Hey fellas! It's time again for one of the most anticipated and prestige national pageants of the year: MISS USA 2016! Under the new management of MUO, I must say they really improved a lot and boy oh boy this year's quality of contestants are insanely high caliber! To even come up with the pre-arrival list has already made me serious headache, so I can't imagine what kind of A-game they are going to bring once they arrived Las Vegas. Speaking of the host city, I really thought MUO is done with Nevada and move forward to host at other states just like Louisiana for the past 2 years, but I was so wrong. I guess we're going to continuously explore Las Vegas until there's nothing else to promote.
This year, I came up with my pre-arrival list with a different approach. As we all know, "History" is an important word for any pageant as people always compare the new winner to past titleholders on their achievements. So, we're going to look back past Miss USA titleholders of the last decade and see which potential contestant is going to follow their footstep. Let's take a look shall we?
BUBBLING UP
ALABAMA - GEORGIA - INDIANA - KANSAS - MASSACHUSETTS - MISSISSIPPI
MONTANA - NEVADA - NEW YORK - OKLAHOMA - SOUTH CAROLINA - TENNESSEE
These girls could be a surprise if they perform well during the preliminaries. As for the rest, their chances are pretty slim.
PAST MISS TEEN STATE TITLEHOLDERS
(Prior winning Miss USA, they hold Miss Teen title of a certain state but failed to win Miss Teen USA)
MISS USA 2006 - TARA CONNER
Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2002
MISS USA 2007 - RACHEL SMITH
Previously Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2002
MISS USA 2011 - ALYSSA CAMPANELLA
Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2007
(This year, we have a record breaking 15 past teen state titleholders to compete on the same stage. Can they redeem themselves for the 2nd time?)
Miss Colorado USA - Caley-Rae Pavillard
Previously Miss Colorado Teen USA 2011, Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2011
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 20
Miss Connecticut USA - Tiffany Teixeira
Previously Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2009, a non-finalist at Miss Teen USA 2009
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 20
Miss Missouri USA - Sydnee Stottlemyre
Previously Miss Missouri Teen USA 2011, 4th runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2011
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 10
Miss Texas USA - Daniella Rodriguez
Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2013, a non-finalist at Miss Teen USA 2013
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 10
Miss Wisconsin USA - Kate Redeker
Previously Miss Wisconsin Teen USA 2013, Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2013
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 5
POWERHOUSE STATES
(They wore "POPULAR" sash and were heavy favorites to win)
MISS USA 2014 - NIA SANCHEZ
Represented "NEVADA"
MISS USA 2015 - OLIVIA JORDAN
Represented "OKLAHOMA"
(States that were placed 5 times and above over the last DECADE only are considered. Many states are left out in my list due to poor first impression. Will the following ladies live up their sash name?)
Miss California USA - Nadia Mejía
California placed 8 times over the last 10 years, with 1 winner and 3 runner-up positions
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 20
Miss Maryland USA - Christina Denny
Maryland placed 5 times over the last 10 years, with 1 winner and 1 runner-up positions
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 10
Miss Virginia USA - Desiree Williams
Virginia placed 5 times over the last 10 years, with 1 runner-up position
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 5
LESS SUCCESSFUL STATES
(They wore "UNPOPULAR" sash and beat against all odds to win)
MISS USA 2009 - KRISTEN DALTON
Represented "NORTH CAROLINA"
MISS USA 2013 - ERIN BRADY
Represented "CONNECTICUT"
(States that were placed 4 times and below over the last DECADE only are considered. Surprisingly, most of the weaker sash states this year are strong competitors. Are they able to beat against all odds as well?)
Miss District of Columbia USA - Deshauna Barber
District of Columbia placed 1 time over the last 10 years
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 20
Miss Idaho USA - Sydney Halper
Idaho placed 1 time over the last 10 years
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 20
Miss Illinois USA - Zena Malak
Illinois placed 3 times over the last 10 years, with 1 runner-up positions
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 10
Miss Michigan USA - Susie Leica
Michigan placed 4 times over the last 10 years, with 1 winner
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 20
Miss New Jersey USA - Jessielyn Palumbo
New Jersey placed 3 times over the last 10 years, with 1 runner-up position
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 10
Miss North Carolina USA - Allie Dunn
North Carolina placed 3 times over the last 10 years, with 1 winner
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 5
PAGEANT NEWBIES
(They won their state title on 1st attempt and eventually won Miss USA title)
MISS USA 2010 - RIMA FAKIH
Won "Miss Michigan USA" title on her 1st attempt
MISS USA 2012 - OLIVIA CULPO (later won Miss Universe 2012)
Won "Miss Rhode Island USA" title on her 1st attempt
(This year, there are only 7 contestants in this category. Will luck continue to be on their side?)
Miss Hawaii USA - Chelsea Hardin
Won state title on 1st attempt
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 5
Miss Kentucky USA - Kyle Hornback
Won state title on 1st attempt
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 20
PAGEANT VETERANS
(They won a state pageant after many attempts before winning Miss USA title)
MISS USA 2008 - CRYSTLE STEWART
Won "Miss Texas USA" title on her 5th attempt
MISS USA 2012 - NANA MERIWETHER (assumed title after Olivia Culpo won Miss Universe)
Won "Miss Maryland USA" title on her 5th attempt (including other state pageant)
(Contestants that won a state pageant on her 5th attempt and above only are considered. Will their Miss USA dream finally come true?)
Miss Florida USA - Brie Gabrielle
Won on her 5th attempt, including 2 times at "Miss California USA"
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 20
Miss Ohio USA - Megan Wise
Won on her 8th attempt
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 5
Miss Utah USA - Teale Murdock
Won on her 8th attempt
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 20
Miss 52 USA - Alexandra Miller
1st new title appears at Miss USA through media voting
Won "Miss Oklahoma USA" on her 4th attempt (assumed title after Olivia Jordan won Miss USA),
including 2 times at "Miss Kansas USA"
My Pre-Arrival Ranking: Top 20
Let the battle begins!