Nia Sanchez, Miss Nevada, who happens to be a fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo, a Korean form of martial arts, has been hailed Miss USA 2014. She took the crown as hers from 50 other beauties Sunday night in Louisiana.
The pageant's 1st runner-up was Miss North Dakota Audra Mari, followed by Miss Louisiana Brittany Guidry, Miss Georgia Tiana Griggs, Miss Florida Brittany Oldehoff, and Miss Iowa Carlyn Bradarich. Bradarich got the most online votes on Twitter.
The 2013 crown-owner, Erin Brady of South Glastonbury, Conn., took the crown off her head and placed it on Sanchez's as the 3-hour telecast from Louisiana's Baton Rouge Civic Center nears its end.
Sanchez, only 24 years old, will then proceed to represent the United States at the Miss Universe pageant that is scheduled later this year.
Sanchez was wearing a red floor-length fishtail-style gown as she talked about the importance of women being knowledgeable and skilled on how to defend themselves when she was asked about the high percentage of sexual assaults in college campuses today. The judge who asked this question was Judge Rumer Willis, the 25-year-old daughter of stars Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. Willis mentioned that 19% of female undergraduates in the US are victims of sexual assault, and she asked Sanchez why she thinks this issue is not being addressed appropriately and what should be done about it.
Sanchez answered the question by stating how bringing awareness to the issue was important, and how crucial it was for women to take it upon themselves to know self-defense.
The contestants entered the stage proper on a flashy float as Marc Broussard, local singer-songwriter sang "Iko Iko", a native New Orleans hit, and "Hey Pocky Way". The beauties who represented each part of America introduced themselves with a Mardi Gras mask in hand.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
