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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. The delegates were involved in more than forty-five hours of rehearsals prior to the preliminary competition and final show.
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 resultsContestant Miss USA 1997 Hawaii – Brook Lee 1st Runner-Up Idaho – Brandi Sherwood ∞ 2nd Runner-Up Tennessee – Towanna Stone Top 6 Florida – Angelia Savage Texas – Amanda Little Utah – Temple Taggart Top 10 Rhode Island – Claudia Jordan Alabama – Autumn Smith New Jersey – Jennifer Makris Oklahoma – Trisha Stillwell ∞ 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 Miss Universe 1997 Miss Teen USA 1997
References
External links Miss USA official website
THE HEAVY BURDEN OF MISS USA