Katelyn Vinson of Dothan is ready to smile, strut and sparkle this weekend, appearing on the national stage.
As Miss Alabama USA, she’s competing in the 2022 Miss USA pageant in Reno, Nev. A total of 51 women will vie for the title, and you can see their photos in the gallery at the top of this post.
After a preliminary event on Friday, Sept. 30, and a state costume show on Sunday, Oct. 2, Miss USA contestants will gather on Monday, Oct. 3, for the finals. The main event is set for 7 p.m. CT at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno.
Tickets for the finals range from $100 to $250 via Ticketmaster, but it’s a safe bet that most Miss USA fans in Alabama will be watching the competition via the FYI Network or Hulu.
Zuri Hall of NBC’s “Access Hollywood” will host the pageant, with sideline help from Julissa Bermudez and Micah Jesse. Chloe Flower, a pop and classical pianist and composer, is set to perform at the event.
The two-hour pageant includes a swimsuit competition, evening gown competition and onstage question segment. There’s also a private interview with judges that happens offstage.
Judges for Miss USA are fashion designer Aaron Potts, Broadway producer Ashlee Clarke, fitness instructor and entrepreneur Kirk Myers, designer and model Nicole Williams-English, model and social media influencer Olivia Ponton, and former table tennis player and model Soo Yeon Lee.
Miss USA 2021, Elle Smith, will crown her successor at the conclusion, and the new title holder will begin a yearlong reign. The winner of Miss USA will move on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant on Jan. 14, 2023, in New Orleans.
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All 51 contestants for Miss USA are the winners of state pageants held earlier this year. Vinson won the title of Miss Alabama USA in January, competing as Miss Dothan USA. At the time, Vinson was a senior at Auburn University with a major in business administration and a minor in marketing.
Here’s more on Vinson, pulled from her official bio as Miss Alabama USA:
“Katelyn has a deep passion and natural ear for music. She hopes to one day become an artists and repertoire representative for a Christian record label. This goal would allow her to combine her love of music with the many different aspects of the business environment, including finance, accounting, and management she has learned during her time at Auburn.
“Her ultimate desire is to make others’ dreams a reality by scouting out developing artists and assisting them in the process of scoring a record deal.
“Katelyn enjoys staying active, whether it is walking her dog Goose, taking a yoga class, or lifting weights at the gym. Using food as medicine has taught Katelyn the power of eating foods that nourish the body. She hopes to educate and inspire people of all ages to lead healthy, balanced lifestyles.”
Finals for the 2022 Miss Teen USA pageant will take place Saturday, Oct. 1, also at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno. AnnaLee Story -- a student at Auburn University who’s majoring in nursing -- will compete as Miss Alabama Teen USA.
Live streams of various events for Miss USA and Miss Teen USA can be viewed via the Miss USA streaming service. Prices are $25-$150.
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