On Friday, Audrey Eckert, a 22-year-old digital safety advocate from Nebraska, was crowned Miss USA at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. Eckert triumphed over 50 contestants in a pageant that has recently undergone significant transformations under new ownership. The event also saw Ivy Harrington from New Jersey and Chantéa McIntyre from Oregon named as first and second runners-up, respectively.
This year's pageant marked the end of a tumultuous period for the long-standing contest, following the resignation of Miss USA 2023, Noelia Voigt, who stepped down amid allegations of mistreatment. With the new organizers promising a “new era,” the finale capped five days of events that included swimwear competitions, eveningwear parades, and Q&A sessions with judges.
Upon hearing her name announced as the winner, Eckert fell to her knees, overwhelmed with emotion as gold streamers rained down around her. In a notable departure from tradition, Eckert was crowned by reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig instead of last year’s titleholder, Alma Cooper from Michigan, who was absent from the ceremony. Voigt made a surprise appearance as a host for the official online broadcast, having co-hosted one of the preliminary events earlier in the week.
The Miss USA pageant has been embroiled in controversy since May 2022, when Voigt and the then-reigning Miss Teen USA, UmaSofia Srivastava, both resigned within days. Voigt cited mental health concerns, but her resignation letter hinted at deeper issues such as a “toxic work environment,” which she described as being characterized by “poor management” and “harassment.”
Voigt's claims included a lack of adequate support from the pageant's organizers, which she alleged led to her experiencing sexual harassment during a Christmas parade event. The former president of Miss USA, Laylah Rose, has consistently denied these allegations. In a decisive move, businessman Thom Brodeur recently acquired the rights to both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA from the Miss Universe Organization, aiming to restore the pageant’s reputation.
The acquisition, part of a 10-year deal, has not been without conflict. Rose contested Brodeur's ownership, stating that she had not received any new contracts. The Miss Universe Organization confirmed Brodeur’s acquisition as a “new chapter” in the pageant's storied history. Simultaneously, JKN Global Group, co-owned by Thai businesswoman Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, filed a lawsuit against Rose’s company, accusing it of breaching contract terms and damaging the Miss USA brand.
In a counter-move, Rose's company has claimed over $116 million in damages and lost profits. Brodeur has reestablished access to Miss USA’s social media accounts and has expressed intentions to revitalize the pageant while addressing the issues raised by Voigt and Srivastava’s resignations.
This year’s contest began with a “state costume” competition, won by Miss Missouri, Shae Smith. The pageant saw a more diverse group of contestants, including several over the age of 30, following new eligibility rules that lifted previous restrictions on age, marital status, and motherhood. Notably, Tetra Shockley, at 44, became the oldest contestant ever to compete, while MonaLesa Brackett from New Hampshire made history as the first woman to compete wearing a hijab.
For the first time since its inception, the Miss USA pageant was not televised on traditional networks but instead streamed through a specialized beauty and pageantry service. Eckert will now prepare to represent the USA at the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in Thailand, continuing the legacy of the USA as the most successful nation in the competition's history, with nine American winners over 73 years.
In parallel, the title of Miss Teen USA was awarded to high school student Mailyn Marsh from Missouri, adding another layer of excitement to this year’s events.
