On the evening of October 25, 2025, the dazzling Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, transformed into a glittering epicenter of style, anticipation, and celebration as the long-awaited Miss USA 2025 pageant crowned Miss Nebraska as its new national queen. The event, though untelevised due to leadership turmoil within the organization, nonetheless maintained all the grandeur, energy, and emotion symbolic of one of America’s most cherished pageant traditions. Instead of a live television broadcast, audiences were invited to experience the show digitally through the Queen Beauty Network’s online streaming platform, giving fans the chance to witness every memorable moment in real time from across the globe.
Having personally attended both the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA finals, I experienced the full spectrum of pageant emotion—tears of joy, bursts of laughter, and the sheer delight of proud families whose years of dedication culminated in one unforgettable evening. The new CEO, Thom Brodeur, faced the formidable challenge of reviving and organizing not just one, but two national competitions in a matter of mere weeks following a period of intense organizational restructuring. Yet despite these difficulties, the nights were brimming with elegance and joyful surprises: impromptu standing ovations, heartfelt embraces, and even the sight of a jubilant father sprinting toward the stage as confetti rained down upon his newly crowned daughter.
Thursday’s Miss Teen USA finals, hosted by reality television star and former Miss USA competitor Taylor Hale, set the perfect tone for the weekend. Hale’s signature humor enlivened the evening as she humorously assured the audience she would avoid repeating Steve Harvey’s notorious 2015 Miss Universe mix-up, drawing warm laughter from the crowd. Under her charismatic guidance, 51 teenage contestants from across the nation took the stage, each embodying confidence, intellect, and charm. In a groundbreaking move, for the first time in the pageant’s history, every contestant was awarded a full four-year scholarship to Mississippi State University—an extraordinary gesture designed to honor academic ambition alongside grace and poise. Missouri’s Mailyn Marsh, who ultimately won the Miss Teen USA 2025 crown, spoke passionately about education, calling the opportunity “incredible” and sharing her excitement about attending university on a full ride. The sense of community extended even to the audience, where the mothers of the final two contestants—Marsh and Minnesota’s Maisie Adams—held hands across the aisle while awaiting the final results, embodying the spirit of mutual support and sisterhood that defines the Miss USA brand.
On the Miss USA stage the following evening, inclusivity and resilience took the spotlight as several contestants made history in landmark ways. For the first time, women over the age of 28 competed and advanced to the top 20. Both Miss Oregon, Chantea McIntyre, and Miss Idaho, Jenny Crawford, were celebrated as the first mothers ever to place in the competition, while Miss New Hampshire, MonaLesa Brackett, broke boundaries by competing in a hijab and burkini. Additionally, Nevada’s Mary Sickler, who proudly shared her public journey with alopecia, became the first woman with the condition to reach the Miss USA stage. These contestants brought powerful representation to an event traditionally defined by glamour, proving that diversity and authenticity now hold a well-deserved place within the pageant world.
The competition’s structure also evolved this year, placing a greater emphasis on personality and connection. Returning to a format inspired by Miss Universe, hosts asked each top 20 contestant a lighthearted or personal question designed to reveal their individuality beyond stage presence. From Miss Idaho’s amusing confession that she had never tasted a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, to Miss Texas recalling her childhood obsession with WWE wrestling, and Miss New Jersey recounting a humorous story about finishing an entire pizza—these exchanges delighted the audience and offered a refreshing intimacy often missing from such high-stakes competitions. Equally touching was the organization’s effort to ensure that even contestants who did not place received recognition. Those eliminated before the semifinals were invited to take an additional walk across the stage in their swimsuits and evening gowns, followed by a heartfelt standing ovation—a collective acknowledgment of the countless hours, expenses, and emotional investment these women bring to their state titles.
Among this year’s most inspiring milestones was the introduction of participants who earned their titles through an open casting call, a necessity prompted by several unfilled state positions due to director vacancies earlier in the year. Despite having only three weeks to prepare, four of these women advanced to the top 20—a testament to their passion and poise under pressure. Their achievement reflected the adaptability and open-minded leadership style that Thom Brodeur has sought to bring to the Miss USA organization’s new chapter.
The night also paid homage to legacy. The reigning Miss USA 2024, Alma Cooper, who chose not to attend the event amid an ongoing legal dispute involving former CEO Laylah Rose and JKN Universe, was honored with a powerful musical tribute. The Brooklyn Duo performed an instrumental rendition of a beloved ballad while a touching slideshow projected highlights from Cooper’s reign, celebrating her grace and perseverance. In her Instagram statement, Cooper remarked that she closed this chapter “with integrity and self-worth held high,” encapsulating her dignified departure. Likewise, the Miss Congeniality award was renamed in memory of the late Chelsi Smith—the 1995 Miss USA and Miss Universe—whose joyful spirit of kindness continues to inspire generations of competitors. This year’s award went to Miss Delaware, Tetra Shockley, who made history herself as the oldest contestant ever to grace the Miss USA stage at 44.
As the evening reached its climax, Miss Nebraska Audrey Eckert’s triumph sent euphoria rippling through the theater. Her father’s exuberant sprint to the stage, punctuated by triumphant shouts, brought laughter and tears, perfectly capturing the emotion of the moment. Showered in shimmering confetti, Eckert was serenaded by fellow contestants chanting “USA! USA! USA!” while her family proudly echoed her alma mater’s rallying cry—“Big Red!”—as they prepared to join her on stage. The celebration continued with joyous embraces, photo sessions, and the excited chatter of relatives already planning their journey to Thailand, where Eckert will represent the United States at the forthcoming Miss Universe 2025 competition. In the midst of the revelry, one contestant’s comment summed up the bittersweet beauty of the occasion: “I can’t cry,” she said with a laugh. “This makeup is too expensive.”
The Miss USA 2025 pageant ultimately proved to be far more than a competition of glittering crowns and elegant gowns. It was a celebration of perseverance, unity, and progress—an emblem of how modern pageantry continues to evolve beyond appearances, embracing character, intellect, diversity, and heart.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/miss-usa-pageant-details-you-missed-2025-10
