty brands like Sephora, Too Faced, and Beauty Blender. She is even an entrepreneur who operates as the founder of a chauffeur and luxury transit business. She is also dedicated advocate for Autism awareness driven by her deep bond with her younger brother on the autism spectrum, leading her to establish support and walking initiatives. With all these factors working in Acacia's favor, she is definitely one to watch. California has the second most Miss USA's after Texas winning the Miss USA crown in almost each decade! The 6 winners are: Terry Lynn Huntingdon (1959), Maria Remenyi (1966), Summer Bartholomew (1975), Julie Hayek (1983), Shannon Marketic (1992) and Alyssa Campanella (2011) leaving the 2000s vacant for a Californian Miss USA but there's still time in the 2020s so is Acacia going to be hard like wood and show off her grit, stamina and determination and simply let nothing get in her way of being the chosen one to wear the coveted Miss USA crown???



North Carolina Goes South?

I couldn't really think of a good title for this one but I'm sure a lot of people have heard that the original winner of Miss North Carolina USA 2026, Brittany Boltinhouse has been dethroned and in her place, the 1st runner up, Myla Hadley is being sent to represent North Carolina at Miss USA 2026. Myla assumed the title on August 5 and she does have an extensive pageant history placing 4th runner-up at Miss Alabama USA 2026, 1st runner-up Miss North Carolina USA 2026 then assuming the title, 4th runner-up at Miss Georgia Teen USA 2021 and 2020 and 3rd runner-up at Miss Georgia Teen USA 2019. North Carolina has claimed three Miss USA crowns thanks to Chelsea Cooley in 2005, Kristen Dalton in 2009 and the late Cheslie Kryst in 2019. Back to Brittany, the Miss USA organization stated the decision for Brittany to step down as Miss North Carolina USA 2026 was made jointly with the titleholder, her state directors and the organization following what it described as conduct that violated its standards. In a statement online, Thom Brodeur posted that the Miss USA organization does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia nor language that strips any person of their dignity - whoever they are. That is not a policy written for a press release. It is the floor of what it means to represent this brand. The North Carolina news outlet NCBeat reported that Boltinhouse's resurfaced social media posts showed her freely using the N-word under the username Sosa the Stallion between 2017 and 2019. Brittany is taking legal action saying she believes she was stripped of her title because of her political stance and belief system as a conservative Christian woman and that every teenager has made a mistake and she is here to talk about the woman she is today. Things may have happened a decade ago, but she says she is the hardworking woman who stood up there and won Miss North Carolina USA fair and square.
We shall see what exactly happens with this in the future but as of right now, Myla Hadley will be representing North Carolina so let's see how she fares.



Is Anyone Slicker And Sicker Than Sickler? Still??


Mary Sickler who represented the state of Nevada for Miss USA 2025 after a quick statehop from placing as 1st runner up at Miss Texas USA 2025. Mary is one of those ladies that made multiple attempts to get to the Miss USA stage. She placed previously as 2nd runner up at Miss Texas USA 2024, 1st runner up at Miss Texas USA 2023, semifinalist at Miss Nebraska USA 2022, 2nd runner up at Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2019, 3rd runner up at Miss Texas Teen USA 2019 and a semifinalist at Miss Texas Teen USA 2018. Mary's pageant experience just goes to show you that persistence pays off. Despite this strong pageant history, Mary has the worst kept secret among this year's candidates. She has revealed that she was diagnosed with alopecia in December 2024 and that her complete hair loss had resulted in a loss of many things including her job, her passion for pageantry and her self-confidence. She decided that she would not be defeated and gave another go at pursuing her dream of making it to the Miss USA stage. Mary came very close to winning the coveted lonestar state crown of Miss Texas USA but when she finished as 1st runner up, she did not let that deter her. At age 22, Mary did the quick state hop from Texas and moved to Las Vegas in the silver state of Nevada and won the 2025 Miss Nevada USA title and was last year's host delegate and she wore a wig during both pageants and did not disclose her situation when competing so that is a testament to the strength of this candidate.
On the 8th of September, Mary revealed her alopecia diagnosis making her the first Miss USA candidate in history to publicly do so and exposed the truth underneath the wig, the make-up and the glamour. It started happening with alopecia areata which is where certain patches of hair usually in a circular pattern start to fall off the head. Medical treatment did not help as she tried steroid shots. The doctor said they tried everything they could but the condition only got worse and turned into alopecia universalis resulting in almost full body hair loss even experience loss of parts of her eyelashes and eyebrows and she eventually had to microblade her eyebrows and put on false eyelashes. As for Mary, her hair just kept falling out with every brush of the hair and every shower to the point that she was left with a few patches of hair and after the alopecia diagnosis, Mary's mother encouraged her to shave it all off. This may have led to temporary loss of modelling jobs but Mary is still a gorgeous woman without her hair as we can see and we have seen other pageant contestants sport the bald look like Persis Khambatta-Miss India 1965 who starred in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)" playing the role of the bald Deltan navigator, Lieutenant Ilia and we will also recall Tanzania's Flaviana Matata who was an easy favorite but finished in 6th place at Miss Universe 2007 also looking stunning sporting the hairless look.
Mary's modelling contract was revoked as a result of her not having any professional activity for several months as she experienced depression and a lack of confidence thinking that she wouldn't get modelling jobs after having just patches of hair left and she kept the secret from her workplace and friends and only her family knew what was happening but after experiencing this deep depression, Mary happened upon a sermon online in which the priest that balding isn't a person's fault. Those words brought about a change within Mary and she realized she is beautiful without hair. It has often been said in pageants that beauty starts from within but she kept her secret while competing in the Texas and Nevada state pageants learning how to glue in fake eyelashes without the glue seeping into her eye and learning about lace-360 wigs that can be glued on any part of the head. Mary also believes that God was saving her for this moment and that she experienced losses prior to the Miss Nevada USA win as this moment and her experiences will inspire millions of men and women and that is why she decided to share her story and she revealed on social media on September 8th about her alopecia and she feels that it has given her purpose and has given her more confidence and bravery to share her truth. We didn't see a dramatic ruveal last year like I was hoping where she snatched off her wig to reveal her hairless head or perhaps another wig underneath similar to the style of RuPaul's Drag Race runner-up, Brooke Lynn Hytes.
Mary would settle for 4th runner up at Miss USA 2025 but the story doesn't end there. Mary competed for the Miss World USA title and finished 1st runner up to Jade Glab but Jade faced intense scrutiny and online backlash from internet users after sharing posts highlighting her volunteer work at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Museum, which included imagery and associations that some online groups viewed as politically sensitive regarding the history of the Vietnam War. To shield her from potential harassment and backlash ahead of the event hosted in Vietnam, the organization shifted her placement to the 2027 Miss World to be held in Tanzania while allowing her to continue her charitable work with veterans. This opened the door for Mary Sickler to represent the USA at Miss World 2026 and Mary is in Vietnam right now and is a huge favorite and her story should be right in sync with what the owner of Miss World, Julia Morley wants! Will Mary win Miss World 2026? We'll find out on September 5th!







So as of August 13, Tom's tentative top 5 for Miss USA 2026 are:
1. New York
2. California
3. Michigan
4. Alabama
5. Minnesota

Will my top 5 change over the coming weeks or will they stay the same?
On August 21, I will post a second round of prethoughts with comments on each of the 51 delegates competing for Miss USA 2025 and then after observing the preliminaries on August 25, I will post my final predictions in the morning of August 27 and then later that night is when the new Miss USA is selected. Who will be the chosen one?


Watch Miss USA 2026 on the CW network on August 27 at 5 p.m.(Pacific Standard Time)/8 p.m.(Eastern Standard Time)!