Pageantry has felt a little... chaotic lately. Honestly, if you’ve been following the headlines about resignations and leadership swaps, you probably expected the Miss USA 2025 contestants to be walking into a storm. Instead, what we got at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno this past October was a massive reset.
It wasn't just another year of hairspray and high heels. It felt different. The air was thick with a "new era" vibe, mostly because this was the first run under the new boss, Thom Brodeur. But the real story? The women. They weren’t just there to smile; they were there to claim a brand that had been dragged through the mud for eighteen months.
From a 44-year-old history-maker to a woman competing with alopecia, the 2025 roster was basically a middle finger to every old-school "standard" we used to associate with the sash.
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The Women Who Redefined the Miss USA 2025 Contestants
When people search for the 2025 lineup, they usually look for the winner (we’ll get to Audrey in a second). But the depth of this group was wild. You had 51 women from every corner of the country, and the "stats" on them look nothing like the 1990s versions of this show.
Take Tetra Shockley from Delaware. She’s 44. Let that sink in. A few years ago, she wouldn't have even been allowed in the building as a contestant. She didn’t just show up, either; she walked away with the Miss Congeniality award. Then you have Mary Sickler from Nevada. She made history as the first woman to compete at Miss USA with alopecia. She ended up in the Top 5. That’s not a "token" placement; that’s a "she earned it" moment.
And we can't ignore Mona Lesa Brackett from New Hampshire. She was the first woman to wear a hijab on the Miss USA stage. She was a default appointee (living in NYC but representing NH), which stirred up some drama in the pageant forums, but her presence was a massive statement about where the organization is trying to go.
The Top 5 Breakout Stars
If you missed the October 24 broadcast on the Queen Beauty Network, here is how the final "court" shook out. These five women dominated the stage:
- Audrey Eckert (Nebraska): The winner. She’s 23, a former NCAA Division I cheerleader for the Huskers, and basically the "digital safety" queen.
- Ivy Harrington (New Jersey): The 30-year-old runner-up who proved that "older" contestants are the ones to beat now.
- Chantéa McIntyre (Oregon): At 43, she was the second-oldest in the Top 5. She actually competed in California's state pageant first before being appointed to Oregon.
- Taylor Lauren Davis (Texas): A 26-year-old powerhouse from Dallas who kept the Texas legacy alive by hitting the Top 5.
- Mary Sickler (Nevada): The hometown favorite who broke barriers for women with hair loss.
Why Audrey Eckert’s Win Matters
Look, Audrey Eckert isn't a "newbie" to this world. She was the 3rd runner-up at Miss Teen USA back in 2020. She knows the game. But what made her stand out among the Miss USA 2025 contestants was her specific focus on the "Digital Safety Ambassador Program."
She’s out here coaching 500 kids a week on how not to let social media ruin their lives. That’s a very 2026 problem to solve. Plus, she’s working with Thai artisans for a human-rights-driven fashion brand. She’s polished, sure, but she feels... real.
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The crowning moment was kind of awkward, though. If you were watching, you noticed Alma Cooper (Miss USA 2024) wasn't there. She posted on Instagram just hours before the show saying she wouldn't be attending. Instead, the reigning Miss Universe, Victoria Kjær Theilvig from Denmark, had to fly in to do the honors. It was a weird reminder of the internal drama still simmering behind the scenes.
The "Default Appointee" Controversy
If you spend any time on pageant Reddit, you know people were heated about the appointments this year. Because of the leadership shakeup, eight states didn't have traditional pageants.
Instead, the organization appointed "at-large" delegates. This led to situations like Jenny Ting Crawford (Miss Idaho) being a California resident and Victoria Chuah (Miss Vermont) being from Virginia. It felt a little bit like "rent-a-state" for a minute there.
But honestly? These women showed up and worked. Victoria Chuah even cracked the Top 10. It shows that even without a local crown, the caliber of the Miss USA 2025 contestants was high enough to overcome the "outsider" label.
The Full List of Who Competed
If you’re looking for a specific state, here is the breakdown of the women who stepped onto that Reno stage:
The Top Tier (Finalists & Semi-Finalists)
Alabama's Kennedy Whisenant and Florida's Lou Schieffelin both made the Top 10, bringing that heavy Southern pageant energy. Georgia’s Savannah Miles and Oklahoma’s Zoe Ferraro (a former Teen winner) also held their own in that top group.
In the Top 20, we saw some surprise favorites like Shae Smith from Missouri, who won Best State Costume, and Shelby Howell from Maine, who took home the Miss Photogenic award. Others who made the cut included Brianna Vega (Rhode Island), Madison Kunst (Tennessee), and Aneisha Cox (Wisconsin).
The Rest of the Field
The competition was rounded out by women like Kelsey Craft (Alaska), who at 34 was another veteran of the system, and Elexes Richardson (Arizona). You had younger competitors like 19-year-old McKenzie Cole from Mississippi and 21-year-old Kylie Chang from California.
Even those who didn't place, like Tetra Shockley, left a mark. When a 44-year-old woman stands next to a 19-year-old and they are judged on the same criteria, the "beauty pageant" mold officially breaks.
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Navigating the Pageant World Today
If you're looking to follow the journey of these women or maybe even compete yourself, the landscape has changed. It's no longer just about the walk.
- Check the Age Limits: The most significant change for the 2025 cycle was the removal of age caps. If you’re over 28, you’re finally eligible.
- Focus on "Impact": Every single one of the Top 5 had a "brand." Whether it was digital safety, alopecia awareness, or human rights, you need a "why."
- Watch the Platforms: The broadcast moved to the Queen Beauty Network. If you want to see the 2025 replays, that’s where you have to go. It's not on major network TV like it used to be.
The Miss USA 2025 cycle was a bridge. It bridged the gap between a messy, controversial past and a future where maybe—just maybe—it’s actually about the women again. Audrey Eckert is heading to Thailand for Miss Universe 2025 next, and she’s carrying a lot of weight on those shoulders.
To stay updated on the 2026 cycle or follow Audrey’s journey to the Miss Universe stage in Thailand, your best bet is following the official "The Next Miss USA" socials. The organization is rebranding fast, so expect the 2026 state pageant dates to be announced earlier than usual to avoid the "appointment" scramble we saw this year.