MEAWW.COM / ENTERTAINMENT / TV

Miss USA 2020: Who are the judges? Meet the experts from 1999 winner Kimberly Pressler to 2000 winner Lynnette Cole

This year, the judges’ table features a number of self-made entrepreneurs and girl bosses who truly inspire the future generation to write their own story

The final night of the glamorous Miss USA 2020 is upon us in just a few hours, and Cheslie Kryst, the winner of Miss USA 2019 will be crowning her successor in the much-coveted beauty pageant. This year, the judges’ table features a number of self-made entrepreneurs and girl bosses who truly inspire the future generation to write their own story. The star-studded judges' table includes Carolyn Aronson – CEO of It’s a 10 Haircare, Lynnette Cole – Miss USA  2000 from Tennessee, Abby Hornacek – Fox Nation journalist, Gloria Mayfield Banks – motivational speaker, author, and entrepreneur, Kimberly Pressler – Miss USA 1999 from New York and Susan Yara – beauty and lifestyle expert.

Carolyn Aronson calls herself a self-made entrepreneur who is also the founder of the brand It’s A 10 Haircare which is Miss USA’s official hair and makeup partner and sells an estimated $500 million dollars worth of hair care products in a year. She has been in the hairstyling industry for almost two decades when she finally decided to take on the entrepreneurial journey. “Being one of the only Hispanic, female-owned, and independently-owned hair care brands in the world is such an achievement for me. It truly means that I have broken barriers that will hopefully inspire other women to achieve,” she said in a Forbes interview.

Aronson also builds a world of inclusivity through her brand, stating, “By reaching out to all women and men no matter their color, race, or creed. True beauty comes in an array of sizes and colors and we cater to all by designing products with 10-in-1 benefits that are simple to understand and easy to use. In an industry where there is an ethnic hair care aisle and a non-ethnic hair care aisle, It's a 10 Haircare will be in both.”

Gloria Mayfield Banks, a renowned motivational speaker and author is also on the Judges’ table. Banks is known for dealing with the incurable disability Dyslexia head-on and showing her vulnerable side on the stage. Forbes named her as Five Women of Color Who Should Be On Your Radar.

Lynnette Cole, the winner of Miss Tennessee USA in 2000, also made history when she bagged the Miss USA title as the first woman from her state. Lynnette was also the second Hispanic woman to win the crown after Laura Harring in 1985. She has hosted multiple TV shows on NBC, MTV, VH-1 and currently advocate for cruelty-free beauty as a Global Education Director and Licensed Esthetician with the beauty brand PÜR. 

Speaking about the beauty community, Susan Yara has got over 1.3 million subscribers on her Youtube channel along with another personal channel where she has over 274,000 followers. She is an open advocate for ethical beauty practices and clean beauty products. 

The selection committee features another Miss USA winner, Kimberly Pressler who took the trophy home in 1999. She has been a sports reporter for Fox who covers the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA).

Abby Hornacek, daughter of former NBA player turned coach Jeff Hornacek is a Fox News journalist and a lifestyle host. Posting a clip from the Miss USA 2020, she wrote, “These women blew us away in their interviews and, tonight, they take the stage in one step closer to becoming @MissUSA!”

Allie LaForce, Miss Teen USA, and sports reporter will be hosting the glam pageant along with the gorgeous television host Akbar Gbaja-Biamila. Catch all the action of The Miss USA contest at 7 pm November 9 on the A+E Networks' FYI cable channel.