Miss USA 1997
| Miss USA 1997 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | February 5, 1997 |
| Presenters | |
| Venue | Hirsch Memorial Coliseum, Shreveport, Louisiana |
| Broadcaster | CBS, KSLA-TV |
| Winner | Brook Lee (Hawaii) (Relinquished) Brandi Sherwood (Idaho) (Assumed) |
| Congeniality | Napiera Groves (District of Columbia) |
| Photogenic | Audra Wilks (Virginia) |
Miss USA 1997 was the 46th Miss USA pageant, held at Shreveport, Louisiana in January and February, 1997. Delegates arrived in the city on January 19, the preliminary competition was held on February 2, 1997 and the final competition on February 5, 1997.[1] The event, held at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum was broadcast live on CBS.
At the conclusion of the final competition, Brook Lee of Hawaii was crowned by outgoing titleholder Ali Landry of Louisiana, becoming the fourth Hawaiian to win the Miss USA pageant and the first win in 19 years, since Judi Andersen in Miss USA 1978. After Lee won the Miss Universe 1997 title three months later, first runner-Up Brandi Sherwood of Idaho immediately inherited the Miss USA title on the night of the latter competition. Sherwood became the first Miss Teen USA winner (Miss Teen USA 1989) and the third Miss Teen USA state delegate in a row to hold the Miss USA title. Upon Sherwood inheriting the Miss USA 1997 title, she also became the first Idaho delegate to hold the Miss USA title.[2]
The pageant was held in Shreveport, Louisiana for the first time, having been held in South Padre Island, Texas the previous three years and in Wichita, Kansas the four years prior.[3] The new location was announced in August 1996, and then reigning Miss USA, Louisiana native Ali Landry, was invited to attend the official contract signing.[3]
The pageant was hosted by George Hamilton for the only time, and Marla Maples Trump, soon-to-be ex-wife of pageant owner Donald Trump, offered colour commentary for the only time.[1] Randy Newman provided entertainment during the competition.
Just prior to the final event it was announced that broadcaster CBS had entered a partnership with Trump, becoming half-owners of the Miss USA pageant and the associated Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe competitions.[4]
While the delegates were in Louisiana, over sixty corporate sponsors provided funding for events, which included dinners, receptions and cocktail parties. There were over three hundred volunteers involved.[5] The delegates were involved in more than forty-five hours of rehearsals prior to the preliminary competition and final show.[6]
This was the first year in which delegates were allowed to choose whether they wanted to wear one-piece or two-piece bathing suits for the preliminary and final swimsuit competitions. In previous years, the delegates were all assigned to only wear either one or the other.
Results
 |
Placements
| Final results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss USA 1997 | |
| 1st Runner-Up |
|
| 2nd Runner-Up |
|
| Top 6 | |
| Top 10 |
|
∞ Lee won Miss Universe 1997. Due to protocol, Lee relinquished her title as Miss USA 1997. 1st runner-up, Brandi Sherwood, replaced her as Miss USA.
Special awards
- Miss Congeniality - Napiera Groves (District of Columbia)
- Miss Photogenic - Audra Wilks (Virginia)
- Best in Swimsuit - Angelia Savage (Florida)
Delegates
The Miss USA 1997 delegates were:
Alabama – Autumn Smith
Alaska – Rea Bavilla
Arizona – Jessica Elizabeth Shahriari
Arkansas – Tamara Henry
California - Alisa Marie Kimble
Colorado – Damien Munoz
Connecticut – Christine Pavone
Delaware – Patricia Gauani
District of Columbia – Napiera Groves
Florida – Angelia Savage
Georgia – Denesha Reed
Hawaii – Brook Lee
Idaho – Brandi Sherwood
Illinois – Jennifer Salinas
Indiana – Tricia Nosko
Iowa – Shawn Marie Brogan
Kansas – Kathryn Taylor
Kentucky – Rachyl Hoskins
Louisiana – Nikole Viola
Maine – Stephanie Worcester
Maryland – Ann Coale
Massachusetts – Jennifer K. Chapman
Michigan – Jennifer Reed
Minnesota – Melissa Hall
Mississippi – Arleen McDonald
Missouri – Amanda Jahn
Montana – Christin Didier
Nebraska – Kimberly Jane Weir
Nevada – Ninya Perna
New Hampshire – Gretchen Durgin
New Jersey – Jennifer Makris
New Mexico – Tanya Harris
New York – Ramona Rueter
North Carolina – Crystal McLaurin-Coney
North Dakota – Lauri Marie Gapp
Ohio – Michelle Mouser
Oklahoma – Trisha Stillwell
Oregon – Heather Williams
Pennsylvania – Cara Bernosky
Rhode Island – Claudia Jordan
South Carolina – Casey Cristin Mizell
South Dakota – Jamie Marie Swenson
Tennessee – Towanna Stone
Texas – Amanda Little
Utah – Temple Taggart
Vermont – Lisa Jean Costantino
Virginia – Audra Wilks
Washington – Sara Nicole Williams
West Virginia – Natalie Bevins
Wisconsin – Tara Johnson
Wyoming – Stacy Dawn Cenedese
See also
References
- 1 2 "Miss USA event plays Trump card". The Baton Rouge Advocate. 1996-12-26. p. 1-B.
- ↑ Associated Press (1997-05-19). "Miss Idaho Now Miss USA, thanks to Miss Universe". The Spokesman-Review.
- 1 2 Associated Press (1996-08-23). "Miss USA pageant moving to Shreveport". The Baton Rouge Advocate. p. 1-A.
- ↑ "Beauty of a deal for CBS, Trump Enters into deal with Donald Trump to own and broadcast Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants". Hollywood Reporter. 1997-01-22.
- ↑ "Shreveport treats Miss USA contestants like real royalty". The Baton Rouge Sunday Advocate. 1997-02-02. p. 9-b.
- ↑ "Miss USA contestants sweat it out long before wait for judges' decision". The Baton Rouge Advocate. 1997-02-05. p. 6-a.
