Miss USA 2022: From journalists to reality TV stars, what the last 10 beauty queens are doing now
RENO, NEVADA: The Miss USA pageant is one of the most elite competitions in the beauty world. It sets the stage for the Miss Universe pageant, perhaps the most coveted choice for a beauty queen. The winner of Miss USA not only receives the title of Miss USA but also the chance to represent the United States at the Miss Universe pageant, where she will compete with beauties from around the world. The upcoming Miss USA 2022 has caused quite a stir with an incredible number of contestants vying for the crown.
The beauty pageant has seen its share of glorious moments, coupled with plenty of controversies. However, the organizers of the show claim that the sole purpose of these beauty pageants is to give women a chance to feel confident and beautiful while achieving their goals. Many brilliant women have stood on the stage of this glamorous competition and accomplished some truly impossible feats. For example, the defending champion of 2021, Elle Smith, or the current contestants Kiana Yamat and R'Bonney Gabriel. Let us take this opportunity to take a look at the last 10 winners of this elite pageant and see what they are currently doing.
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1. Elle Smith
Elle Smith was the first bi-racial candidate to win Miss Kentucky USA 2021. She graced the stage of Miss USA in 2021 and won the show with her brilliant response to the question of sustainability in the professional landscape. In her answer, Elle stated, "I think we've got to look at it from a macro level and also a micro level. So at the macro level, companies need to switch to green energy, I think that's something we can all agree on. On the micro level, we all know how to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and those are things that we can implement in our daily lives" Currently, Elle works as a journalist and reporter at WHAS11 in Louisville.
2. Asya Branch
Asya Branch was the first winner of Miss USA to hail from Mississippi. She's also the first black woman to be crowned Miss Mississippi. Asya is an advocate for children of incarcerated parents but was the subject of controversy for her ties to the 45th US President, Donald Trump after she performed at one of his rallies. She studied law at Harvard University but has decided against pursuing the career any longer. Asya owns a cruelty-free and vegan beauty line, which she promotes on social media.
3. Cheslie Kryst
In 2019 Cheslie Kryst won the title of Miss North Carolina USA and was crowned Miss USA 2019 in the following months. She was appointed as her firm's first diversity advisor in 2020 and worked as a New York correspondent for EXTRA TV. But tragedy struck when the former beauty queen fell to her death from a 60-story building in January 2022.
4. Sarah Rose Summers
The former Miss Nebraska USA won the title of Miss USA 2018. The child-life specialist tied the knot in October 2019 to husband Conner Combs. Currently, she stars in her podcast titled, 'More Than A Crown,' a lifestyle podcast where she tackles fundamental topics from dream chasing to dating and wellness.
5. Kara McCullough
In 2017 Kara McCullough was crowned Miss USA and represented the district of Columbia. With a Bachelor of Science degree, she works as a physicist. Kara married basketball player Garrett Temple and gave birth to their son in August 2020. She is now expecting their second child.
6. Deshauna Barber
Another queen from the district of Columbia, Dr Deshauna Barber was crowned Miss USA 2016. After her glorious win, she continued her work in the United States Army Reserve as Company Commander for a few years. In 2022 the beauty queen pursued a doctorate in organizational leadership from Norwich University and now works as a successful motivational speaker.
7. Olivia Jordan
The former Miss Oklahoma USA was crowned in 2015. Olivia Jordan is the only Miss USA from Oklahoma and has since married a man named Jay Hector, and the couple shares a daughter. She moved back home to Tulsa after the pageant.
8. Nia Sanchez
Crowned in 2014, Nia Sanchez is a former Miss Nevada. She married actor Daniel Booko and publicly spoke about the couple's infertility struggles. The couple now shares a baby boy, and while embracing motherhood, Nia also works as a pageant coach.
9. Erin Brady
Miss Connecticut 2013 was crowned Miss USA in the same year. She received an MBA degree in 2019 and works as a financial analyst. Erin married a man named Nick Colagiovanni in 2020. Erin is also the first Miss Connecticut to be crowned Miss USA.
10. Olivia Culpo
Olivia Culpo was Miss Rhode Island USA 2012 and won the Miss USA 2012 and Miss Universe 2012 title. Olivia is an influencer as well as a model and actor. Culpo had roles in the films The Other Woman, I Feel Pretty, Reprisal, and was cast as the female lead in Venus as a Boy. She is set to release an upcoming reality TV series in which she is the lead star. Olivia is dating panther’s running back Christian McCaffrey.
Miss USA 2022 is all set to premiere on Monday, October 3, 2022, at 8 pm ET and 5 pm PT.