Miss USA 2014 Review: New Jersey - Rhode Island

Miss USA 2014 will be crowned on June 8. The pageant is taking place in Louisiana for the third time this year. Baton Rouge is serving as a first time host city after Shreveport hosted the pageant in 1997 and 1998. The contestants have been in Baton Rouge for the last two weeks and participated in several events and photo shoots. After Wednesday's preliminary competition, it's now all systems go for the final at the River Center. The pageant will be shown live on NBC again but this year it will be extended from 2 to 3 hours. With this change, it was also announced that there will be a top 20. At the conclusion of the event, Miss USA 2013 Connecticut's Erin Brady will crown her successor. After keeping an eye on the competition for the entire two weeks, here is our final review:

KEY:

POSSIBLE WINNER - ******
POSSIBLE TOP 5 FINALIST - *****
POSSIBLE TOP 10 SEMI-FINALIST - ****
POSSIBLE TOP 20 QUARTER FINALIST - ***
UNLIKELY TO PLACE - **
HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO PLACE - *

NEW JERSEY: EMILY SHAH ***

When Emily won Miss New Jersey USA, I was concerned about the fact that she’s only 18 years old. I mentioned that she might be too inexperienced for Miss USA and that she’ll have to work hard. She tweeted me afterwards saying that she believes she can make and impact and that I should remember that there have been girls (like Sushmita Sen) who won Miss Universe at the age of 18. Well, she proved me wrong. She did and amazing job and I have her pegged to take a top 20 spot. I love her exotic beauty. Good luck, Emily.

NEW MEXICO: KAMRYN BLACKWOOD *

I think Kamryn’s styling made her look a bit too mature most of the time. Her evening gown for the preliminaries and the evening gown portrait was a poor choice. It is definitely not suitable for a pageant.

NEW YORK: CANDACE KENDALL ****

When she is on fire, she’s sizzling but I have also seen some disappointing candids. Her experience as a model shows. Her professional photos are amazing and she also looked great during the preliminaries. Candace should easily make the top 20 and could even advance to the top 10.

NORTH CAROLINA: OLIVIA OLVERA *

I had her in my top 5 before the start of the competition but when I saw her with the other girls in Baton Rouge, I became worried. First of all, at a mere 5’4” she was overshadowed by her taller competitors. She looked fresh and flawless in some of her professional photos but often a bit too mature (overripe as they say in the pageant world). I don’t think this will be North Carolina’s year.

NORTH DAKOTA: AUDRA MARI ******

I LOVE THIS GIRL!!!!!! I can’t say it enough. She is amazing and has exceeded all my expectations. I knew she would do well even before the competition started but she just took my breath away. She is tall, gorgeous, and so bubbly. I just love her videos too. In fact, she has become my sentimental favorite for the crown. I want either her or Florida to win now. She definitely has a very unique look for Miss USA. I can’t remember a Miss USA of recent years with the same look. I hope the judges give this gorgeous lady the placement she deserves.

OHIO: MADISON GESIOTTO **

I must hand it to Madison. Like Nick Verreos said, she did pick the perfect evening gown for her. However, I found her looking a bit too mature for my liking. She should have switched things up more during the course of the competition and experimented with different hairstyles and looks.

OKLAHOMA: BROOKLYNNE YOUNG *****

Hello Daisy Fuentes!!! Now here’s a girl who totally surprised me. I didn’t pay much attention to her before the start of the competition but I’ve been liking her more and more as the competition progressed. She really reminds me of former Miss Universe host (one of my favorites), Daisy Fuentes. I think Brooklynne could do very well and if she brings it on the night, she could pull and upset and make it to the top 5.

OREGON: EMMA PELETT *

Emma tried to become Miss Oregon USA for several years before she finally won. I am happy for her that she got the opportunity to compete at Miss USA. It’s a tough year but to her credit, I think she worked hard to look her very best.

PENNSYLVANIA: VALERIE GATTO ***

I think Valerie is beautiful and extremely bubbly. I also think she has a great story to tell. She is an amazing role model to young girls and I have a lot of respect and admiration for her. I really hope she makes it. She is really lovely and reminds me of Tiffani Amber Thiessen.

RHODE ISLAND: CHRISTINA PALAVRA *

I like Christina’s unique look and the curly hairstyle which she sported throughout the competition. It made her stand out. I think she would do well as a model. I found her evening gown for the preliminaries a bit too boring and old-fashioned. She seems to be a vibrant young lady, so it didn’t really work for her.

 Photos: www.missusa.com
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