Miss USA 2004
Miss USA 2004, the 53rd Miss USA pageant, was held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on April 12, 2004. The winner of the beauty pageant was Shandi Finnessey, who became the first winner from the state of Missouri. Finnessey was crowned by outgoing Miss USA Susie Castillo, of Massachusetts.
| Miss USA 2004 | |
|---|---|
 Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey | |
| Date | April 12, 2004 |
| Presenters | |
| Venue | Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, California |
| Broadcaster | |
| Entrants | 51 |
| Placements | 15 |
| Winner | Shandi Finnessey Missouri |
| Congeniality | Michelle Fongemie Vermont |
| Photogenic | Jennifer Sherrill.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Arkansas |
Miss USA 2004 Titles Card
The pageant was hosted by Billy Bush and Nancy O'Dell, the first time this partnership had hosted the pageant. Bush had previously hosted Miss USA 2003 and Miss Universe 2003.
For the first time since 1970, fifteen semi-finalists competed in the final competition, although not all the semi-finalists competed in both the swimsuit and evening gown. Following the new format established at Miss Universe 2003 and Miss Teen USA 2003, the top fifteen semi-finalists were reduced to ten after the evening gown competition, and then to the final five after swimsuits. This was the first time that contestants did not have the opportunity to compete in both competitions.
Results
Placements
Map showing placements by state
| Final Results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss USA 2004 | |
| 1st Runner-Up | |
| 2nd Runner-Up |
|
| 3rd Runner-Up |
|
| 4th Runner-Up |
|
| Top 10 | |
| Top 15 |
|
Delegates
Miss USA contestants during rehearsals
Miss USA contestants during rehearsals
Miss USA contestants during rehearsals
Miss USA contestants during rehearsals
Miss USA contestants during rehearsals
The Miss USA 2004 delegates were:
Alabama – Tara Darby
Alaska – Cari Leyva
Arizona – Danielle Demski- Arkansas – Jennifer Sherrill
California – Ellen Chapman
Colorado – Janel Haw
Connecticut – Sheila Wiatr
Delaware – Courtney Purdy
District of Columbia – Tiara Christen Dews
Florida – Kristen Berset.svg.png.webp)
Georgia – Caroline Medley
Hawaii – Justine Michioka
Idaho – Kimberly Glyn Weible
Illinois – Molly Graham
Indiana – Stephanie "Steffi" Keusch
Iowa – Brooke Hansen
Kansas – Lisa Forbes
Kentucky – Lauren Stengel.svg.png.webp)
Louisiana – Melissa McConnell
Maine – Mackenzie Davis
Maryland – Tia Shorts
Massachusetts – Maria Lekkakos
Michigan – Stacey Lee
Minnesota – Jessica Dereschuk.svg.png.webp)
Mississippi – Beth Richards- Missouri – Shandi Finnessey
Montana – Molly Flynn
Nebraska – Guerin Austin
Nevada – Victoria Franklin
New Hampshire – Vanessa Bissanti
New Jersey – Janaye Ingram
New Mexico – Jenna Hardin
New York – Jaclyn Nesheiwat
North Carolina – Ashley Puleo
North Dakota – Jennifer Smith
Ohio – Lauren Kelsey Hall.svg.png.webp)
Oklahoma – Lindsay Hill
Oregon – Jennifer Murphy
Pennsylvania – Nicole Georghalli
Rhode Island – Sarah Rose Bettencourt
South Carolina – Amanda Pennekamp
South Dakota – Andrea Parliament
Tennessee – Stephanie Culberson
Texas – Stephanie Guerrero.svg.png.webp)
Utah – Kyla Faye Dickerson- Vermont – Michelle Fongemie
Virginia – Kristi Lauren Glakas
Washington – Tara McCormick
West Virginia – Carolyn Jennings
Wisconsin – Jenna Shultz
Wyoming – Katie Rudoff
Historical significance
- Missouri wins competition for the first time and surpasses its previous highest placement from 1998. Also becoming in the 28th state who does it for the first time.
- South Carolina earns the 1st runner-up position for the fifth time. The last time it placed this was in 1990. Also had its highest placement since Lu Parker won Miss USA 1994.
- North Carolina earns the 2nd runner-up position for the third time. The last time it placed this was in 1994. Besides had its best finish in 10 years.
- Oklahoma earns the 3rd runner-up position for the first time. Also had its best finish in the pageant since 1989.
- Tennessee earns the 4th runner-up position for the second time and repeats the same position as the past year 2003.
- States that placed in semifinals the previous year were Alabama, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
- Texas placed for the fourth consecutive year.
- Alabama and South Carolina placed for the third consecutive year.
- New Mexico, Oklahoma and Tennessee made their second consecutive placement.
- Georgia, Missouri and Oregon last placed in 2001.
- New Hampshire last placed in 2000.
- Arizona and Washington last placed in 1998.
- North Carolina last placed in 1994.
- Florida and Idaho last placed in 1997.
- Indiana breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 2002.
Contestant notes
Miss New York USA 2004 Jaclyn Nesheiwat (left) visited U.S. troops in Iraq in March 2004. While in Baghdad, she met her sister, Army Capt. Julie Nesheiwat (right)
- Kristi Lauren Glakas (Virginia) had previously held the title Miss Virginia Teen USA 1999 (semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA 1999) and would later become Miss Virginia 2005 (3rd runner-up at Miss America 2006). She is one of six triple crown winners.
- Other delegates who had previously or would later hold Miss America state titles
- Shandi Finnessey (Missouri) – Miss Missouri 2002
- Stephanie Culberson (Tennessee) – (4th runner-up), Miss Tennessee 2001 (2nd runner-up)
- Cari Leyva (Alaska) – Miss Alaska 2007
- Delegates who had previously competed at Miss Teen USA were:
- Danielle Demski (Arizona) – Miss Arizona Teen USA 1999 (finalist at Miss Teen USA 1999)
- Tiara Dews (District of Columbia) – Miss District of Columbia Teen USA 2000 (semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA 2000)
- Kimberly Weible (Idaho) – Miss Idaho Teen USA 1999
- Victoria Franklin (Nevada) – Miss Nevada Teen USA 1998 (second runner-up at Miss Teen USA 1998)
- Katie Rudoff (Wyoming) – Miss Wyoming Teen USA 1999
- Jennifer Murphy (Oregon) later appeared on Donald Trump's reality television show The Apprentice 4
- Jaclyn Nesheiwat (New York) later married Creed drummer Scott Stapp
- Mackenzie Davis (Maine) became director of the Miss Maine USA and Miss Maine Teen USA pageants in 2006.
- It was the first time since 1984 where two of the top 5 finalists were former Miss America state titleholders. In 1984, the top 3 were all former Miss America state titleholders.
- Later on two delegates went on to win the Miss Earth USA title. The first was Amanda Pennekamp, Miss South Carolina USA who won the Miss Earth USA 2006 title and was a top 16 semifinalist at Miss Earth 2006. The second was Miss Kansas USA, Lisa Forbes who won the 2007 title and competed at Miss Earth 2007.
Judges
- Jerry Buss (1933–2013), majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers
- Rocco DiSpirito (born 1966), chef
- Jeff Gordon (born 1971), professional stock car racing driver
- Vanessa Haydon (born 1977), socialite, actress and model
- Tricia Helfer (born 1974), actress and model
- Liza Huber (born 1975), television actress
- Brandi Sherwood (born 1971), Miss Teen USA 1989 and Miss USA 1997
- Jill Stuart (born 1965), fashion designer
Related competitions
For the second year, there was a Miss USA Fear Factor special, in which Tara Darby of Alabama won the $50,000 prize (half of which to be donated to the charity of her choice).
External links
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