Miss USA 1999

Miss USA 1999, the 48th Miss USA pageant, was held at the Grande Palace Theatre in Branson, Missouri on February 4, 1999. Kimberly Pressler became the fourth former Miss Teen USA state delegate in five years to win or inherit the Miss USA title.[1]

Miss USA 1999
Date	February 4, 1999
Presenters	Shemar Moore Julie Moran Ali Landry
Venue	Grande Palace Theatre, Branson, Missouri
Broadcaster	CBS KOLR-TV
Winner	Kimberly Pressler New York
Congeniality	Cara Jackson Arizona
Photogenic	Elyzabeth Pham Wisconsin

At the conclusion of the final competition, Kimberly Pressler of New York, was crowned by outgoing titleholder Shawnae Jebbia of Massachusetts.[2] Pressler became the fourth titleholder from New York, following Shanna Moakler four years prior as Miss USA 1995. However, as Moakler inherited the crown after Chelsi Smith won Miss Universe 1995, this is the third outright win for New York, and the first in twenty years since Mary Therese Friel won Miss USA 1979.

After months of negotiation, Branson was announced as the pageant's location in November 1998.[3][4] City officials spent $125,000 of tax money to host the pageant in Branson in the hope that it would encourage tourism but admitted after the pageant that it was not worth the cost.[5][6] Sponsors contributed a further $1 million towards the hosting of the event.[7] The pageant had previously been held in Shreveport, Louisiana from 1997-1998.[7]

Shemar Moore hosted the pageant for the only time, and color commentary was added by Miss USA 1996 Ali Landry and Julie Moran, for the second consecutive year.[8] Entertainment was provided by Collin Raye and The Atomic Fireballs.[8]

Results

Placements

Map showing placements by state

Final Results	Contestant
Miss USA 1999	New York - Kimberly Pressler
1st Runner-Up	Tennessee - Morgan Tandy High
2nd Runner-Up	California - Angelique Breaux
Top 5	South Carolina - Lauren Poppell New Mexico - Michelle Rios
Top 10	Indiana - Pratima Yarlagadda Virginia - Kellie Lightbourn Oklahoma - Dia Webb Ohio - Melinda Miller Michigan - Shannon Grace Clark

Special awards

• Miss Congeniality: Cara Jackson (Arizona)
• Miss Photogenic: Elyzabeth Pham (Wisconsin)
• Style Award: Kellie Lightbourn (Virginia)
• Best in Swimsuit: Lauren Poppell (South Carolina)

Scores

Final competition

State Interview Swimsuit Evening Gown Average Finalists New York 8.46 9.63 9.33 9.14 9.65 Tennessee 8.90 9.53 9.73 9.38 9.75 California 8.93 9.64 9.56 9.37 9.60 South Carolina 8.68 9.64 9.64 9.32 9.51 New Mexico 8.82 9.36 9.11 9.09 9.23 Indiana 8.73 9.08 9.18 8.99 Virginia 8.56 9.29 8.86 8.90 Oklahoma 8.80 8.88 8.98 8.87 Ohio 8.50 8.91 8.96 8.79 Michigan 8.43 8.93 8.95 8.77

Winner    First runner-up    Second runner-up    Top 5 Finalist

Delegates

The Miss USA 1999 delegates were:

Alabama – Doree Walker Alaska – Anna Ruble Arizona – Cara Jackson Arkansas – Allison Heavener California – Angelique Breaux Colorado – Susan Manuello Connecticut – Christina D’Amico Delaware – Jackie Pilla District of Columbia – Amy Alderson Florida – Melissa Quesada Georgia – Meredith Young Hawaii – Trini-Ann Leilani Kaopuiki Idaho – Amy Ambrose Illinois – Christina Lam Indiana – Pratima Yarlagadda Iowa – Jaclyn Solinger Kansas – Amanda Carraway Kentucky – Lori Menshouse Louisiana – Melissa Bongiovanni Maine – Heather Coutts Maryland – Kelly Donohue Massachusetts – Jennifer Krafve Michigan – Shannon Grace Clark Minnesota – Crystal VanDenberg Mississippi – Kari Babski Missouri – Teri Bollinger

Montana – Michon Adele Zink Nebraska – WaLynda Sipple Nevada – Shaynee Smith New Hampshire – Melissa MacLaughlin New Jersey – Candice Alana Royal New Mexico – Michelle Rios New York – Kimberly Pressler North Carolina – Joy Hall North Dakota – Shayna Bank Ohio – Melinda Miller Oklahoma – Dia Webb Oregon – Amy Nelson Pennsylvania – Melissa Godshall Rhode Island – Claire DeSimone South Carolina – Lauren Poppell[9] South Dakota – Shawna Gross Tennessee – Morgan Tandy High Texas – Carissa Blair Utah – Rachel Rasmussen Vermont – Nicole Lewis Virginia – Kelli Lightbourn Washington – Tammy Jansen West Virginia – Amanda Burns Wisconsin – Elyzabeth Pham Wyoming – Arnica Bryant

Historical significance

• New York wins competition for the fourth time.
• Tennessee earns the 1st runner-up position for the first time and surpasses its previous highest placement in 1997.
• California earns the 2nd runner-up position for the third time. The last time it placed this was in 1991.
• South Carolina finishes as Top 5 for the first time and reaches its highest placement since Lu Parker won 1994.
• New Mexico finishes as Top 5 for the first time and reaches its highest placement since 1985.
• States that placed in semifinals the previous year were California, Michigan and Virginia. All of them made their second consecutive placement.
• Oklahoma and Tennessee last placed in 1997.
• Indiana last placed in 1996.
• New York last placed in 1995.
• South Carolina last placed in 1994.
• Ohio last placed in 1990.
• New Mexico last placed in 1987.
• Utah breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 1996.
• Texas breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 1992.

Crossovers

Thirteen delegates had previously competed or would later compete in either the Miss World, Miss Teen USA or Miss America pageants.

• Delegate who would later compete in Miss World:
  • Angelique Breaux (California) - Miss World USA 2000 (Top 10 semifinalist at Miss World 2000)
• Delegates who had previously held a Miss Teen USA state title were:
  • Kimberly Pressler (New York) - Miss New York Teen USA 1994
  • Lauren Poppell (South Carolina) - Miss South Carolina Teen USA 1993 (Top 12 semifinalist at Miss Teen USA 1993)
  • Meredith Young (Georgia) - Miss Georgia Teen USA 1991 (1st runner-up at Miss Teen USA 1991)
  • Teri Bollinger (Missouri) - Miss Illinois Teen USA 1990
  • Trini-Ann Kaopuiki (Hawaii) - Miss Hawaii Teen USA 1991
  • Carissa Blair (Texas) - Miss Texas Teen USA 1992
  • WyLynda Sipple (Nebraska) - Miss Michigan Teen USA 1992
  • Amy Jo Ambrose (Idaho) - Miss Idaho Teen USA 1995
  • Amanda Carraway (Kansas) - Miss Kansas Teen USA 1996
  • Amanda Burns (West Virginia) - Miss West Virginia Teen USA 1997
• Delegates who had previously held a Miss America state title:
  • Cara Jackson (Arizona) - Miss Arizona 1995
  • Lori Menshouse (Kentucky) - Miss Kentucky 1997

Judges

• Dennis Basso
• Joyce Brothers
• Kelly Le Brock
• Cheech Marin
• Michelle Phillips
• Kevin Richardson
• Stuart Weitzman

See also

• Miss Teen USA 1999
• Miss Universe 1999

References

1. McDonough, Kevin (1999-02-05). "Miss USA brings fun back pageants". Reading Eagle. p. W21.
2. Associated Press (1999-02-06). "Miss New York Wins Miss USA". Toledo Blade. p. 12.
3. "Branson hopes to hold beauty pageant". Southeast Missourian. 1998-08-12. p. 5B.
4. Associated Press (1998-11-04). "Branson to Play Host to Next February's Miss USA pageant". The Nevada Daily Mail. p. 5A.
5. Associated Press (1999-01-26). "Branson seeks Miss USA pageant rewards". Southeast Missourian. p. 8A.
6. Associated Press (1999-07-30). "Branson Chamber slashes Miss USA sponsorship". Southeast Missourian. p. 6A.
7. Avila, Oscar (1999-02-05). "Miss USA Pageant gives Branson a chance to update its image". Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service.
8. Martin, John (1999-02-05). "Miss USA follows formula". The Spokesman-Review. p. D4.
9. Morrison, Aaron (1999-02-07). "Winthrop Grad becomes Miss USA finalist". The Rock Hill Herald. p. 1B.

External links

• Miss USA official website