Miss Earth USA (formerly Miss Earth United States) is an annual beauty pageant which selects the United States representative to Miss Earth which is an annual international beauty pageant promoting environmental awareness.[1][2][3]
The current Miss Earth USA is Bea Millan-Windorski from Wisconsin. Millan-Windorski was crowned on December 31, 2023, by Miss Earth USA 2023, Danielle Mullins, from Kentucky at the Rosen Center in Orlando, Florida.
In January 2016, owners of Miss Earth, Carousel Productions, Inc., announced, through their official Facebook fan page, that the Miss Earth USA program would be managed by U.S. Earth Productions/Beauty Beyond Borders, Inc. under the leadership of national director Laura Clark.
In August 2018, the current organization announced it would be changing its name to Miss Earth USA.[4]
History
2001-2004: Ms. America International
From 2001 to 2005 participants were selected by the Ms. America International pageant where the prize was to represent the United States at the Miss Earth Pageant.[citation needed]
The very first American delegate for Miss Earth was Abigail Royce[5] of California. She competed in 2001 where she landed as one of the Top 10 semifinalists.[6][7]
2005-2015: Earth Pageant Productions
In 2005, Earth Pageant Productions acquired the rights to run Miss Earth USA, in which the winner would go on to Miss Earth.[citation needed] The pageant adopted the slogan "Continuing the Legacy of Beauty and Responsibility". The pageant focused mainly on promoting environmental causes and the winners were chosen equally on their physical attributes as well as their understanding and knowledge of the issues affecting the Earth.[8][9][10] Miss Teen Earth USA was added in 2008, and was held in conjunction with the Miss Earth USA.[citation needed]
2016-Present: U.S. Earth Productions/Beauty Beyond Borders, Inc.
The US Earth Productions/Beauty Beyond Borders, Inc. is the current organization that owns and has runs Miss Earth USA since 2016. The organization is based in Washington, D.C.[11]
National Competition
Pre-pageant events take place over a one-week period and include community service work within the host location. Delegates are scored in the following areas: judges' interview, evening gown, swimwear, a Think Global, Act Local environmental project,[12] runway, photogenic, media interview, and social media presence and engagement. In 2023 the current prize value for the top national titleholder for Miss Earth USA was valued at over $100,000 from prize awards, endorsements, and travel.[13]
State & Regional Competitions
Every year, states hold a preliminary competition to choose their delegate for the Miss Earth USA pageant. Delegates may be appointed state or regional titles if a state pageant is not offered in their area. The state/regional winners hold the title "Miss (State/Region) Earth USA" for the year of their reign.
State contestants are judged equally in the following categories: community service, gown, interview, photogenic, and swimwear.
The U.S. Earth Productions/Beauty Beyond Borders, Inc. organization awards directorships to pageant directors, who in some cases are responsible for more than one state or a region of the United States.
Currently, the Miss Earth USA organization does allow contestants to re-compete at the national pageant in the same division under the previous state title held, or a regional title, if a state title has already been awarded or appointed.
Performance at Miss Earth
In 2020, Lindsey Coffey is the first U.S. representative to win Miss Earth during their 20th anniversary. Marisa Butler, Miss Earth USA 2021, Emanii Davis, Miss Earth USA 2019, and Andrea Neu, Miss Earth USA 2014, placed first-runner up as Miss Earth - Air in their respective years competing at Miss Earth.[14][15]
^ abcTook over or held the title for a brief period of time after the original winner won or elevated to Miss Earth's runner-up, and thus did not compete at Miss Earth.
The current Miss Earth USA program requires contestants be ages 18–26 as of January 1 of the competition year. U.S. Earth Productions/Beauty Beyond Borders, Inc. offers three additional divisions supporting Miss Earth USA. The winners of the additional divisions for ages 14–18 (Teen) and 21-59 (Mrs.) go on to compete at international competitions. Previously the program had an Elite Miss division for ages 26–38, but it was discontinued in 2022. All delegates are never married (excluding Mrs.), never had children (excluding Mrs.), natural born female, and U.S. citizens.[18] Together, these delegates make up Miss Earth USA system and bring awareness to environmental concerns while celebrating talents in modeling, fashion, and public speaking.[19]
2022: Presley Patrick previously represented Pennsylvania at Teen Miss Earth USA 2021, placing 2nd runner-up.
2022: Christine Rich previously represented Maryland at Mrs. USA Earth 2021 and 2019, placing 2nd and 3rd runner-up and Delaware at Mrs. USA Earth 2018, placing 1st runner-up. Christine was previously Mrs. Delaware America 2013, Mrs. Delaware United States 2015, placing top 15 at Mrs. United States, and Mrs. Delaware Galaxy 2018, placing 2nd runner-up at Mrs. Galaxy International.
2019: Celine Pelofi was previously Ms. United States 2015 representing Florida.
^Palmero, Paul (2005-06-18). "Pageant History". Pageant Almanac. Archived from the original on 2008-12-12. Retrieved 2010-01-12.((cite news)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^Sullivan, Jerriann (2009-07-19). "Pageant promotes Earth". Central Florida Future of the University of Central Florida. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
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