Tag: Deshauna Barber

2017 Miss USA: Kára McCollough crowned winner; second year in a row that Miss D.C. has won Miss USA

May 14, 2017

by Estelle Marine

Miss USA logo

Miss District of Colombia Kára McCullough wins the 2017 Miss USA competition at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on, May 14, 2017.
Miss District of Colombia Kára McCullough wins the 2017 Miss USA competition at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on, May 14, 2017. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Fox)

Kára McCollough, a 25-year-old scientist at the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, was crowned the winner of Miss USA 2017 in a ceremony held on May 14 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. McCollough’s victory makes it the second year in a row that Miss District of Columbia has won the Miss USA title. McCollough replaces 2016 Miss USA Deshauna Barber.

Coming in second place in the Miss USA 2017 competition was Chhavi Verg, Miss New Jersey. Third place went to Meredith Gould, Miss Minnesota.

Fox had the U.S. telecast of the show, which was hosted by Terrence J and Julianne Hough. Ashley Graham served as backstage host.

The judges were TV personality Carson Kressley, “The Real” co-host Jeannie Mai,  former Miss Minnesota contestant Halima Aden, transgender activist/author Janet Mock, Crisis Text Line founder Nancy Lublin and Miss Universe 1997 Brooke Lee. Rap artist Pitbull featuring Stephen “Skip” Marley and country singer Brett Aldredge were the event’s musical performers.

It was clear that McCollough was one of the early frontrunners, since she was prominently featured in promo videos for the pageant. During the telecast, the announcer also mentioned that she was considered one of the smartest USA contestants to be in the pageant. McCollough mentioned several times in interviews and on stage that one of her main goals was to encourage more female participation in science.

In the question portion of the pageant, McCollough was asked, “Do you think affordable health care for all U.S. citizens is a right or a privilege and why?” She answered that it was a privilege. “As a government employee, I am granted healthcare.  And I see firsthand that for one to have healthcare, you need to have jobs. So therefore, we we need to continue cultivate this environment that we’re given the opportunity to have jobs as well as healthcare for all American citizens worldwide.”

Top 10 Miss USA 2017 Contestants

Kára McCollough, Miss District of Columbia USA (winner)

Chhavi Verg, Miss New Jersey USA (second place)

Meridith Gould, Miss Minnesota USA (third place)

Whitney Wandland, Miss Illinois USA (Top 5 contestant)

Megan Gordon, Miss South Carolina USA (Top 5 contestant)

Allee-­Sutton Hethcoat, Miss Tennessee USA

Hannah Lopa, Miss New York USA

India Williams, Miss California USA

Alyssa London, Miss Alaska USA

Bayleigh Dayton, Miss Missouri USA

 

 

 

 

 

Miss France 2016 Iris Mittenaere named winner of Miss Universe pageant

January 30, 2017

by Jackie Green

Iris Mittenaere, Miss Universe 2017
Iris Mittenaere (Photo courtesy of Fox)

Iris Mittenaere, Miss France 2016, was crowned Miss Universe at the 65th Miss Universe pageant, which was held at Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines on January 29, 2017. Fox had the U.S. telecast of the show, which was once again hosted by Steve Harvey. Model/activist Ashley Graham served as backstage host.  Flo Rida and and Boyz II Men performed at the event.

The first runner-up was Raquel Pelissier from Haiti. The second runner-up was Andrea Tovar from Colombia. The remaining  contestants in the top six were Mary Esther Were from Kenya; Maxine Medina from the Philippines ;  and Chalita Suansane from Thailand.

The judges who helped crown Miss Universe included:

  • Cynthia Bailey: Former model and founder of The Bailey Agency School of Fashion, a modeling and fashion school dedicated to helping young women achieve their dreams; current cast member on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
  • Mickey Boardman: Editorial Director and advice columnist for Paper magazine.
  • Leila Lopes: First Miss Universe from Angola and former United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Desertification; currently working with various charitable organizations in Africa.
  • Francine LeFrak: Emmy and Tony Award-winning producer, social entrepreneur, women’s empowerment activist and founder of Same Sky, an initiative that provides training and employment to HIV+ women survivors of the Rwandan genocide.
  • Sushmita Sen: Bollywood actress, philanthropist and champion of women’s rights in India; founder of I AM Foundation; and first-ever Miss Universe from India.
  • Dayanara Torres: Former UNICEF ambassador, writer, singer, model, actress and former Miss Universe from Puerto Rico.

Here are some photo highlights of the pageant on stage and behind the scenes.

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