North Carolina wins Miss USA 2019

It was probably one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Miss USA pageant. A few hours ago, no list of favorites on the internet had Cheslie Kryst of North Carolina as a front-runner for the crown. Nevertheless, the judges picked her, and now she is Miss USA 2019.

Stunning Alejandra Gonzalez, Miss New Mexico USA, was the 1st runner-up, while Triana Browne, Miss Oklahoma USA, finished as 2nd runner-up. Miss Arkansas USA, Savannah Skidmore, and Miss Nevada USA, Tianna Tuamoheloa, rounded out the Top 5.

The Top 10 semi-finalists:

District of Columbia, Cordelia Cranshaw
Florida, Nicolette Jennings
Kansas, Alyssa Klinzing
Maryland, Mariela Pepin
Ohio, Alice Magoto

Top 15 quarter-finalists were:

Hawaii – Lacie Choy
Iowa – Baylee Drezek
Louisiana – Victoria Paul
Minnesota – Cat Stanley
Pennsylvania – Kailyn Marie Perez

Fifty-one candidates vied for title on Thursday, during the live Fox broadcast. Nick and Vanessa Lachey returned to host this year’s festivities, which went down in Reno Tahoe’s Grand Sierra Resort and Casino’s Grand Theatre. They did an excellent job as hosts!

Judging this year’s pageant were businesswoman Nicole Feld (of Feld Entertainment, Inc.); businesswoman Kim Kaupe (of The Superfan Company); Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (Miss Universe 2017); marketing executive Ukonwa Ojo (Covergirl, Rimmel and Vera Wang); journalist Amy Palmer; Denise Quiñones (Miss Universe 2001); Hillary Schieve, the mayor of Reno; and Patricia Smith (Miss Virginia USA and Miss USA 1st runner-up in 1994).

The television production was one of the best in many years, and results were mostly fair until the Top 10 (although it was a huge shock to see hot favorite Texas out of the Top 15!).

Cheslie Kryst, the new Miss USA, is a full-time attorney that is licensed to practice law in two states. She earned both her law degree and MBA from Wake Forest University and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor's degree from the Honors College at the University of South Carolina. This 28-year-old is a former Division I athlete, having competed in the heptathlon, long jump and triple jump on South Carolina's track and field team.

She became the 3rd woman from North Carolina to win the Miss USA title and will now get ready to compete in MIss Universe 2019.

Congratulations!