Asya Branch

Asya Danielle Branch (born May 5, 1998) is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2020.[3] She will represent the United States at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant.[4][5]

As Miss Mississippi USA, Branch was awarded the opportunity to represent Mississippi at Miss USA 2020, becoming the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss Mississippi USA. Originally scheduled for the spring of 2020, the competition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and later held on November 9, 2020 at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. She competed in finals and reaching the semifinals in the state for the first time since 2010, where she was crowned by outgoing titleholder Cheslie Kryst, beating first runner-up Kim Layne of Idaho.[6] Following her win, Branch is the first woman from her state to be crowned Miss USA.

Previously, Branch was crowned Miss Mississippi 2018 and went on to compete in Miss America 2019 where she was unplaced.[7] She did place 2nd-runner up in the Quality of Life awards at the pageant.