Meet the 51 women competing to be the next Miss USA

Diane Westhoven, 21, is pursuing a psychology degree at Auburn University. She hopes to become a physician assistant.

According to her Miss USA bio, Westhoven wants to inspire others to "feel confident in themselves, both physically and emotionally," through "clean eating, exercise, and work-life balance."

Brenna Schakke, 29, works as an external affairs supervisor for Kinross. The Fairbanks native holds a degree in public relations and image management from the University of Idaho.

Schaake's advocacy for breast cancer awareness was inspired by a close friend who was diagnosed at the age of 29. She has partnered with the Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska to "enhance education and resources aimed at reducing undiagnosed breast cancer cases across the state," according to her Miss USA bio.

K Johnson, 41, will make history as the oldest woman to ever make it to the Miss USA stage. This is the first year that all women aged 18 and over are eligible to compete at the pageant.

Johnson competed at the Miss California pageant four times before she aged out under the previous age limit of 28. She told BI she couldn't believe the news when she heard about the rule change.

"It's an opportunity for me to get involved in an organization that I want to spend the rest of my life with," she said. "Not to mention getting to inspire women to not give up on their dreams."

Johnson is a project manager and has previously modeled at Los Angeles and New York Fashion Week. According to her Miss USA bio, she is also an international triathlete and springboard diver.

Madeline Bohlman, 22, recently graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in business administration. She will soon begin working as a senior merchandise analyst for Walmart, according to her Miss USA bio.

Bohlman was previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2021 and is the first cousin of Miss America Madison Marsh. She's an advocate for the National Alliance on Mental Illness and also collaborates with GeneSight.

Samantha Ramos, 24, studied business at California State University, Fullerton, and is now a marketing director for her family-owned restaurant group.

Ramos was discovered by Atlantic Records through her TikTok videos, according to her Miss USA bio. She was also a finalist on NBC's "American Song Contest." Ramos is an ambassador for the nonprofit Girls Inc. and also volunteers at low-income schools.

Jessi Kalambayi, 26, is pursuing a master's degree in international studies at the University of Denver.

Kalambayi, a first-generation Congolese American, also works as a program manager for the Ready for America Hospitality Initiative, where she teaches essential job and life skills to refugees, according to her Miss USA bio.

"Her deep understanding of the challenges these communities face stems from her own experiences living in South Africa and the United States," her bio adds.

Shavana Clarke, 29, has a BFA in acting from the University of Connecticut and works as a model and entrepreneur. She has her own crochet-wear line called Sour Candy Studio, according to her Miss USA bio.

Clarke is making history this year as the first openly lesbian Miss USA state titleholder. She is also the first openly queer woman to win the Miss Connecticut title.

Alysa Bainbridge, 25, has a bachelor's degree in communications from Saint Joseph's University and a master's in leadership from Cabrini University.

According to her Miss USA bio, Bainbridge has worked as a news reporter and traffic anchor in Philadelphia. She is also a motivational speaker and runs the nonprofit Tyler's Triumph, which she founded in honor of her brother, who died of an opioid addiction.

Kleo Torres, 26, attended Alabama State University on a track-and-field scholarship and received a degree in criminal justice. She also has a master's in public administration.

Torres founded the nonprofit Youth of Incarcerated Parents United to offer a "safe space for those affected by parental incarceration," according to her Miss USA bio. She also mentors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and is a micro influencer who has collaborated with brands such as YSL Beauty.

Peyton Lewis, 26, graduated from the University of Central Florida with a business degree. She is a real-estate agent for Premier Sotheby's International Realty and specializes in investment properties.

According to her Miss USA bio, Lewis uses her platform to empower women "to achieve financial literacy, pursue their dreams, and break through barriers." She hopes to help women become leaders and business owners.

Emmaline Farmer, 24, is a registered nurse and family nurse practitioner student at Emory University.

Farmer is also a women's health advocate and helped lobby for the passing of Georgia House Bill 874, which supports cardiac emergency response plans in the state. According to her Miss USA bio, Farmer is working to "ensure that medical advancements and treatments cater to women's unique health needs."

Breea Yamat, 27, has a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Hawaii and works as a medical assistant, model, and TV host. She hopes to become a family medicine physician.

According to her Miss USA bio, Yamat built temporary housing and provided care packages for children affected by the 2023 wildfires in Lahaina, Maui. She also leads student workshops focusing on "goal setting, fostering a growth mindset, and nurturing a love for learning."

Kaitlyn Widmyer, 28, graduated with degrees in French, finance, and accounting from Wofford College, where she was a Division I volleyball player.

Widmeyer works as a fashion stylist and director of community outreach for her family's luxury boutique, according to her Miss USA bio. She is also an advocate for the Made with Kindness Foundation, a nonprofit that was founded in honor of her friends who were killed in the 2022 University of Idaho massacre.

Grace Rodi, 23, graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in public relations. She now works at a marketing firm.

The Chicago native lived in 15 different homes across four states during her childhood, according to her Miss USA bio. Rodi now volunteers for organizations "focused on education, literacy, and mentorship," including Chicago Scholars, Bernie's Book Bank, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Stephanie Sullivan, 33, is the first mother to compete in Miss USA. Sullivan holds a law degree from Purdue University and owns her own beauty and wellness studio. She also works as a model and makeup artist.

After winning the Miss Indiana crown, Sullivan told WNDU that her victory was "for all women."

"It is something that is pivotal, and it's now the time where we can show the world that you don't have to choose between being a mom or a wife or a business owner," she added. "You can do all of these things, and you can do them beautifully together, and they can really co-exist and be successful."

McKenzie Ariana Kerry, 26, has a business degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is the cochair of the African American/Black Employee Resource Group for Principal Financial Group, where she works as a learning and development consultant.

Kerry also works as a professional cheerleader and holds leadership roles at Big Brothers Big Sisters, Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates, and the Young Professionals Connection, according to her Miss USA bio.

Bella Whitlock, 19, is a presidential scholar at the University of Miami, where she's studying finance and business law. She hopes to attend law school after she graduates.

Whitlock is a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and an advocate for breast cancer awareness, according to her Miss USA bio. She is also using her platform to spread fire safety awareness following a burn accident when she was 16.

Connor Perry, 23, has a degree in neuroscience and plans to pursue a career as an anesthesiology assistant.

According to her Miss USA bio, Perry is a professional dancer who is touring with Movement Continuum. She has also worked as a model and actress for years, appearing in a Super Bowl commercial. Perry advocates for the arts and works with nonprofits to ensure "that more children have access to pursue their passions."

Sydney Taylor, 23, was previously Miss Louisiana Teen 2020 and placed fourth runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2020.

According to her Miss USA bio, Taylor has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Louisiana State University. She plans to earn her Juris Doctor in the fall of 2025 and become a tax attorney.

The pageant queen is also a state champion softball player and founded Play With A Purpose, an organization that donates equipment to young athletes.

Anne Summer Baldridge, 25, is a television reporter at News Center Maine/WCSH. She aspires to become a host for a national morning talk show one day.

According to her Miss USA bio, Baldridge struggled with a speech impediment. Now, she hopes to "encourage others to transform their weaknesses into winning stories and victories."

Bailey Anne Kennedy, 31, made history as the first transgender woman and Asian American woman to win the Miss Maryland title.

"For the longest time, it wasn't possible for someone like me to compete — let alone compete and win," she told People after winning the crown. "It's not just a big deal for me. It's a big deal for many communities that I represent."

Kennedy, who is married to a member of the US Marine Corps, volunteers for the United Service Organizations. She was also a rookie trainee for the Washington Commanders' NFL cheerleading team.

Melissa Sapini, 21, is pursuing a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism and hopes to become an E! News correspondent one day. She also works as a professional model, TV commercial actor, and entertainment reporter for the New England Sports Network.

According to her Miss USA bio, Sapini is a Haitian Creole interpreter for new migrant students. She also cofounded a scholarship program at her mother's former middle school in Haiti to help students who can't afford tuition.

Alma Cooper, 22, graduated in the top 5% of her class from West Point Military Academy and is a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University, where she's pursuing a master's in data science.

Cooper is a second lieutenant and military intelligence officer in the US Army. According to her Miss USA bio, she is using her platform to address food insecurity and hopes to "make healthy foods available to all people."

Muna Ali, 27, is the first Somali woman to be crowned Miss Minnesota USA. She is a first-generation college student and has a bachelor's degree in pre-med.

Ali launched two home healthcare companies and is the founder and board member of a peace and social justice college organization, according to her Miss USA bio. She also supports the nonprofit Educare Haiti.

Kaylee Brooke McCollum, 23, was previously Miss Mississippi Teen USA 2019 and third runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2019.

The pageant queen is a registered nurse, and she's pursuing a master's in nursing. She plans to open her own family medicine clinic. McCollum founded #YouMatter as a platform to advocate for mental-health issues after she lost a friend to suicide.

Ashleigh Bedwell, 25, works as a nurse. She's a heart surgery survivor who now advocates for the American Heart Association.

Bedwell also raises cattle and chickens on a farm and is a certified scuba diver, according to her Miss USA bio. She hopes to ski in Canada, France, and Switzerland.

Shelby Dangerfield, 30, graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a degree in musical theater and a certificate from the Jackson Scholar Program for Ethics and Morals, as she shared on her website.

Today, Dangerfield works as a commercial risk advisor and advocates for veterans through her program Operation Honors Warriors, according to her Miss USA bio.

A working counselor, Kami Buchanan, 24, is pursuing both her master's degree and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Nebraska.

Buchanan, who is passionate about empowering women, is a "first-timer at pageantry," according to her Instagram.

Najah Ali, 23, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Nevada, where she studied broadcast journalism. She also studied in Italy for six months after receiving the Gilman Scholarship.

Ali is also one of seven in her family, according to her Miss USA bio.

Ariel Sullivan, 28, works as an emergency room nurse, and she advocates for abused and neglected children through Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of New Hampshire.

Sullivan also partners with the National Eating Disorder Association as a volunteer and body-positivity advocate, according to her Miss USA bio.

Jabili Kandula, 24, has a bachelor's degree in journalism and media studies from Rutgers University-NB, but her true passion is aviation.

According to her Miss USA bio, Kandula has her private pilot's license, writes for Aviation for Women magazine, and is pursuing a master's degree at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is studying aeronautics with a focus on space operations.

Kandula is also working toward her commercial pilot's license.

Mackenzie Sydow, 22, is a student at the University of New Mexico, where she studies psychology and community health. According to her Miss USA bio, she hopes to be a business owner someday.

After her parents died, Sydow became her brother's legal guardian when she was just a teenager. Sydow is also an advocate for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders, including her brother.

Marizza Delgado, 25, has a master's degree from Georgia Tech. According to her Miss USA bio, she is a data scientist for Rent the Runway, is a member of the advisory council for Girls Who Code, and works as a model.

Delgado has appeared in Vogue Philippines and walked in New York Fashion Week shows.

After graduating from High Point University, Kenzie Hansley, 24, went to the University of North Carolina for her master's in integrated marketing communications.

As her Miss USA bio states, Hansley became the chief marketing officer at her company and the only woman in her office. She is also passionate about her initiative, Women on Fire, which advocates for sexual-assault survivors like herself.

After growing up on a cattle ranch, Codi Miller, 31, became a successful cowgirl with a passion for sharing what life is like in the badlands of North Dakota, as she shared on her Instagram.

According to her Miss USA bio, Miller co-owns and designs pieces for a furniture upholstery business and volunteers with the Make-A-Wish organization. She was also crowned Miss Teen North Dakota in 2009.

Macy Hudson, 24, graduated from Kent State University before moving to New York to work in fashion. According to her Miss USA bio, she hopes to create a sustainable fashion line and is pursuing her MBA to support this goal.

Hudson is also passionate about her initiative 5:18 4LIFE, which raises awareness for blood donation. She created the initiative after her sister died in 2021 due to a rare blood disorder.

Danika Christopherson, 22, works as the operations director for Viridian Coffee, leading a team of over 160 people, according to her Miss USA bio.

She is also a self-taught sewer, and she put her skills to use for the pageant by creating all of her outfits for Miss USA.

Shayla Montgomery, 21, is a nurse in a neonatal intensive care unit. She is passionate about women's health and plans to get her doctorate so she can "open a low-cost clinic for women seeking reproductive healthcare," according to her Miss USA bio.

Montgomery also partners with Girls Inc., serving as a national leadership council member and a mentor for girls in Oregon.

After Noni Diarra, 23, got her bachelor's degree from West Chester University in cell and molecular biology, she became a research technician at a cancer lab, according to her Miss USA bio.

Diarra also loves to dance and teaches children to dance when she isn't working in the lab.

Kaitlynne Santana, 22, is pursuing her degree in business marketing from the Community College of Rhode Island, which she hopes to use to open her own modeling agency.

She also works as a support specialist for adults with intellectual disabilities at Horace Mann Educational Associates, and she is passionate about advocating for equal opportunities for the community she serves.

Gracen Grainger, 22, has been modeling since she was 8 years old. Today, she is a law student and a working model.

She also grew up on a farm, which she credits for her work ethic, according to her Miss USA bio.

Ahmitara Alwal, 25, studied political science and sociology at Winona State University, becoming the first person in her family to graduate from college.

Alwal speaks six languages and has been competing in pageants since she was 4. She also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and "advocated for lowering student tuition for over 300,000 college students," according to her Miss USA bio.

Christell Foote, 24, works as a sales and marketing executive, and she is passionate about helping brands find their niche, according to her Miss USA bio.

She is also a model and has appeared on the cover of Vogue Athens.

According to her Miss USA bio, Aarieanna Ware, 26, owns Kenmare Homes, which builds custom, sustainable homes in the Dallas area.

She created the Build It Up initiative and is a thrill-seeker who enjoys sky-diving and trapezing. Ware is also a chicken owner and is "a proud Jewish woman," her Miss USA bio says.

According to her Miss USA bio, 21-year-old Alyssa Chandler works in sales but also has a passion for advocacy. She spent 18 months in Lima, Peru, teaching English and supporting communities.

A Japanese American, Chandler speaks fluent Spanish, has played the piano for over 17 years, and runs triathlons.

Samantha Vocatura, 27, attended McGill University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in computer science and economics. According to her Miss USA bio, she used her degree to launch a sustainable clothing company that makes all of its pieces in America.

Vocatura also partners with Minding Your Mind, speaking to high schoolers about her experience with depression in her teen years.

Himanvi Panidepu, 23, graduated from Virginia Tech and works in cybersecurity.

She is passionate about advocating for women in STEM careers, leading her company's Women in Tech group and creating the initiative STEMpowered Leaders.

Tiffany Rea, 27, studied crime scene investigation and psychology, and she received the presidential volunteer service award twice, according to her Miss USA bio.

Rea also volunteers for the Veterans History Project and is the proud pup parent of two rescue dogs.

Caylie Simmons, 24, is a dental hygenist who founded Miles for Smiles, which provides free oral health kits to members of her community, according to her Miss USA bio.

Simmons loves adventure, from hiking to white-water rafting, and she cofounded the Corey Simmons Memorial Scholarship.

Tori Trittin is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Madison, where she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and social work and her master's degree in social work, according to her Miss USA bio.

A practicing therapist, Tori is also working to become an animal-assisted therapist. She hopes to help remove the stigma around mental health by speaking about her own experiences with it.

Mackenzie Rush, 19, is studying nursing at South Dakota State University.

According to her Miss USA bio, she is also a member of her university's equestrian team, is ranked eighth in the US for her equestrian skills, and aspires to compete in the Olympics someday.

Rush also hopes to use her platform to advocate for those with type 1 diabetes, which she has.