Elle Smith, Miss Kentucky USA 2021, was named Miss USA 2021 on Monday night at the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Smith, 23, is a reporter for WHAS-TV, the ABC affiliate in Louisville. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in political science.
As Miss USA, Smith will move on to compete in the 2021 Miss Universe pageant on Dec. 12 in Eilat, Israel.
At Monday’s pageant, which was televised by the A&E Network’s FYI channel, Smith was crowned by Miss USA 2020, Asya Branch. Smith bested 50 other contestants, including Miss Alabama USA, Alexandria Flanigan.
Flanigan, 25, was not among 16 semi-finalists announced on Monday, so she didn’t compete in the televised swimsuit, evening gown or question-and-answer competitions. (Miss USA doesn’t have a talent competition.)
Four other contestants for Miss USA, Cassidy Jo Jacks (competing as Miss Arizona USA), Cora Griffen (competing as Miss Georgia USA), Caroline Pettey (competing as Miss South Dakota) and Bailey Mae Anderson (competing as Miss Mississippi USA) also have Alabama ties.
Jacks, 27, is from Springville. She’s a University of Alabama graduate who previously competed in the Miss Alabama pageant, which is affiliated with Miss America. Griffen, 25, is a graduate of Auburn University who also competed in the Miss Alabama pageant. Pettey, 27, is a Decatur native and Auburn graduate. Anderson, 22, attended the University of West Alabama.
Jacks and Griffen were not among the top 16 at the Miss USA finals. Anderson was among the 16 semi-finalists, but missed the cut for the top eight. Pettey made the top eight, but wasn’t among the final four.
Miss North Dakota USA, Caitlyn Vogel, was the runner-up at the pageant on Monday. Miss Florida USA, Ashley Bareto, came in third. Miss Illinois USA, Sydni Bennett, took fourth place.
Smith begins a yearlong reign as Miss USA, with Los Angeles as her base. “For the duration of her reign, she will be engaged in red carpet experiences, networking opportunities, professional photo shoots, speaking engagements and more,” the Miss USA website says. “She will also have the opportunity to promote her personal platform alongside the charitable alliances of the Miss USA Organization.”
Here’s Smith’s biographical statement for Miss USA:
“I see being a journalist in America today as an honor, and a role I take very seriously because it is such an essential part of our society. Each day is different and challenging, but I have the opportunity to connect with my community and share new perspectives.
“In my free time, I enjoy traveling, trying new restaurants and attempting to cook. I would consider myself a creative, having grown up surrounded by all forms of the arts. My father is a photographer, so I love all things photography, videography and modeling (hello future career). My mother is a classically trained pianist, so I played viola, piano and sang. Music has been an integral part of my family life thanks to my late grandmother who sadly passed away in 2015 due to cervical cancer. She inspired me to advocate for cervical cancer awareness and prevention, a mission I will continue as Miss USA.”
If Smith becomes Miss Universe, she’ll cede the Miss USA title to the first runner-up.
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