Miss USA’s Gown Was FedExed to Her, Says Designer: “I Was So Nervous It Wouldn’t Get to Her”

by EMILY POPP

When you think of "pageant dresses," poufy, overworked gowns with a smattering of sequins may come to mind. But that's not how it always has to be. Case in point: Miss USA winner Nia Sanchez. The 24-year-old Miss Nevada blew us away with her red, mermaid-style number designed by Michael Costello that she wore as she was crowned Miss USA 2014. It's everything a pageant dress should be. The crimson curve hugging gown totally gives us some Jessica Rabbit vibes, and it's sofigure flattering—although Nia would look stunning in a bolt of burlap (she's a fourth-degree black belt, people!).

We caught up with the designer himself, Michael Costello, and he exclusively revealed all the behind-the-scenes scoop on Nia's winning look. "We had to keep that dress top secret," explained Michael. Originally Nia tried the dress on in a different color. "I said we have to do this in red, it would be everything, yes we must do this in red." After deciding on the dress, Michael had a few tailoring tweaks to make, so he had to FedEx the dress to Nia to make sure it got to her in time. "We shipped it to Nia in Baton Rouge," said Michael. "I remember walking to FedEx, and I was so nervous it wouldn't get to her. I was so afraid. She texted me when she got it, and said, yay it fits her perfectly!"

And here's the cherry on top of the sundae: You can buy this exact dress! Michael posted a pic of Nia in his dress on Instagram with the caption, "CONGRATULATIONS to my beautiful friend @missnvusa2014 Nia Sanchez who won last night @missusa... I am so happy for you. You deserve it. I had a feeling lol!" And he added, "This dress is available to order by emailing MICHAEL@MTCOSTELLO.COM it is available in every color you can dream of. And we ship worldwide. Yup I had to throw that in :)" So, if you've got a "Gorgeous Dress Fund" that you want to break into, we've got just the gown.

Miss USA 2014, Miss Nevada USA Nia Sanchez, Crowning Video

Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez Crowned Miss USA 2014

Source: E! Online

Fourth-degree black belt and all-around stunner Nia Sanchez was crowned Miss USA 2014, the biggest battle of the now former Miss Nevada's life becoming the struggle to hold back all the tears after her name was called at the end of the three-hour beauty-and-personality-fest. Giuliana Rancic and Thomas Roberts did the hosting honors at the Baton Rouge Civic Center in Louisiana. Sanchez clasped hands and traded well wishes with first runner-up Miss North Dakota,Audra Mari, as they waited out those final seconds, but it was the 24-year-old from Las Vegas who stood alone with the bouquet, the sash and—best of all—the tiara.

Sanchez beat out 50 other fellow beauty queens to claim the title, which was handed over by Miss USA 2013 Erin Brady. Her night started to take a turn for the fabulously possible when she was named one of 20 semifinalists shortly after the show got underway. Combined with her bikini strut and her evening gown prowess, Sanchez proved to having the winning answer when judge Rumer Willisasked about recent reports regarding sexual violence on college campuses, and what sort of policy should be implemented to combat the disturbing statistics.

"I believe that some colleges may potentially be afraid of having a bad reputation and that would be a reason it could be swept under the rug, because they don't want that to come out into the public," Sanchez, a Taekwondo expert, said confidently (though by this point, every contestant's voice was wavering). "But I think more awareness is very important so women can learn how to protect themselves," she added. "Myself, as a fourth-degree black belt, I learned from a young age that you need to be confident and be able to defend yourself. And I think that's something that we should start to really implement for a lot of women."

Menifee Home Town Beauty to compete in Miss USA Contest

by Cynthia Nemelka

Former Menifee resident, Nia Sanchez, will be representing Nevada in the Miss USA Beauty Pageant as the reigning Miss Nevada USA 2014. Nia won the Miss Nevada title in January and is determined to be the first Nevada contestant to win the Miss USA title.Nia, who was born in Sacramento, California, moved to Menifee when she was eight years old with her father, David Sanchez and younger brother, “Little” David Sanchez, Jr. She graduated from Paloma Valley High School in 2008, where she won her first Crown as Paloma Valley’s Homecoming Queen. Since then, Nia has won several other titles including: Miss Citrus Valley, Miss Hollywood USA, and she was Second Runner Up in the Miss California Pageant.

As a pageant contestant, of course you have to be a well versed public speaker. Helping to hone her public speaking skills came from teaching groups of up to thirty students at her parents’ martial arts studio, Menifee Martial Arts Academy. Nia is a Certified Instructor and has a Forth Degree Black Belt.Since graduating from high school, Nia has been a regular globe trotter. She has been to twelve different countries ranging from Dubai to the Great Wall of China. When Nia finally landed from all of her travels in 2012, she touched down in Las Vegas, Nevada. Be sure not to miss cheering on Menifee’s very own Nia Sanchez on The Miss USA Contest which will be televised from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on June 8th2014 at 8pm on NBC. ALL OUR BEST NIA!!!!!

2014 Miss USA Pageant begins for Miss Nevada USA Nia Sanchez

By Robin Leach 


Two busy weeks of last-minute packing, fittings, charity events, meetings and prepping come to an end with tonight’s send-off for gorgeous 2014 Miss Nevada USA Nia Sanchez. After the Deuce Lounge party in Aria, she flies out this Memorial Day Weekend for Donald Trump’s Miss USA Pageant on June 8 and airing on NBC from Baton Rouge, La. Nia will compete against 50 other young women after 10 days of rehearsals and filming on the Mississippi River and at southeast Louisiana landmarks before reigning Miss USA Erin Brady turns over her crown to the new winner. Pageant experts have already predicted that Nia will make the Top 10 and could go into the Final Five. If Nia wins, she would then represent the USA in the Miss Universe Pageant. Our thanks to Georgina Vaughan, Fadil Berisha, Oscar Picazo and the Miss Universe Organization for their stunning photographs of Nia.

After several years of the pageant being hosted here at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, our sponsor hotels and convention authority decided to pull its financial support. It had been expected that The Donald would pick Miami Beach as the host city, but he selected Baton Rouge, the first time it has hosted Miss USA.
It’s believed from reports that Baton Rouge and Louisiana kicked in $350,000 to host the telecast in addition to waiving the arena rental and its costs. The Donald’s president, Paula Shugart, said that Baton Rouge was the site of the 2005 Miss Teen USA Pageant but that devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina later that year prevented the organization from returning. “The hospitality shown to us while we were there was second to none,” Paula said. “The sense of community that Baton Rouge has is incredibly inspiring.”
Nia faces the swimsuit, evening gown and dreaded interview and live question segments of the contest. About 100 million people are expected to watch via the internationally televised competition and simultaneously online. My earlier stories about Nia in January and March this year told of her work with our Shade Tree charity here. When Nia was just 6 years old, she spent time in a women’s shelter with her mother when her parents were divorcing. I talked with Nia as she started getting ready for her flight and pageant check-in this weekend. She’s spent this final week working with our state pageant director, Shanna Moakler, who was 1995 Miss USA.

Just days to go now. Emotionally, how do you feel at this moment?

I feel good! I’m ready! I feel like I’m really good at being this emotionally ready for something and then all the fine tuning and details I’m working with Shanna, where everything I need for interview prep and everything I need to learn how to pose when I’m with all the other contestants. I feel good emotionally.

I’m just ready and excited. I know who I am, so I don’t have to pretend to be anyone else; I just get to be me. She’s been great working with me, so I am 100 percent prepared on the interview and feeling comfortable with the walking and posing in every detail.

Have you been following national and global events and doing extra studying in case you get a dreaded question?

Oh, that’s all I do. I watch CNN and MSNBC all day every day. If I’m at home, that’s what’s on TV. You have to be prepared for anything. I have become a news junkie. When you watch it, then you have to sit there and think, “Well, what’s my opinion on this subject?” It’s not just learning about it, but also then figuring out your opinion about it.

You can only go with one suitcase, and it has to last you a year in case you win because if you get the crown, the very next morning you are off to New York for 12 months, and you don’t get home to Las Vegas for a year.

Right — that’s so true. You have to pack because you’re possibly leaving for an entire year. One suitcase has to last you one year in the event you win.

And you have to be prepared. So it means the phone has to be taken care of, the electricity has to be taken care of before you leave. Are you beginning to take care of all of those things before you go?

I am. I’m getting everything in order just in case I happen to be living in New York. I have a roommate here, we live in a house together, so I told her that I’ll pay another month’s rent and then I’ll have somebody come out and pack everything up to put in storage for me, so I’m prepared.

How does a young lady, without getting too personal, pack a year of her life into one suitcase?

I don’t have that many physical things that are really important to me, so I would pack photos of my family and some of my essential outfits and shoes. I feel like everything else I can get by — I’ll get it later.

How do you prepare to do all this? Do you write down a list or do you sit at the computer and work out 52 weeks?

It’s funny that you asked that. I have pages and pages and pages of lists of things to do, things to pack, things to watch and learn about, everything. Then pages and pages of appointments and meetings with my sponsor; I’m a list girl. I have it all written down.

So who is your shoulder in this? Do you have a shoulder?

I have three shoulders, actually. I have Shanna, and she’s amazing because I can call her for anything and she’s always available to answer any questions. And my boyfriend and my mom. I talk to my mom every single day; we’re talking about pageant stuff. She’s actually coming out today so she can help me get packed and get everything organized ahead of time before I leave.

My boyfriend is always there for emotional support. If I’m having a day where there is so much going on and I just need someone to talk to, he’s always there for me. I have three shoulders. Plus, my own two! I’m just really lucky to have people around me who are so supportive right now. I’m so lucky to have Shanna, who’s able to focus her attention on me and get me 100 percent ready. She’s the best.

Nia, how has your life changed since January when you won Miss Nevada?

It’s changed 100 percent. I feel like I’ve been really blessed with all of my sponsors, and I feel like I’ve become even more of a well-rounded person. I thought I was at 100 percent when I was at Miss Nevada, but with my sponsors and Shanna, I’ve been able to really focus in on who I am and who I want to be when I go to Miss USA. It’s been a great journey so far.

Now you’ve told me before that you were racked with nerves just thinking about getting ready for the Miss Nevada interview. Do you think you’ve overcome those fears now going into the Miss USA Pageant?

When it came to it, I was actually very calm and at peace. I had a lot of friends and family sending lots of positive text messages and praying for me, and it just put me at ease. Even going into the interview, which for me is one of the most nerve-wracking things at times, I felt really, really calm and comfortable, and I want to carry that on to Miss USA.

I want to be just calm, comfortable and have a good time. That’s what it’s really about. If you have a good time and you are who you are, that’s who wins. The girl that’s just being herself. That’s what I want to do; try not to be nervous.

When you’re in a very quiet frame of mind by yourself, do you think back to where your life began in terms of running away to Japan and Disney World and here you are now, representing our Silver State, going to the Miss USA Pageant? Go beyond just pinching yourself? How does it all feel at 24 years of age?

I feel like everything happens for a reason because I started competing in pageants when I was 19. I feel like I would have had a completely different experience if I had won a state title at 19 or 20 or 21. I feel like my travels and life experiences, even being in a really unhealthy relationship and having the strength to get out of that, have made me more prepared to handle anything that comes my way.

I feel like winning at an older age, for the pageant world I’m a bit older, I feel like you appreciate the experience so much more because I’m mature enough to handle it.

How do you deal with the … stress is not quite the right word … how do you deal with the nervousness of being cut down from 51 to 15 right out of the box, and then 10 and then five? I’ve already seen pageant blogging putting you in the Top 10. When you stand there on that stage and they’re calling out names and states, do the knees knocks? Does the heart jump? Do butterflies get in your stomach? How do you avoid that natural nervousness?

I mean that certainly happens. It’s part of the excitement. Everybody is going to be a little bit nervous. I go into it mentally thinking whatever is supposed to happen is supposed to happen. If I’m going to win, I’m going to win, and there’s nothing that anyone else can do to prepare differently.

But if I’m not supposed to win, then I’m going to be where I’m supposed to be. I feel like having that mental thought process going into it puts me a little bit more at ease, but I'm always going to be a little bit nervous up there.

Is there one secret that you’re taking to the pageant with you? One beauty queen secret other than butt glue for the swimsuit?

That’s a good one! I have a lot of friends, four of whom won Miss California and one who went on to USA, and I’ve been asking them for their advice. Their secret primarily is just going into it with the right mentality. Envisioning your self winning, envisioning yourself having fun, because if you envision somebody else winning, then somebody else is going to win. You just have to go into it with the right mentality.

I also received really great advice from my friend Raquel, who was a Miss California, and she said just to bring lots of pictures of family, make it feel like home. She said bring pictures of your family, bring a candle and just always love on your family and communicate with them because it can get really hectic and overwhelm you.

Well just know all of Las Vegas will be rooting for you.

Please invite everybody to my send-off party at Aria on Friday night! That’ll get me all fired up to bring home the title and the crown. Since the pageant began in 1952, nobody from Nevada has ever won it. I’ll do my best to be the first!

Nia Sanchez Crowned Miss Nevada USA 2014

By faraway

Nia Sanchez, Miss South Las Vegas was crowned Miss Nevada USA 2014 pageant on Sunday night, January 12 after competing against 32 contestants from all across the state at Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the Campus of UNLV in Nevada. Chelsea Caswell of Summerlin who crowned Miss Nevada USA 2013 , handed over the coveted crown to Sanchez, who placed first runner up at Miss Tourismo Latino in Ecuador
Sanchez, 24, won after passing three equal categories: evening gown, swimsuit and private question-and-answer session. Stephanie Cook , Miss Spring Valley finished first runner-up while Miss Clark County, Jessica Davis was named the second runner-up.

Brittany McGowan, Miss Southern Highlands placed as third runner-up while the fourth runner-up selected as Cierra Jackson, Miss Sunrise Manor. Sanchez , who wins a scholarship to Lindenwood University will represent Nevada at the finals of the nationally televised Miss USA 2014 pageant in June, which it could be held at Donald Trump's Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Doral, Florida. The winner of Miss USA 2014 will represent the United States at the 63rd edition of the Miss Universe 2014 pageant.

In the same night Alexa Taylor, Miss Summerlin was crowned Miss Nevada Teen USA 2014.

Miss Nevada USA Hopefuls Get Tips from Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella

Written by SUSAN STAPLETON

 | Published in EVENTS, HAUTE TV, NEWS

Anticipation was running high on Saturday as pageant hopefuls gathered for the official 2014 Miss Nevada USA and Miss Nevada Teen USA pageant orientation at Life Time Athletic Summerlin. Former Miss USA and executive state director of the Miss Nevada USA organization, Shanna Moakler was accompanied by current Miss Nevada USA Chelsea Caswell and Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella.

The pageant contestants had the exciting opportunity to gain insight and advice about the pageant, taking place on Sunday, Jan. 12, from reigning Nevada beauty Caswell and former queens Moakler and Campanella. The beauty queens mingled and posed for photos, before stopping by LifeSpa + Salon by Michael Boychuck, the official hair sponsor for the Miss Nevada USA organization, located inside Life Time Athletic. To conclude the fun-filled day, the contestants enjoyed a dynamic course in women’s self-defense taught by Life Time Athletic instructors Matt Hodges and Eric Watts.

Miss Nevada USA and Miss Nevada Teen USA to be Crowned this January

Miss Nevada USA Chelsea Caswell and Miss Nevada Teen USA Amanda Jenkins will crown their successors at the Miss Nevada USA 2014 pageant at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014(Pictured: Miss Nevada USA Chelsea Caswell and Miss Nevada Teen USA Amanda Jenkins). Hosted by Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella and Chet Buchanan of 98.5 KLUC, the2014 Miss Nevada USA pageant will name the next state royalty to represent Nevada at the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA competitions in 2014. Singer and songwriter Brett Young will entertain guests with live performances throughout the competition.

The gorgeous contestants will be judged in three areas of competition including interview, swimsuit and evening gown. The competition’s judges include famed surgeon Dr. Aaron Rollins, lead designer for OmniPeace by Double Zero, Jason Hee Chul Kim, celebrity columnist Robin Leach, former Miss USA Gretchen Polhemus, former international model Nicole Murphy, Las Vegas entertainer Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie, co-founder of WOW! Creations Matthew Harris, former Miss Nevada USA 2012 Jade Kelsall, talent agent Nick Roses and renowned television personality Faye Resnick. The star-studded judging panel will assess each contestant by their character, poise, confidence and personality.

Throughout their reign, the beauty queens will make their mark on the community with charitable endeavors, will become style icons on the red carpet and will bring pride and joy to their state while competing at Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. Miss Nevada USA 2014 and Miss Nevada Teen USA 2014 will win a prize package full of cash prizes, exquisite attire, shoes, travel and scholarships while enjoying a year in the spotlight.