Miss USA 2004

Miss USA 2004
Date	April 12, 2004
Presenters	Billy Bush, Nancy O'Dell
Venue	Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, California
Broadcaster	NBC, KNBC-TV
Entrants	51
Placements	15
Winner	Shandi Finnessey Missouri
Congeniality	Michelle Fongemie Vermont
Photogenic	Jennifer Sherrill Arkansas

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.

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

Special awards

Order of announcements

Top 15

1. Arizona
2. Missouri
3. Texas
4. North Carolina
5. New Hampshire
6. South Carolina
7. Florida
8. Alabama
9. Oregon
10. Georgia
11. New Mexico
12. Washington
13. Idaho
14. Oklahoma
15. Tennessee

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:

Historical significance

• This became the first win for Missouri in pageant history.
• South Carolina had its highest placement since Lu Parker won Miss USA 1994. South Carolina also placed for the fourth time in five years.
• North Carolina had its best finish in 10 years and its best finish for the third time in pageant history. North Carolina finished 2nd Runner-Up in 1975 and 1994.
• Oklahoma had its best finish in the pageant since 1989.
• Tennessee repeated its highest placement for the second time since Lynnette Cole won Miss USA 2000.
• Alabama makes it through the first cut for the third time in a row.
• Florida makes it through the first cut for the first time since 1997.
• Idaho had its first placement since Brandi Sherwood inherited the Miss USA 1997 title after Brook Lee won Miss Universe 1997.
• New Hampshire had its first placement since 2000, and became only the fourth placement by a New Hampshire delegate in pageant history.
• New Mexico placed for the second time since 1999.
• Texas made the first cut of delegates for the third time in a row since Kandace Krueger won Miss USA 2001.

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
• Rocco DiSpirito
• Jeff Gordon
• Vanessa Haydon
• Tricia Helfer
• Liza Huber
• Brandi Sherwood
• Jill Stuart

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

• Miss USA Magic's Miss USA 2004 coverage
• Official Miss USA site