Friday, May 3, 2019

[Americana:] 5 major moments you missed during Miss USA 2019 (including the monokinis)


, USA TODAYPublished 11:16 p.m. ET May 2, 2019 | Updated 8:13 a.m. ET May 3, 2019

Miss USA 2019: 3 big moments you missed
Image from article, with caption:  This year, the top three competitors were all minorities and monokinis were sprinkled into the swimsuit portion of the pageant. USA TODAY
Didn't have time to tune into the 2019 Miss USA pageant? We've got you covered.
From diversity to interesting music choices, we've rounded up highlights from this year's competition, which saw Miss North Carolina Cheslie Kryst take home the crownin Reno, Nevada Thursday. 
The 28-year-old lawyer from Charlotte said she was glad to be competing in Nevada because it's the first and only state in the nation with female majorities in both houses of the state legislature.
Alejandra Gonzalez of New Mexico was the first-runner up, and Oklahoma's Triana Browne the second-runner up during the competition.
Here are five major moments you missed from the show.

A diverse Top 3
One thing this year's competition wasn't lacking? Diversity. 
The top three competitors were all minorities: winner Miss North Carolina (Kryst) is African-American; Miss New Mexico (Gonzalez) is a first generation Mexican-American); and Miss Oklahoma (Browne) said onstage she's a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation whose father is white and mother is African American.
Browne commented on diversity during the Q&A round of the competition. "That's what Miss USA represents, is a diverse woman," said the 26-year-old. 
“Throughout my life, I was bullied for being too black for the white kids and too white for the black kids. I was even told once to go back to my country,” Browne said. “I decided to bridge the divide... I am Chickasaw, African-American and Caucasian. I am representation of our great multicultural nation.”
The top 10 was also a diverse group, with Miss Arkansas, Miss Ohio, Miss Kansas, Miss North Carolina, Miss District of Colombia, Miss New Mexico, Miss Maryland, Miss Florida, Miss Nevada and Miss Oklahoma.

One-piece swimsuits mixed in with bikinis

During this year's show, two contestants swapped out the standard bikini for a floral one-piece suit. Miss Ohio and Miss Iowa wore one-shouldered monokinis that covered up a bit more skin, but still had a cut-out at the waist. 

Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters' huge engagement ring

Miss Universe 2017 Nel-Peters, who acted as a judge during this year's competition, flashed her huge engagement ring during the broadcast. The South African model and pageant titleholder is engaged to professional football player Tim Tebow.

Nick Lachey serenaded the ladies

During the evening gown portion of the pageant, the competitors weren't the only ones soaking up the spotlight.
Co-host Lachey took to the stage singing "The Way You Look Tonight" as women showed off their gorgeous gowns. 
Lachey's wife, Vanessa Lachey, co-hosted.
 A Lizzo song caused a Twitter eruption
Lachey's singing wasn't the only music that caused a stir during the night. During the swimsuit competition, Lizzo's "Juice," which is all about body positivity and celebrating curves, played while svelte contestants walked onstage – and viewers had mixed reactions.
"Yaaaas for ‘Juice’ by @lizzo being the song these ladies walk out to during the swimsuit portion," one person tweeted.
Other's were a little confused by the choice.
"Anybody else find it interesting that they’re choosing to play Lizzo at the Miss USA pageant??? Seems like a bunch of skinny girls walking the catwalk in bikinis might not have been what she was thinking of when she did 'Juice,' " one person tweeted.
"ILYSM @lizzo but WHO signed off on 'Juice' for the *swimsuit* competition of Miss USA, of all parts," one person tweeted.
And some wanted to know Lizzo's thoughts on the music choice.
"Is @lizzo into her song being played for the Miss USA swimsuit round?" one person tweeted.
Lizzo has yet to comment

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