Glamour once again shone at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, the stage for Miss USA 2025. Fifty-one women, representing the 50 states and the District of Columbia, competed for the crown vacated by Alma Cooper. Hosted by Emmanuel Acho and former Miss USA Olivia Jordan, the gala delivered a night full of style, excitement, and surprises, marking the triumphant return of the pageant after a year of organizational changes.
Who Won the Miss USA 2025 Crown?
Audrey Eckert, representing the state of Nebraska, was crowned Miss USA 2025. The 23-year-old stood out for her elegance, charisma, and commitment to female empowerment. With this victory, Audrey is preparing to represent the United States at Miss Universe 2025.
Who were the Hosts of Miss USA 2025?
The hosts for Miss USA 2025 are Emmanuel Acho and Olivia Jordan, who was Miss USA in 2015.
Who were the Judges of Miss USA 2025?
The judging panel features Nia Sanchez (Miss USA 2014), Jade Roper Tolbert from Bachelor Nation, Sasha Farber from Dancing With the Stars, fashion designer Kenneth Barlis, and Hannah Edwards.
Judges
- Nia Sanchez (Miss USA 2014)
- Jade Roper Tolbert (Bachelor Nation)
- Sasha Farber (Dancing With the Stars)
- Kenneth Barlis (fashion designer)
- Hannah Edwards
How Is the Miss USA 2025 Winner Chosen?
The Miss USA 2025 winner is chosen through a structured process combining several public and private evaluation stages, with an emphasis on transparency following this year’s organizational reforms.
Selection Process Stages
- Preliminary Competition: One week before the final, all contestants participate in swimsuit presentations, evening gown walks, and private interviews with the judges. These assessments determine the semifinalists.
- Semifinalist Announcement: During the live televised event, the selected semifinalists are revealed. The remaining contestants are then eliminated.
- Elimination Rounds: Semifinalists compete again in swimsuit and evening gown categories. Contestants are eliminated each round until reaching the final group.
- Interviews and Final Questions: Finalists answer questions on social issues, leadership, and current affairs, testing intelligence, confidence, clarity, and communication skills before the audience.
- Final Vote and Crowning: An independent panel—without interference from directors or executive committees, according to 2025’s new regulations—delivers final evaluations and chooses the winner. The contestant with the most outstanding overall performance earns the crown and becomes the official U.S. representative for Miss Universe 2025.
General Evaluation Criteria
- Stage presence and poise
- Confidence, naturalness, and speaking ability
- Coherence between beauty, intelligence, and purpose
- Leadership attitude and social commitment
This renewed process aims to ensure that Miss USA 2025 is chosen not only for beauty but also for character, voice, and positive impact.
The 51 Miss USA 2025 Contestants
All participants:
- Miss Alabama — Kennedy Whisenant
- Miss Alaska — Kelsey Craft
- Miss Arizona — Elexes Richardson
- Miss Arkansas — Olivia Halsey
- Miss California — Kylie Chang
- Miss Colorado — Sydney Hella
- Miss Connecticut — Jenna Hofmann
- Miss Delaware — Tetra Shaylice Shockley
- Miss District of Columbia — Allison LaForce
- Miss Florida — Lou Schieffelin
- Miss Georgia — Savannah Miles
- Miss Hawaii — Issha Rose Mata
- Miss Idaho — Jenny Ting Crawford
- Miss Illinois — Nikolina Vujcic
- Miss Indiana — Sydney Shrewsbury
- Miss Iowa — Hayley Buettell
- Miss Kansas — Asia Cymone Smith
- Miss Kentucky — Mattie Barker
- Miss Louisiana — Francie Millan
- Miss Maine — Shelby Howell
- Miss Maryland — Lexía Gillette
- Miss Massachusetts — Peri Caron
- Miss Michigan — Michele Lewandoski
- Miss Minnesota — Megan Rivera
- Miss Mississippi — McKenzie Cole
- Miss Missouri — Shae Smith
- Miss Montana — Juliana Wilson
- Miss Nebraska — Audrey Eckert
- Miss Nevada — Mary Sickler
- Miss New Hampshire — MonaLesa Brackett
- Miss New Jersey — Ivy Harrington
- Miss New Mexico — Dominique Ehrl
- Miss New York — Christiana DiNardo
- Miss North Carolina — Lourdes Madera
- Miss North Dakota — Olivia Redding
- Miss Ohio — Hannah Marie Klein
- Miss Oklahoma — Zoe Ferraro
- Miss Oregon — Chantéa McIntyre
- Miss Pennsylvania — Rica Clements
- Miss Rhode Island — Brianna Vega
- Miss South Carolina — Gallienne Nabila
- Miss South Dakota — Megan Hiykel
- Miss Tennessee — Madison Kunst
- Miss Texas — Taylor Lauren Davis
- Miss Utah — Elle Hinojosa
- Miss Vermont — Victoria Chuah
- Miss Virginia — Erin Houston
- Miss Washington — Carisa Erickson
- Miss West Virginia — Erin Wellman
- Miss Wisconsin — Aneisha Cox
- Miss Wyoming — Eilish Anne Young