The 64th Miss USA pageant Miss USA 2015 will be held on July 12, 2015 at the Baton Rouge River Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Nia Sanchez of Nevada will crown her successor at the end of the event. All fifty states and the District of Columbia will compete for the crown. The winner will represent the USA in the Miss Universe 2015 competition.
After several presenters have backed out from the Miss USA 2015 following the controversial racist comments by presidential aspirant and business mogul Donald Trump's against Mexican immigrants, TMZ reported that Reelz has signed up Daytime Emmy winning TV presenter 2001 Miss Universe presenter Todd Newton, 2009 Miss USA Wisconsin Alex Wehrley and "OK! TV" host Julia Alexandria to host this year's Miss USA.
Reelz took over the broadcast rights of the Miss Universe pageants after NBC dropped the show also in protest of Trump's remarks.
TMZ said Alexandria will busy interviews and coverage backstage during the competition to be held on Sunday night.
Original hosts Cheryl Burke, Thomas Roberts, and Jeannie Mai declined to host this year's Miss USA to join a chorus of voices against Trump's statement.
Mai issued a statement on Instagram, thejeanimai, explaining her decision to drop out from Miss USA 2015. She wrote, "Last week I announced my heart-felt decision to support the women of Miss USA by remaining on board as a co-host. My focus was strictly on the women involved, who share the same ethics of hard work, commitment and passion for their careers and causes that I do. I have co-hosted for the last five years various Miss Universe events, and I'm grateful for the many women I've met and friends I've made along the way. I feel terrible that the women competing this year have fallen victim to current events.
"Let me be clear, I condemn the recent words of Mr. Trump, and find them immensely offensive. At the time I made my decision to remain part of the Miss USA pageant, I was under the impression that Mr. Trump would no longer be involved in the production of the show in any capacity what so ever. In addition, given Mr. Trump's ongoing antics, including his most recent episode today with the current Miss Universe, it is clear that Mr. Trump's actions have and will continue to distract focus away from the real stars of the show - the women involved in the pageant.
Therefore, I am respectfully withdrawing from my responsibilities and commitment as co-host of Miss USA."
Earlier, 2014 Miss Universe Paulina Vega of Colombia slammed Trump's "racist remarks" against Mexican immigrants.
Vega posted on her Instagram account, "I find Mr. Trump's comments unjust and hurtful. As a Colombian and as Miss Universe, I want to show my support and validate the sentiments of the Latin community."
She went on to say, "I strongly believe that dividing and categorizing humankind only holds it back. Acknowledging and embracing the differences that exist across humanity is the first step in real and substantial development. We must strive together in order to improve the common good."
Here are the contestants of this year's Miss USA:
Alabama - Madison Guthrie
Alaska - Kimberly Agron
Arizona - Maureen Montagne
Arkansas - Leah Blefko
California - Natasha Martinez
Colorado - Talyah Polee
Connecticut - Ashley Golebiewski
Delaware - Renee Bull
District Of Columbia - Lizzy Olsen
Florida - Ashleigh Lollie
Georgia - Brooke Fletcher
Hawaii - Emma Wo
Idaho - Claira Hollingsworth
Illinois - Renee Wronecki
Indiana - Gretchen Reece
Iowa - Taylor Even
Kansas - Alexis Railsback
Kentucky - Katie George
Louisiana - Candice Bennatt
Maine - Heather Elwell
Maryland - Mame Adjei
Massachusetts - Polikseni Manxhari
Michigan - Rashontae Wawrzyniak
Minnesota - Jessica Scheu
Mississippi - Courtney Byrd
Missouri - Rebecca Dunn
Montana - Tahnee Peppenger
Nebraska - Hoang-Kim Cung
Nevada - Brittany McGowan
New Hampshire - Samantha Poirier
New Jersey - Vanessa Oriolo
New Mexico - Alexis Duprey
New York - Thatiana Diaz
North Carolina - Julia Dalton
North Dakota - Molly Ketterling
Ohio - Sarah Newkirk
Oklahoma - Olivia Jordan
Oregon - Bridget Wilmes
Pennsylvania - Elizabeth Cardillo
Rhode Island - Anea Garcia
South Carolina - Sarah Weishuhn
South Dakota - Lexy Schenk
Tennessee - Kiara Young
Texas - Ylianna Guerra
Utah - Nicol Powell
Vermont - Jackie Croft
Virginia - Laura Puleo
Washington - Kenzi Novell
West Virginia - Andrea Mucino
Wisconsin - Haley Laundrie
Wyoming - Caroline Sc
Miss USA President Paula Shugart said last week that the Miss USA pageant would stream online if other options did not pan out, but she said that before Reelz stepped in to air the program. Tuesday was the first time Miss USA established that the pageant would broadcast on television and online, and the organization changed its online ads to reflect it.
