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Miss USA 2012

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Miss USA 2012
Olivia Culpo, Miss USA 2012
DateJune 3, 2012
Presenters
Entertainment
VenueThe AXIS, Las Vegas, Nevada
Broadcaster
Entrants51
Placements16
WinnerOlivia Culpo
Rhode Island
← 2011
2013 →

Miss USA 2012 was the 61st Miss USA pageant, held on June 3, 2012, at The AXIS in Las Vegas, Nevada and it was televised live on NBC. Alyssa Campanella of California crowned her successor Olivia Culpo of Rhode Island at the end of the event. This was Rhode Island's first Miss USA title.[1] Culpo represented the United States at Miss Universe 2012 six months later and went on to win the Miss Universe title, becoming the eighth American to do so.

First runner-up Nana Meriwether of Maryland inherited the Miss USA title replaced Culpo to finish the reign and was officially crowned on January 9, 2013. Meriwether became the second woman from Maryland to hold the Miss USA title; the first, Mary Leona Gage, was dethroned shortly after winning.[2][3]

For the first time, a question was solicited from Twitter for the final question asked of one of the five finalists. That question picked by the pageant organizers - "Would you feel it would be fair that a transgender woman wins the Miss USA title over a natural-born woman?" - was answered by the winner, Culpo.[1]

Background

Selection of contestants

One delegate from each state and the District of Columbia was chosen in state pageants held which began in July 2011 and ended in January 2012. The first state pageant was Florida, held on July 16, 2011 as scheduled. The final pageant was Nevada, held on January 29, 2012.

Eight delegates are former Miss Teen USA state winners, while one is a former Miss America state winner and the other one competed in Miss Earth United States.

Preliminary round

Prior to the final telecast, the delegates competed in the preliminary competition, which involves private interviews with the judges and a presentation show where they compete in swimsuit and evening gown. The preliminary competition took place on May 30, 2012, at 10 pm (ET) hosted by Chet Buchanan and Alyssa Campanella, and was broadcast online over Xbox Live via their YouTube and MSN applications.[4]

Finals

During the final competition, the top sixteen competed in swimsuit, while the top ten competed evening gown, and the top five competed in the final question signed up by a panel of judges. The sixteenth semifinalist was determined by voting online.

Delegates

State/district Contestant Hometown Age[a] Height Placement Notes
Alabama Katherine Webb Phenix City 23 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) Top 10 Contestant in Splash
Alaska Jessica Kazmierczak Salcha 22 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Arizona Erika Frantzve Scottsdale 23 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Arkansas Kelsey Dow Jonesboro 21 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) Top 16[b]
California Natalie Pack Palos Verdes 23 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) Contestant on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 12
Colorado Marybel Gonzalez Denver 24 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) Top 10
Connecticut Marie Lynn Piscitelli North Haven 26 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) Previously Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2001
Delaware Krista Clausen Georgetown 19 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
District of Columbia Monique Tompkins Washington 23 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Florida Karina Brez[5] Wellington 23 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Georgia Jasmyn "Jazz" Wilkins Johns Creek 21 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) 4th runner-up Daughter of former basketball player Gerald Wilkins and brother of Damien Wilkins
Hawaii Brandie Cazimero Kaneohe 26 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Idaho Erna Palic Boise 25 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Illinois Ashley Hooks Flossmoor 25 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Indiana Megan Myrehn Carmel 21 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2008
Iowa Rebecca Hodge Iowa City 22 5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Kansas Gentry Miller Overland Park 24 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2006
Kentucky Amanda Mertz Louisville 25 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Louisiana Erin Edmiston Lafayette 22 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) Top 16
Maine Rani Williamson Portland 25 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) Top 16 Later resigned
Maryland Nana Meriwether Potomac 27 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) 1st runner-up Later assumed Miss USA 2012 after Culpo won Miss Universe 2012
Massachusetts Natalie Pietrzak Boston 26 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Michigan Kristen Danyal[citation needed] Detroit 21 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) Top 16 Previously Miss Michigan Teen USA 2009
Minnesota Nitaya Panemalaythong Savage 26 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) Born in Thailand
Mississippi Myverick Garcia Hattiesburg 22 5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Missouri Katie Kearney St. Louis 23 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Montana Autumn Muller[citation needed] Billings 25 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) Previously Miss Montana Teen USA 2004
Nebraska Amy Spilker Malcolm 22 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Nevada Jade Kelsall Eneterprise 26 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) 3rd runner-up
New Hampshire Ryanne Harms Rochester 23 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
New Jersey Michelle Leonardo Tinton Falls 20 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) Top 10 Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2008
New Mexico Jessica Martin Las Cruces 21 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) Previously Miss New Mexico Earth 2010
New York Johanna Sambucini Brooklyn 25 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
North Carolina Sydney Perry Wrightsville Beach 21 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) Previously Miss Vermont Teen USA 2008
North Dakota Jaci Stofferahn Fargo 23 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Ohio Audrey Bolte Batavia 23 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) 2nd runner-up
Oklahoma Lauren Lundeen Edmond 20 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) Top 10
Oregon Alaina Bergsma Eugene 22 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Pennsylvania Sheena Monnin Cranberry Township 27 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) Later resigned
Rhode Island Olivia Culpo[6] Cranston 20 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)[7] Miss USA 2012 Later Miss Universe 2012
South Carolina Erika Powell Greenville 27 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) Top 16 Previously Miss South Carolina 2005
South Dakota Taylor Neisen Rapid City 20 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Tennessee Jessica Hibler Nashville 23 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) Top 16
Texas Brittany Booker Houston 21 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) Top 10
Utah Kendyl Bell Sandy 25 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Vermont Jamie Dragon Stowe 26 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Virginia Catherine Muldoon Virginia Beach 26 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) Previously Miss New York Teen USA 2004
Washington Christina Clarke Sammamish 22 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
West Virginia Andrea Rogers Martinsburg 24 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Wisconsin Emily Guerin[citation needed] Monroe 23 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Wyoming Holly Allen[citation needed] Lander 24 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) Later a contestant on Big Brother 21

Notes

  1. ^ Ages at the time of the pageant
  2. ^ Voted per America's Choice internet/SMS

References

  1. ^ a b Ford, Rebecca (June 4, 2012). "Miss USA 2012: Miss Rhode Island Takes the Crown". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  2. ^ Associated Press (December 20, 2012). "Miss USA Olivia Culpo is crowned Miss Universe". Deseret News. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  3. ^ Macatee, Rebecca; Quarles, Alicia (January 9, 2013). "Donald Trump Crowns New Miss USA Nana Meriwether". E!. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  4. ^ The preliminary competition on the official Miss USA YouTube channel on YouTube
  5. ^ "Wellington's Karina Brez crowned new Miss Florida USA". The Palm Beach Post. July 16, 2011. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011.
  6. ^ Miss Rhode Island, Cranston's Olivia Culpo, wins Miss USA pageant Archived 2012-12-05 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Olivia Culpo". Trump Model Management. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2015.