Miss USA 2010
Miss USA 2010, the 59th Miss USA pageant, was held at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 16, 2010. Kristen Dalton of North Carolina, crowned her successor, Rima Fakih of Michigan as Miss USA 2010 at the end of this event.
| Miss USA 2010 | |
|---|---|
 Rima Fakih, Miss USA 2010 | |
| Date | May 16, 2010[1] |
| Presenters | |
| Entertainment | |
| Venue | The AXIS, Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Broadcaster | |
| Entrants | 51 |
| Placements | 15 |
| Winner | Rima Fakih |
| Congeniality | Belinda Wright  |
| Photogenic | Audrey Moore  |
Fakih represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2010 pageant in Las Vegas on August 23, 2010 where she did not advance to the semifinals; becoming the fourth Miss USA to do so in Miss Universe history (the last time was Shauntay Hinton in 2002).
Representatives of the 50 states and the District of Columbia competed for the title in the pageant, which was broadcast live on NBC. Fakih's victory, however, was controversial with charges of bias facing the Miss USA pageant after Morgan Elizabeth Woolard, who was runner-up, defended Arizona's anti-illegal immigration bill.[2][3][4]
The pageant was co-hosted by Australian celebrity chef Curtis Stone and Today show correspondent Natalie Morales.[5] Color commentary was provided by Joan and Melissa Rivers.[5] Pop rock band Boys Like Girls performed during the swimsuit competition and country music star Trace Adkins performed during the evening gown competition.[5] Stone, Adkins, and both Rivers have all appeared on Donald Trump's television show Celebrity Apprentice.
Kristen Dalton and Chet Buchanan hosted the presentation show.[6] For the first time, the preliminary competition was webcast live via Ustream on May 12, 2010, following a precedent set at the 2009 Miss Universe pageant. The 2010 pageant drew the notice of conservative commentators for releasing a set of "exotic and revealing" promotional photos.[7]
Pageants were held to select the representative for each state between June 2009 and January 2010. During the final show on May 16, the fifteen delegates with the highest average score from the preliminary competition were announced. The top fifteen competed in the swimsuit competition. The top ten delegates from swimsuit competed in evening gown. The top five delegates from the evening gown competition (not averaged composite scores from both competitions) competed in the final question round to determine the winner. The judges' composite score was shown after each round of competition for the fourth time since 2002.
Results
Placements
| Final Results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss USA 2010 | |
| 1st Runner-Up |
|
| 2nd Runner-Up |
|
| 3rd Runner-Up |
|
| 4th Runner-Up |
|
| Top 10 |
|
| Top 15 |
|
Special awards
| Award | Contestant |
| Miss Congeniality |
|
| Miss Photogenic |
|
Final scores
|
|
Delegates
| State | Contestant | Hometown | Age[lower-alpha 1] | Height | Placement | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Audrey Moore | Birmingham | 20 | 5'8" | Top 10 | Miss Photogenic | |
 |
Sarah Temple | Eagle River | 21 | 6'0" | Sister of Veronica Temple, Miss Alaska's Outstanding Teen 2009 | ||
 |
Brittany Bell | Chandler | 22 | 5'8" | Phoenix Suns dancer Later Miss Guam Universe 2014 | ||
 |
Adrielle Churchill | Dover | 24 | 5'8" | Top 15 | Previously Miss National Sweetheart 2005 | |
 |
Nicole Johnson | Westlake Village | 24 | 5'7" | Top 10 | ||
 |
Jessica Hartman | Pueblo | 19 | 5'10" | 3rd runner-up | Later Miss Intercontinental 2011 Later Miss Missouri 2014 | |
 |
Ashley Bickford | Torrington | 25 | 5'8" | Previously Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2002 and Miss Rhode Island 2007 | ||
 |
Julie Citro | Wilmington | 26 | 5'8" | |||
 |
MacKenzie Green | Washington, D.C. | 21 | 5'11" | |||
 |
Megan Clementi | Orlando | 26 | 5'6" | Orlando Magic Dancer | ||
.svg.png){kind=small} |
Cassady Lance | Savannah | 25 | 5'8" | Previously Miss Georgia Teen USA 2003 | ||
 |
Renee Nobriga | Haleiwa | 26 | 5'10" | |||
 |
Jessca Hellwinkel | Boise | 19 | 5'7" | |||
 |
Ashley Bradarich | Homer Glen | 24 | 5'8" | Sister of Carlyn Bradarich, Miss Iowa USA 2014 | ||
 |
Allison Biehle | North Vernon | 21 | 5'6" | |||
 |
Katherine Connors | Bettendorf | 20 | 5'8" | Atlanta Hawks Cheerleader | ||
 |
Bethany Gerber | Winfield | 21 | 5'9" | Top 15 | ||
 |
Kindra Clark | Mount Washington | 20 | 5'6" | |||
.svg.png){kind=small} |
Sara Brooks | Lafayette | 22 | 5'8" | |||
 |
Katie Whittier | New Gloucester | 26 | 6'1" | 4th runner-up | ||
 |
Simone Feldman | North Potomac | 23 | 5'9" | |||
 |
Lacey Wilson | Boston | 26 | 5'10" | Previously Miss Illinois Teen USA 2002 | ||
|
Rima Fakih | Dearborn | 24 | 5'9" | Winner | ||
 |
Courtney Basara | Duluth | 20 | 5'9" | |||
 |
Breanne Ponder | Mount Olive | 20 | 5'7" | Top 10 | ||
 |
Ashley Strohmier | Jefferson City | 21 | 5'8" | Top 10 | ||
 |
Annie Anseth | Billings | 20 | 5'5" | |||
|
Belinda Wright | Scotia | 21 | 5'6" | Top 15 | Miss Congeniality | |
 |
Julianna Erdesz | Reno | 25 | 5'8" | Previously Miss Nevada 2008 | ||
 |
Nicole Houde | Manchester | 24 | 5'7" | |||
 |
Chenoa Greene | Atco | 24 | 5'11" | |||
 |
Rosanne Aguilar | Sunland Park | 24 | 5'8" | Sister of Raelene Aguilar, Miss New Mexico USA 2008 & Miss New Mexico Teen USA 2000 | ||
 |
Davina Reeves | Harlem | 26 | 5'9" | |||
 |
Nadia Moffett | High Point | 22 | 5'7" | |||
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Taylor Kearns | Fargo | 20 | 5'7" | Previously Miss North Dakota Teen USA 2007 | ||
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Amanda Tempel | St. Bernard | 20 | 5'10" | |||
 |
Morgan Woolard | Moore | 21 | 5'9" | 1st runner-up | Previously Miss Oklahoma Teen USA 2006 | |
 |
Kate Paul | Mitchell | 24 | 5'5" | |||
 |
Gina Cerilli | Greensburg | 24 | 5'8" | Top 15 | ||
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Kristina Primavera | Narragansett | 23 | 5'9" | Previously Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2003 | ||
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Rachel Law | Greenville | 21 | 5'8" | |||
 |
Emily Miller | Irene | 22 | 5'8" | |||
 |
Tucker Perry | Franklin | 21 | 5'10" | Top 10 | ||
 |
Kelsey Moore | El Paso | 19 | 6'1" | |||
.svg.png){kind=small} |
Katya Feinstein | Centerville | 20 | 5'8" | Previously Miss Utah Teen USA 2008 | ||
 |
Nydelis Ortiz | Essex | 20 | 5'6" | |||
 |
Samantha Casey | Jeffersonton | 21 | 5'9" | 2nd runner-up | Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2006 | |
 |
Tracy Turnure | Seattle | 24 | 6'2" | Twin sister of Tara Turnure, Miss Washington USA 2009 | ||
 |
Erica Goldsmith | Mineral Wells | 23 | 5'4" | |||
 |
Courtney Lynn Lopez | Franksville | 20 | 5'7" | Previously Miss Wisconsin Teen USA 2008 | ||
 |
Claire Schreiner | Gillette | 23 | 5'8" | Top 15 |
Judges
Preliminary judges
- Billie Causieestko
- Chip Lightman
- Colleen Grillo
- Guy McCarter
- Leigh Rossini
- Rich Thurber
- Scott Lochmus
Final judges
- Carmelo Anthony - NBA’s Denver Nuggets who is a two-time Olympic medalist.
- Tara Conner - Miss USA 2006 from Kentucky
- Paula Deen - Best-selling author, chef and host of four shows on The Food Network.
- Oscar Nunez - Star of NBC’s hit comedy series, “The Office”.
- Phil Ruffin - American businessman and real estate mogul.
- Suze Yalof-Schwart - Executive Fashion Editor-at-Large of Glamour.
- Melania Trump - Model who has appeared on multiple magazine covers including Vogue and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
- Johnny Weir - Three-time National Champion figure skater and Olympian.
Background music
Preliminary
- Special Performance: "Soundcheck" by Sean Van der Wilt
Telecast
- Contestants Introduction: "Telephone" by Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé and "Tik Tok" by Ke$ha (background music)
- Swimsuit Competition: "Heart Heart Heartbreak" by Boys Like Girls (live performance)
- Evening Gown Competition: "This Ain't No Love Song" by Trace Adkins (live performance)
Historical significance
- Michigan wins competition for the third time.
- Oklahoma earns the 1st runner-up position for the second time. The last time it placed this was in 1989.
- Virginia earns the 2nd runner-up position for the first time and reaches its highest placement since Patricia Southall in 1994.
- Colorado earns the 3rd runner-up position for the second time. The last time it placed this was in 1963.
- Maine earns the 4th runner-up position for the first time and surpasses its previous highest placement in 1977. Coincidentally, Maine survived three elimination cuts for the first time.
- States that placed in semifinals the previous year were Arkansas, California, Tennessee and Virginia.
- California placed for the sixth consecutive year.
- Tennessee placed for the fifth consecutive year.
- Arkansas and Virginia placed for the second consecutive year.
- Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania last placed in 2008.
- Kansas and Michigan last placed in 2007.
- Alabama and Maine last placed in 2006.
- Colorado last placed in 2000.
- Wyoming last placed in 1986.
- Nebraska last placed in 1980.
- Minnesota breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 2008.
- Utah breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 2007.
- South Carolina breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 2006.
- Texas breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 2001. Ironically, Kandace Krueger won the title in 2001 and the streak began here.
Contestant notes
- Tracy Turnure, Miss Washington USA, was crowned by her twin sister Tara Turnure. This marks the first time that twins have won back-to-back at a Miss USA state pageant.[8]
- Belinda Wright, Miss Nebraska USA, returned home on May 8 after her father was killed in a farming accident. She later returned to Las Vegas prior to the preliminary competition on May 11.[9]
Prize package
Miss Congeniality: The award is for a contestant that exemplifies respect and admiration of the contestant's peers, who voted for her as the most congenial. She was awarded a $1,000 cash prize as well as a Flip MinoHD Video Camcorder and jewelry from Diamond Nexus Labs.
Miss Photogenic: The general public voted on www.nbc.com for the contestant who exemplifies beauty through the lens of a camera. She was awarded a $1,000 cash prize as well as a Flip MinoHD Video Camcorder and jewelry from Diamond Nexus Labs.
Miss USA 2010: A custom diamond tiara and jewelry by Diamond Nexus Labs; a shoe collection from Nina Footwear; a one-year scholarship from the New York Film Academy; hair care products and accessories from Farouk Systems; eveningwear wardrobe by Sherri Hill; a Flip MinoHD Video Camcorder; a collection of luggage by Heys USA Inc.; luxury accommodations in a New York City apartment for the duration of her reign, including living expenses; gym membership to Gravity Fitness; hair services from John Barrett Salon; modeling portfolio by photographer Fadil Berisha; dermatology services from Dr. Cheryl Thellman-Karcher; health and nutrition consultation by Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD; dental services by Dr. Jan Linhart, D.D.S.; casting opportunities and professional representation by the Miss Universe Organization; a year-long salary as Miss USA; extensive travel opportunities representing sponsors and charitable partners; year-long consultation with a fashion stylist and access to a personal appearance wardrobe and the opportunity to represent the USA at Miss Universe 2010 this summer in Las Vegas.[10]
Notes
- Ages at the time of the pageant
References
- "2010 Miss USA Pageant to air live on NBC, Sunday May 16th" (Press release). Miss Universe Organization. 2010-02-01.
- Michael Dykes, Brett (2010-05-18). "Miss USA controversies storm the blogosphere". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- Allen, Nick (2010-05-18). "Miss USA controversy as fans of runner-up claim immigration question cost her crown". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- Noveck, Jocelyn (2010-05-17). "Miss USA pageant stirs new controversy as Arab-American wins". Associated Press via The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- "Curtis Stone and Natalie Morales to Host the '2010 Miss USA Pageant'" (Press release). Miss Universe Organization. 2010-04-28.
- Miss USA : Events
- "Miss USA Photos 2010 - Lingerie Snaps Set Stage for Contest". National Ledger. May 15, 2010. Archived from the original on May 20, 2010. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
- Twins crowned Miss Washington USA Back to Back
- "Miss Nebraska USA's Father Killed In Farming Accident". 1011Now. 2010-05-09. Archived from the original on 2010-05-11. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- "Miss Michigan Crowned Miss USA 2010 During Live NBC Telecast". Official Miss USA. 2010-05-16. Retrieved 2010-08-22.