Ex-Miss Delaware Fights to Win Title Back, Compete in Miss America Pageant

by REBECCA MACATEE

Beauty pageants aren't always pretty—just ask former Miss Delaware 2014 Amanda Longacre! The 24-year-old was stripped of her title Tuesday when pageant officials determined she was too old to compete in the pageant (The Miss America Organization has a rule stating that contestants must be 17 to 24 years old, and Amanda will turn 25 in October.)

First runner-up Brittany Lewis, 24, was crowned Miss Delaware Thursday, and will go on to compete in the Miss America pageant on Sept. 14. And while Amanda has learned she will get to keep the $9,000 in scholarship money she originally won (this amount will also be awarded to Brittany), she appeared on Today Monday and told Savannah Guthrie she wants "the title I rightfully won" back.

VIDEO: Ex-Miss Delaware tearfully breaks down on Today over lost title
"I am Miss Delaware. I was nothing but honest from the beginning. I did not know that rule, I did not know that rule at all, and they reiterated to me since they beginning that I was eligible to compete," she said. "I asked from the beginning, 'Am I eligible?' They said yes, they signed off on my contract, they had my birth certificate. I gave them everything." Her lawyer explained to Today, "What we want is to see Amanda compete at Miss America and serve as Miss Delaware, and to our mind, that's what's fair. If we have to sue to do it, we will, but our goal really here is that she be allowed to enjoy the title that she's earned."

American Beauties crowned to represent the USA in Grand Slam Pageants

 Source: Global Beauties

The 2014 Miss U.S. International was held at the East Main Gate Inn in Kissimmee, Florida, on June 27th. Two beauties were crowned at the conclusion of the event. Samantha Brooks, from California, was crowned as Miss U.S. International 2014 and will represent the USA in the Miss International Beauty pageant to be held in Tokyo, Japan, November 11th.

Meanwhile, Allyn Rose, from Maryland, was crowned Miss U.S. Supranational 2014. A former Miss Maryland USA and Miss District of Columbia (for Miss America), Allyn will travel to Poland to compete in the international finals of Miss Supranational to be held on December 5th. 38 delegates competed in the beauty pageant organized by Harrison Productions. Congratulations to the winners.

Allyn Rose

Samantha Brooks

Miss Florida pageant crowns wrong woman after scoring error

BY AYANA STEWARTMIAMIHERALD.COM

After Elizabeth Fechtel was crowned Miss Florida 2014 on Saturday, sorority sisters gushed on social media. Several news outlets interviewed the Leesburg native. Fechtel called the pageant life-changing, saying she was “privileged and thrilled to have become Miss Florida.” The excitement was short-lived. Late Thursday, pageant officials visited Fechtel to inform her of a massive error: The crown should’ve gone to the first runner-up instead. The Miami-based organization released a press release Friday saying that a tabulation mistake resulted in the title being awarded to Fechtel instead of runner-up Victoria Cowen. Fechtel planned to take a year off from her studies at the University of Florida to prepare for the Miss America Pageant, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The university shared a congratulatory message on Twitter and sent out a press release. By Friday evening, the statement was updated to reflect the pageant error. But the Miss Florida website still showed Fechtel next to a sparkling “Miss Florida” graphic. Florida isn’t the only state making news for pageant blunders. Amanda Longacre, Miss Delaware, had her title revoked Tuesday because she turns 25 in October, which violates Miss America rules. Participants cannot turn 25 before the end of 2014. While Longacre will reportedly keep the $9,000 in scholarship money she received with the crown, the Tampa Bay Times reports that Fechtel will have to give her scholarship winnings to Cowen. The national pageant will be held in Atlantic City, N.J. Calls to the pageant’s president and executive director Mary E. Sullivan weren't returned as of Friday afternoon. Late Friday, the Miss America organization shared a headshot of Cowen on its Facebook page and congratulated her on her new title.

“We thank Elizabeth Fechtel and wish her the very best,” the post adds. Further down, there’s a post with nearly 3,000 likes from earlier in the week — a smiling portrait of Fechtel. The caption reads, “Congratulations to Elizabeth Fechtel on being crowned Miss Florida 2014!”

Nia Sanchez's First 48 Hours as Miss USA 2014

Dad Waltzes With Disabled Daughter to Win Pageants

ABC US News | ABC Sports News

By GILLIAN MOHNEY via GOOD MORNING AMERICA

Mike Carey, of Dallas, Georgia, never imagined that he would be participating in pageants. But as dancing partner to his 12-year-old daughter McKenzie, Carey has spent a good amount of time on stage. McKenzie has mitochondrial disease, which affects the 12-year-old’s ability to speak and move and has left her in a wheelchair. The disease results from the failure of mitochondria, which are responsible for 90 percent of the body’s energy. As the mitochondria fail, so do the cells. According to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, mitochondrial disease usually damages cells in heart, liver and skeletal muscles and respiratory systems, as well as the brain.

McKenzie’s mother, Tammy Carey, started putting her daughter into pageants at age 5 as a way to bond with her daughter and to help McKenzie meet new friends. “We’re trying to figure out ways to help our daughter and help her enjoy life, and pageants give her an opportunity to be like other children,” said Tammy Carey, who noted that McKenzie can’t speak but understands those around her. However, McKenzie’s condition confined her to a wheelchair, creating a problems for the competition. Since Tammy Carey refused to enter her daughter only in pageants for special needs children, she had to figure out a plan for McKenzie when she was needed to perform onstage. Eventually during a particularly hectic pageant day, Mike Carey had an idea.

“You leave it up to me,” Mick Carey told his wife before taking the stage with his daughter. “I wheeled her up on the stage and I did a wheelie across the stage and I picked her up [to dance]. ... I made up a dance in my head. The crowd went crazy.” The pair has been performing together in pageants ever since and Mike Carey estimates he’s planned out seven dances for his daughter. McKenzie has won about 20 pageants, according to her mom. At a recent pageant, Carey’s son taped the pair’s latest performance and put it online to raise awareness about the disease as the family raises money online to fund medical treatments for McKenzie. In just two days the video has already gotten more than 220,000 views with people as far as New Zealand chiming in. “I’m like ‘Holy cow where did this come from?’” said Mike Carey.

The pair aren’t stopping now. They’re already planning to attend a national pageant in Nebraska. McKenzie’s mom is working on the outfits and make-up and her dad is already choreographing his next dance. “If I get one person [inspired], it made the whole song and whole thing worthwhile,” said Carey. “It’s like an unspoken message. This dance is alike an unspoken testimony and shows bond and love between a father and daughter.”

2014 Miss Indiana Crowning: The Greatest Winning Reaction.. Ever!

Source:  http://www.thepageantplanet.com/

There have been many great pageant reactions out there, and we’ve even counted down some of the best reactions.  Audra Casterline, however, not only took away the 2014 Miss Indiana crown, but she even took away my opinion of the best winning reaction.  Now, I can’t quite tell what her initial reaction was to hearing her being named the winner, but it definitely is a big mix of shock, disbelief, and an overwhelming feeling joy.  I really look forward to seeing her year and what she brings to Miss America as Miss Indiana.  For now, let’s reminisce over this beautiful moment.  Check it out below!

Karlie Major crowned Miss Utah 2014 Saturday night

By Jackie Hicken, Deseret News

Miss Cache Valley Karlie Major traded in her old title and will now spend the next year promoting her platform — Get Real: Embracing a Positive Body Image Through Media Smarts — across the state after she was crowned Miss Utah 2014 at Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City Saturday.

It's a task and a platform she's excited to bring to the national stage as she represents Utah at the Miss America competition in Atlantic City in September. "There hasn't been a platform yet at Miss America that is promoting and educating and empowering youth in media literacy," Major said Saturday. "This is such a relevant issue." As Miss Utah 2014, Major will also act as an ambassador for the Miss America Organization's national platform, the Children's Miracle Network. During Saturday's competition, 10 finalists were chosen from 48 titleholders based on preliminary scores from Wednesday, Thursday and Friday competition. The finalists were Bailey Johnson, Miss Davis County; Kelby Tyler, Miss Pioneer Valley; Lauren Wilson, Miss Pleasant Grove; Mallory Rogers, Miss Panoramaland; McKenna King, Miss Wasatch County; Sasha Heaps, Miss Provo; Kira Hannemann, Miss Northern Utah County; Chelsi Lukens, Miss Legacy; Abbey Eyre, Miss UVU and Major.

Lukens was named the fourth runner-up and took home a $600 scholarship. Heaps was named the third runner-up and received an $800 scholarship. Wilson, the second runner-up, was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and Eyre, as first runner-up, received a $3,000 scholarship. As the new Miss Utah, Major was awarded a $10,000 scholarship. Other awards given Saturday night included the 2014 Children's Miracle Network Miracle Maker Award, which went to Miss Roy Brittni Strickland, who raised more than $6,000 for the Children's Miracle Network. The Miss America scholastic award went to Miss Pioneer Valley Kelby Tyler, while the Miss America service award went to Miss Lehi Dania Rice. Tyler also received the Sadie Huish Memorial Scholarship during an earlier night of competition. Additional awards included the Spirit of Miss Utah award, which is voted on by the contestants and went to Miss Pacific Islander Whitney Matagi, and the Glenn Harman Instrumental Music Awards, which went to Miss Utah County Hannah Harkness and Miss Garfield County Baylee Palmer.

This year, the Miss Utah Organization partnered with the non-profit charity organization Dando Amor and participated in their "Shoes for Love" program, collecting more than 70,000 pairs of shoes for children in Ecuador, Africa and Haiti. The new Miss Utah Karlie Major and Miss Draper Kelsey Blaser were honored for their work in collecting the most shoes out of the 48 contestants. During the first night of competition Wednesday, Lukens, the eventual fourth runner-up, took home a preliminary talent award for her performance of "And I Am Telling You," from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, and Miss Lehi Dania Rice claimed a lifestyle and fitness award. On Thursday, Lukens won a lifestyle and fitness preliminary award, while Miss Utah County Hannah Harkness won the talent preliminary with her piano performance of "Flight of the Bumblebee."

During Friday's competition, Heaps, Saturday's third runner-up, took home a lifestyle and fitness preliminary award and Eyre, Saturday's first runner-up, won the talent award for her dance performance. Each preliminary award winner received a $100 scholarship. More than 700 young women competed in local Miss America-affiliated pageants throughout Utah this year, with the 48 titleholders raising $9,000 and donating some 1,100 hours of service to the Children's Miracle Network. These 48 young women also have dedicated a combined 19,000 hours of service and raised $456,000 to support their personal platforms.

From a Miss USA: The Difference Between Miss America & Miss USA

by Kristen Dalton Wolfe 

Editor’s Note: This is not a commentary on either winner pictured in the cover photo. This is strictly a commentary of the overall purpose of each organization.

One of the most commonly asked questions during my year as Miss USA was, “What is the difference between Miss USA & Miss America?” My pageant friends, whether competitors, supporters or friends/family in either program have experienced this question too and reasonably so. Over the years, I have noticed that rather than using this innocent question as an opportunity to empower women by highlighting the benefits of each program, it has served as a source of division. A defensive tone is taken while each party tries to prove that one program is better than the other. This past week, I spent 5 days judging the Miss NC America pageant. I competed in the program myself, so I was aware of the invaluable benefits and ideals it affords young women. But, as a former Miss USA that has been heavily involved in the Miss Universe Organization for years, this past week turned on a light switch. We are all in it for the same purpose. Although different, the ultimate goal of each program is to enrich the lives of young women. Why don’t we uplift and support each other?

I was so impressed with the Miss America program, especially how it operates in North Carolina. The calibre of young women blew me away. They are top of their classes, Student Body Presidents, published authors, internationally traveled performers and founders of organizations. I was judging the Teen program and was practically mind-blown by their sharp, intelligent, diplomatic, well-spoken interviews, which are conducted like a press-conference. I had to keep reminding myself that they were teenagers!

Each one of them are truly leaders of their generation and it is largely in part due to the empowering standards & ideals of the Miss America Organization that these women have learned the benefit of rising above the status quo. As I sat there conducting the interviews, I thought to myself, “I hope my daughter will look up to someone like her.”

I was impressed to learn that Miss South Carolina 2012 Ali Rogers, who judged alongside me earned $63,000 in scholarship money. The women who compete in the Miss America program win thousands of dollars in scholarship money, not only at the national and state levels, but at their local levels too. These women are able to further their educations, obtain Masters degrees and have the freedom to start their careers debt-free. Being surrounded primarily by Miss America enthusiasts for the week, many people wanted to know what the Miss Universe Organization is all about and what my experience as Miss USA was like. I excitedly explained that I got to live in New York City for a year, represent our country in the Miss Universe competition, had Donald Trump as my first boss out of college and traveled the nation speaking in schools. I was also privileged to raise awareness and funding for breast and ovarian cancer research and volunteering with the USO.

The prestige of the title led to great relationships and opportunities after the crown as well. A fantastic career has developed with a company I have been with for 5 years. I’ve been in several national commercials, Super Bowl commercials and have been the National LA Fitness Spokesmodel for the past two years. The interpersonal, mental strength and public speaking skills I gained have prepared me for my ultimate career goal, which is operating my own company and motivational speaking. Miss USA may have originated as a swimsuit competition and they may still place an emphasis on beauty in the actual competition, but the life skills gained in the preparation process and in the actual job of a titleholder are immeasurable and enriching. Ultimately, involvement in the organization can cultivate and lead to successful careers and financial independence for young women. Just look at Ali Landry, Shandi Finnessey, Rachel Smith, Susie Castillo and Kimberly Pressler. They are all incredibly intelligent, driven women. A common belief is that USA girls are pretty and America girls are smart. As a matter of fact, when I won Miss NC USA, someone said the answer I should give when asked the difference between the two is this:

“Miss America is the girl who lives next door, Miss USA is the girl you wish lived next door.”

I remember feeling so off-put by that off-putting definition. After this week, I whole-heartedly understand why. It is because at the end of the day, both Miss America and Miss USA are programs that promote and cultivate the empowerment and success of young women. They are both aiming to be relevant and fresh while being good role-models, so that young girls have someone truly honorable to emulate. Yes, each program has a different approach and thank goodness! They both provide an outlet for a wide range of young women to participate with their individual strengths, interests and career goals. Competitors in both organizations are beautiful and smart. Let’s make it black and white. Let’s stop saying beauty defines one and intelligence defines the other. Next time you are asked the difference between Miss America and Miss USA, here is a response that empowers both organizations:

Miss America is the leading provider of scholarships for women in the nation and Miss USA is a salary-based position that represents our nation at the Miss Universe competition. The preparation that goes into each competition fosters self-confidence, excellent communication skills, a resilience in regards to rejection and constructive criticism, drive, goal-setting, poise, self and global awareness.

I’ll end on this note. It was my platform title when I competed at Miss NC America: It was my platform title when I competed at Miss NC America:

United We Stand, Divided We Fall Behind.

Miss Florida crowned in St. Petersburg

By Mark Schlueb, Orlando Sentinel

A Leesburg woman was crowned Miss Florida Saturday night, earning her a spot in the Miss America pageant in September. Elizabeth Fechtel, a 20-year-old junior at the University of Florida, took the top spot after first being among the five finalists in the Miss Florida Scholarship Pageant held at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg over the past several days.

Fechtel won a preliminary swimsuit competition on Wednesday, and danced to Pharrell Williams' song "Happy" in a preliminary talent competition. Fechtel, who is currently Miss University of Florida, graduated from First Academy-Leesburg and is majoring in political science with a minor in communications and entrepreneurship at UF. Among the other finalists was Miss Winter Park, Chloe Lupo. Arianna Beyer, 19, of Mount Dora, also competed.

Miss America system accounts for $45M in scholarships

source: The News Star

Developed by the Miss America Organization, the Miss America program exists to provide personal and professional opportunities for young women and to promote their voices in culture, politics and the community. The program provides a forum for today’s young women to express their viewpoints, talents and accomplishments to audiences during the telecast and to the public-at-large during the ensuing year. Almost all contestants have either received, or are in the process off earning, college or postgraduate degrees and use Miss America scholarship grants to further their educations. To become Miss America, a contestant must first win a local competition and then compete to represent her state. A woman may compete at the state level more than once, but may only compete in the national Miss America competition one time. Thousands of women participate each year in the local and state events, culminating in the selection of 53 national finalists who vie for the Miss America title.

Tens of thousands of volunteers organize the local and state preliminary competitions, promoting community involvement throughout the United States and furthering scholarship and achievement among young women in their communities. The Miss America Organization has partnered with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to raise funds and awareness for children’s hospitals throughout the United States. Contestants competing in Miss America-sponsored competitions raise donations through appearances and fundraisers that benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Miss America Scholarship Fund. Last year, more than $10 million was raised. In addition, each new Miss America becomes the goodwill ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, speaking on behalf of kids treated at children’s hospitals and raising awareness around the country. It’s just another way the Miss America Organization helps young women leave a legacy of service, scholarship and support.

The Miss America Organization is one of the nation’s leading achievement programs and the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance. Since 1997, Miss America participants nationwide have taken part in Make a Difference Day. Local and state titleholders, volunteers and Miss America make a difference through community service initiatives in conjunction with the Points of Light Foundation and USA Weekend. In 2000, state and local contestants collectively participated in 12,384 community-service projects, dedicating a total of 571,177 hours and raising millions of dollars.

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Miss USA 2010 says Miss USA 1995 is behind Miss USA 2014's carpetbagging problems

By Hollie McKay

LOS ANGELES – Miss USA 2010 says Miss USA 1995 is behind Miss USA 2014's carpetbagging problems. Let us explain.

Miss USA 2010, Rima Fakih, has come to the defense of Miss USA 2014, Nia Sanchez, who was accused of carpetbagging to win the Miss Nevada pageant. Fakih says the director of the Miss Nevada pageant, Shanna Moakler, who was Miss USA in 1995, is the one who should be getting called out. “Many of the girls that you see competing for state titles have moved around. My problem is the people who are organizing the pageant. Did they pick her? Are they the ones who just want to win the title? Maybe it is not Miss USA’s fault,” Fakih told FOX411 in a video interview. “Maybe it is the person who chose her to come and compete for the state.” “Shanna should be the hot seat,” Fakih added. “We should ask her why she is picking girls to compete for her pageant.”

Shanna Moakler took over the Nevada pageant in 2011 after co-directing the Miss California pageant for years. Moakler has remained tight-lipped on the controversy, and repeated requests to her reps and the Miss Nevada office for comment have not been returned. But according to a pageant insider, Moakler has had her eye on Sanchez since she first competed for Miss California years ago. “Shanna often talked about how beautiful Nia was while she was competing in California,” said the source. A look at this year’s Miss Nevada contestants shows that several other former California competitors – Mary Kate Fitzpatrick, Cierra Jackson, Susan Ramanishin and Brittany McGowan – also competed alongside Sanchez for Miss Nevada 2014. Norm Clarke wrote in the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the day after the pageant at Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at UNLV, he received an email from a disgruntled pageant follower that “California license plates out-numbered Nevada’s in the parking lot” and that “the ‘hoppers’ have taken over.”

Sanchez has denied allegations of carpetbagging, telling FOX411 she lived in Nevada for almost 18 months before scooping the state title. Later, however, she failed to name the capital of Nevada – Carson City -- in a radio interview. 

Diana Falzone contributed to this report.

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Miss USA 2014: Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez Wins -- How'd She Do During the Interview?

BY JUSTIN RAVITZ

It would be wise not to get on the bad side of Miss USA 2014: She holds a fourth degree back belt in taekwondo! At the 63rd annual Miss USA pageant—broadcast live on Sunday, June 9 from the Baton Rouge Civic Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana—Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez walked away with the coveted crown.

The pretty martial artist, 24, defeated 50 other beauty queens to win this year's pageant following swimsuit, evening gown and interview portions. and explained that she took up taekwondo as a means to defend herself and bolster her confidence after spending time as a young girl in a women's shelter with her mom. Today, Sanchez volunteers at similar shelters and teachers women and kids to defend themselves against what she called "stranger danger" "I relate to them on a personal level because I've been there myself," she said.

Sanchez also avoided typical beauty-pageant-embarassment when fielding tricky questions from celeb judges. Judge Rumer Willis asked about the high rate of sexual assault on college campuses. "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," she said. "But I think more awareness is very important so women can learn how to protect themselves. 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."

Given the crown by Miss USA 2013 Erin Brady, Sanchez bested first runner-up Audra Mari (Miss North Dakota) plus fellow finalists Miss Georgia, Miss Louisiana, Miss Florida and Miss Iowa. Sanchez will go on to compete in the Miss Universe competition this fall.

Miss America vs. Miss USA: Rival pageants seen as similar

BY EMILY BECK COGBURN

In the longtime rivalry between the Miss USA and Miss America pageants, Miss USA is the flashy upstart while Miss America is the modest one with her head in a book. At least, that’s the way it’s supposed to be. The Miss America pageant started in 1921, the talent competition was added in 1935 and the first scholarship was given in 1945, according to the organization’s website. Miss USA began as a breakaway competition, begun by a swimsuit company in 1952 that had been a sponsor of the older pageant. “Competitors in the Miss America Pageant do it for scholarship money for college. They have diverse career interests,” says Valerie Hayes, who bills herself as the Pageant Coach and hosts an online talk radio program about pageants.

In contrast, Miss USA competitors see the pageant as a stepping stone to careers in the entertainment industry — in acting, modeling or broadcasting, she says. Miss USA is a subset of the Miss Universe contest, a for-profit organization owned by casino mogul Donald Trump and NBCUniverse. For the past six years, the pageant was held in Las Vegas until moving to Baton Rouge for the 2014 event. The Miss America Organization, which moved the pageant back to its historic Atlantic City, New Jersey, home last year, is a nonprofit and has connections to charities such as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
“Since its inception, Miss USA has been unabashedly a beauty/swimsuit pageant. It hasn’t confused its identity by adding talent, making interview a main scoring component or offering educational scholarships — all of which Miss America did after it began. This has allowed the production to embrace the sex, show the women in skimpier bikinis, etc.,” says sociologist Hilary Levey Friedman, a beauty pageant expert. Do these contrasting approaches to pageantry lead to a different reaction from audiences? Not so much, says Hayes. Actually, viewers tend to confuse the two events.

“If someone tells me they watched a pageant last night, I’ll ask which one. If they don’t know, I’ll ask if it had a talent competition. If it did, then it’s Miss America,” Hayes says. “For most viewers, they’re not that different.” Pageant professionals and more experienced fans can distinguish the two, she added. Not surprisingly, the subtle contrast between the pageants has not resulted in much difference in viewership in recent years. Both are significantly down from Miss America’s heyday in the 1950s, when the show in 1952 drew 39 percent of the TV audience. Last year was an exception. Miss America dashed ahead of Miss USA, capturing around 8 million viewers, its best ratings since 2004, when the pageant last appeared on ABC. Miss USA had 4.6 million viewers on NBC, perhaps because it aired at the same time as the NBA finals, according to website zap2it.com, which analyzes Nielsen ratings. Previously, Miss America had looked to be on the rocks, with poor ratings prompting ABC to drop the show and the organization forced to move on to cable stations. Picked up by CMT in 2004, it faltered even more. “The production was abysmal,” Hayes says.

CMT also moved the pageant from its original home in Atlantic City to Los Angeles. The cable station then dropped the Miss America pageant in 2007, after which TLC decided to air it. While at TLC, the pageant’s ratings climbed back, rising to 4.5 million, up from 2 million to 3 million during its time at CMT. It returned to ABC in 2011.

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.