Miss Grand USA, also referred to as Miss Grand United States of America, is an annual female beauty pageant in the United States, founded in 2016 by a Dominican-American businessperson, Chantel Martínez,[1] aiming to select the country representative for Miss Grand International,[2][3] which is an annual international beauty pageant promoting World Peace and against all kinds of conflicts.[4][5]

Miss Grand United States of America
FormationMay 28, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-05-28)
FounderChantel Martínez
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersChicago
Location
Membership
Miss Grand International
Official language
English
National Director
Rachel Slawson
Parent organization
Protagonist Live LLC. (2024-2026)
WebsiteOfficial Website
Miss Grand USA licensee timeline
Miss Earth USA

The Miss Grand USA organization has been franchising the state competitions to individual organizers since 2016,[1] which in some cases are responsible for more than one state.[6][7] Each U.S. state must choose a candidate who competes at the national Miss Grand USA pageant, however, delegates may be appointed state or regional titles if a state pageant is not offered in their area.[2][8]

The United States holds a record of 4 placements at Miss Grand International, the highest position was first place, won in 2020 by Abena Appiah of New York,[9][10] followed by the third and fourth runners-up by Sthephanie Miranda and Michelle León in 2023 and 2016, respectively.[11]

History

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The United States has been participating at Miss Grand International since its inception in 2013. Under the management of Earth Pageant Productions during 2013 – 2015, the first two country representatives were appointed to join the international event without organizing the contest while the last one obtained the title through the Miss Earth United States 2015, two of them, Blair Griffith and Lauren Petersen, were placed among the top 20 finalists in 2013 and 2015, respectively.[12]

After Chantel Martínez a New York-based Dominican-American fashion model acquired the franchise in 2016, she eventually run the first contest of Miss Grand USA to determine a winner for the international stage. The event was held at Leonard Nimoy Thalia of Symphony Space in New York City, featuring 13 national finalists, of which Michelle León from the host state was announced the winner.[1] León also obtained the fourth runner-up title after participating in the 2016 Miss Grand International contest in Las Vegas, Nevada.[13] Later in 2018, Martínez scheduled to organize the 2018 contest on May 28 in New York,[14] but lost the franchise to Israel Silva and Hernan Rivera of H&I Grand Productions LLC, the Chicago-based event organizer that owned and ran the Miss Grand USA beauty contest from 2019 to 2023.[15] The license was then transferred to an e-commerce company, Protagonist Live LLC, in early 2024, with former Miss Grand Ireland 2023, Rachel Slawson, as the president.[16]

Since its establishment, the pageant, originally programmed to be held on 31 August, was canceled once in 2020 due to the significantly increased of COVID-19 infection cases in the country, the organizer then decided to appoint a Ghanaian American model Abena Appiah to instead compete at the international stage in Thailand,[17] where she won the contest, making her the first American representative to hold such a title and the first black contender to do so.[9][10]

Editions

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Location and date

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The following list is the edition detail of the Miss Grand USA contest, since its inception in 2016.

Year Edition Date Final venue Host State Entrants Ref.
2016 1st May 28 Leonard Nimoy Thalia, Symphony Space, New York City New York 13 [1][18]
2017 2nd July 25 17 [2]
2019 3rd August 11 Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, Lake County Illinois 35 [3]
2021 4th June 20 Joe's Live Rosemont, Rosemont 18 [8][19]
2022 5th June 23 Copernicus Center, Chicago 12 [20]
2023 6th August 17 Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel & Conference Center 25 [21]
2024 7th August 12 Club M2, Miami Florida
19
[22][23]

Competition results

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Year Result Ref.
Miss Grand United States 1st runner-up 2nd runner-up 3rd runner-up 4th runner-up
2016 Michelle León
(New York)
Heather Jorgensen
(Illinois)
Melissa Martinez
(Mississippi)
Karina Lopez
(New Jersey)
Jodelis Diaz
(Pennsylvania)
[1]
2017 Taylor Kessler[β]
(California)
Brianna Key
(Louisiana)
Alexi Gropper
(Georgia)
Courtney Williams
(Maryland)
Leidy Guzman
(Rhode Island)
[2]
2019 Emily Delgado[γ]
(Nevada)
Alexandria Kelly
(Michigan)
Que Demery
(Florida)
Shiobhan Fraser
(Georgia)
Stormy Keffeler
(Washington)
[3][24]
2021 Madison Callaghan
(North Carolina)
Taylor Gipson
(Tennessee)
Gennesis Padron
(Atlantic)
Sydney Salinas
(Texas)
Emily Argo
(Illinois)
[25][8]
2022 Emily DeMure[ε]
(Colorado)
Mercia Stephens
(Ohio)
Brooke Butler
(Kansas)
Not awarded [26]
2023 Sthephanie Miranda[ϝ]
(Great Lakes)
Samantha Keaton
(Illinois)
Rachel Slawson
(New York)
Francie Millan
(Texas)
Mazzy Eckel
(Washington)
[27][28]
2024 Cora Griffen[ζ]
(Georgia)
Tiajah Elliott
(New Jersey)
Victoria Oluwakotanmi
(Illinois)
Andrea Valentina
(Florida)
Giselle Burgos
(Arizona)
[29][30]

International competition

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Year Delegate Original National Title Competition Placement Special Awards National director(s) Ref.
2013 Blair Griffith[α] Miss Grand United States 2013 Top 20 Evan L. Skow [12]
2014 Sara Platt Miss Grand United States 2014 Unplaced
2015 Lauren Petersen Miss Grand United States 2015 Top 20
2016 Michelle León Miss Grand United States 2016 4th Runner-Up Chantel Martínez [1]
2017 Taylor Kessler[β] Miss Grand United States 2017 Unplaced
2018 Paola Cossyleon Appointed Unplaced Israel Silva & Hernan Rivera [33]
2019 Emily Delgado[γ] Miss Grand United States 2019 Unplaced
2020 Abena Appiah[δ] Appointed Miss Grand International 2020
2021 Madison Callaghan Miss Grand United States 2021 Unplaced
2022 Emily DeMure[ε] Miss Grand United States 2022 Unplaced
2023 Sthephanie Miranda[ϝ] Miss Grand United States 2023 3rd Runner-Up
2024 Cora Griffen[ζ] Miss Grand United States 2024 Unplaced Rachel Slawson [36]
Note
1. Previously Miss Colorado Teen USA 2006 and Miss Colorado USA 2011.[37][38]
2. Later Miss Texas USA 2020.[39]
3. Also Miss Supranational Nevada 2019.
4. Previously Top Model of the World Ghana 2013, Miss Universe Ghana 2014 & Miss Earth Ghana 2019.[17]
5. Previously Miss Colorado USA 2020.
6. Previously Miss Ohio USA 2020.
7. Previously Miss Georgia USA 2021.
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States by number of wins
List of states by number of Miss Grand USA wins
Number of wins State Years
2 Colorado 2013, 2022
New York 2016, 2020
1 North Carolina 2021
Nevada 2019
Illinois 2018
California 2017
Virginia 2015
South Carolina 2014

National finalists

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The following list is the national finalists of the Miss Grand USA pageant, as well as the competition results.

Color keys
 W  Declared as the winner
  Ended as a runner-up
  Ended as a semifinalist
  Ended as a Quaterfinalist
 Ṉ  Withdrew
 –  Did not participate
Year
State, etc.
2016 2017 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024
Alabama Alesha Mc Neese
Alaska Abigail González
Arizona Myriam Rochin Annaka Jordan Sierra Rothacker Giselle Burgos
Nadia Monique
Arkansas
California Jen Sidorova Taylor Kessler (W) Ereka Lambe Nyakoach Lam Bibyana Marquez Rebecca Edwards Me-Kayla Brittany
Colorado Kelly Cardona Ashley Marian Avila Lizeth Morales Tena Emily Demure (W) Kylie Klein Liza Degtiarova
Sabrina Smith
Connecticut Naomi Arias Amber Walker Kathyria Burgos Sara Zaimi
Delaware Eddia Jane Watts
District of Columbia Luciana Davalos Brown Faatima Brown Natalia Salmon
Florida Stephanie Camacho Tyeshaa Hudson Que Demery Bella Logins Florence Garcia Ivana Valentina Garcia Andrea Valentina
Georgia Alexi Gropper Shiobhan Fraser Smith Nicole Monserrat Kennedy Thomas Cora Griffen (W)
Hawaii Stephanie Wang Jena Masero
Idaho
Illinois Heather Jorgensen Leah Weatherford Karah West Emily Rae Argo Samantha Catherine Keaton Victoria Oluwakotanmi
Indiana Barbara Satine
Iowa Faith Bernadette
Kansas Beth Wiese Ileana Flores Brooke Butler
Kentucky Ramya Kondaveeti
Louisiana Brianna Key Mayura Kulkarni Darcy Nguyen Bri Hunter Gabriela Vazquez
Maine Susie Damm
Maryland Karol Melendez Courtney Williams Brianna Rea Lopez Amanda Bertholf
Massachusetts Caroline Placzek Ana Solano Paradise Rodriguez Joyce Sanchez
Michigan Alexandria Kelly Malia Lopez Morgan Pickrell
Minnesota Katerina Katakalides Việt Mĩ Nguyễn Annais Loks Nkechi Okorie
Mississippi Melissa Martinez Melissa Martinez Latora Melly Bemley Jessica Fields
Missouri Tyler Liane Prugh Rachel Ringgenberg Rachel Ringgenberg
Montana Shannon MacNeil
Nebraska Brenda Melissa Ramos
Nevada Chelynel Sanchez Ellen Kincaid Emily Delgado (W) Miranda Contreras July Garza Hanin Al Qoreishy
New Hampshire
New Jersey Karina Lopez Mayelin De La Cruz Christine Pierre Tiajah Elliott
New Mexico Gabriela Gomez Raiciof Jacqueline Mata Francely Lopez
New York Michelle Leon (W) Chanise Thomas Heather Thompson Ashley Sánchez Maxine Cesar Rachel Slawson Ariel Jingjing Cao
North Carolina Miriam Marie Madison Callaghan (W) London Tucker
North Dakota
Ohio Summer Sadiyeh Natalia Chelsy Cordero Moazmah Gill Mercia Stephens Teyana Adams
Oklahoma Stephanie Ariza Ramírez
Oregon Melony Escobar Jasmin Arevalo-Larios
Pennsylvania Jodelis Diaz Smaroling Esther Madison Rivera Jennifer Santiago Ebone Marie Jimerson
Rhode Island Leidy Guzman Alexa Cardona Christella Merveille Ilunga
South Carolina Verhonda Crawford Angelia Williams Jakiyra Hambright
South Dakota
Tennessee Autumn Endsley Byrgundy Mallory Taylor Gipson
Texas Alaina Pereyna Courtney Newman Anastasia Semenova Sydney Salinas Juanita Maldonado Francie Millan Karina Ramirez
Utah
Vermont Noelia Baez
Virginia Naomi Rahn Trerese Roberts Amella Montiel–Goodman
Washington Stormy Keffeler Vanessa Guerrero Mazzy Eckel Gillian Arroyo
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Candidates with no affiliated state
Atlantic Gennesis Padron
Great Lakes Sthephanie M. Miranda (W)
Mid-Atlantic Leslie Ann Padilla
New England Alanna Hepbun
North East Joselyn Farias
South Atlantic Alexis D Williams
South East Chinelo Aniekwu
Tri-State Maxine Cesar
West Coast Alexandra Marie Gill
Total 13 17 35 18 12 24 19

References

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  2. ^ a b c d e "Taylor Kessler crowned Miss Grand USA 2017". Times of India. 26 July 2017. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Emily Irene crowned Miss Grand USA 2019". Times of India. 29 August 2019. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  4. ^ Earl D.C. Bracamonte (28 March 2021). "Miss USA is first Black contender to win Miss Grand International crown". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  5. ^ วรรษมน ไตรยศักดา (28 March 2021). "อัลเบน่า แอพเพีย มิสแกรนด์สหรัฐอเมริกา คว้ามงกุฎ Miss Grand International 2020". The Standard (Thailand) [th] (in Thai). Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  6. ^ José Ángel Manaiza Jr. (2 December 2019). "From South Sudan to the USA: The Journey of Eyga Mojus". Medium. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Meet Eyga Mojus of Miss Mojus Production in City Heights". Sdvoyager.com. 1 June 2020. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
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  9. ^ a b c Bracamonte, Earl D. C. (28 March 2021). "Miss USA is first Black contender to win Miss Grand International crown". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Only a handful of black women are able to win international pageant titles - Abena Appiah". Ghanaweb.com. 8 December 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
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  15. ^ "H&I Grand Productions LLC. holds the National Licenses for Miss Grand USA, Miss Supranational USA, Miss Eco USA & Miss Eco Teen USA". H&I Grand Productions LLC. 2019. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Người đẹp song tính mua lại bản quyền Hoa hậu Hòa bình Mỹ" (in Vietnamese). Tiền Phong. 5 January 2024. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
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  19. ^ "Miss Grand United States Joe's Live Rosemont". Stayhappening.com. 2021. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
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  25. ^ a b "Vừa đăng quang, nhan sắc thật của tân Hoa hậu Hòa bình Mỹ khiến fan tranh cãi". Tiền Phong (in Vietnamese). 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
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  30. ^ @Miss Grand USA (13 August 2024). "Miss Grand USA 2024 1st Runner-Up is Tiajah Elliott of New Jersey!". Retrieved 14 August 2024 – via Instagram.
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  33. ^ "Paola Cossyleon crowned Miss Grand United States of America 2018". Times of India. 19 August 2018. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  34. ^ Chris Mottram (24 October 2019). "Miss Grand United States' Emily Delgado Draws Ire Among Social Media for Cultural Appropriation During Pageant". Popculture.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  35. ^ Madarang, Catalina Ricci S. (29 March 2021). "Miss Grand International queens Philippines, USA's casual interaction on stage takes spotlight during coronation night". Interaksyon. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
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  37. ^ Little, Lyneka (25 February 2011). "Miss Colorado USA Blair Griffith Wins Crown, Becomes Homeless Beauty Queen". ABC News. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  38. ^ "Wide attention for homeless Miss Colorado 2011". The Denver Post. 25 February 2011. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  39. ^ "Taylor Kessler crowned Miss Texas USA 2020". Times of India. 20 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
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