SASHES AND TIARAS....Miss USA 2013 Preliminaries Gowns: The Best!

One of the Best Gowns: Miss Texas USA Alexandria Nugent in a gown designed by Venezuelan beauty pageant designer Gionni Straccia--Miss USA 29013 Preliminaries

This last Wednesday was the Miss USA 2013 Preliminary Competition (Full Video at the end of this post, in case you missed it!). This is the pre-final contest in which a separate set of judges get to pick who the semi-finalists are for Sunday night's final Miss USA 2013 pageant...

The 51 contestants--representing all the 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia--competed in Swimsuit and Evening Gown. Some of the evening gowns the contestants wore were the same as the ones I wrote about when I reviewed the "Miss USA Website Photos", but some were different (as expected). So, let's take a look at my "Nick Top Favorites" of the Preliminary Evening Gown Competition:

Miss Minnesota USA Danielle Hooper: One of THE BEST--if not the best, in Evening Gown. Michelle looked superb in this lipstick red crepe gown with a strapless peplum top section, fit-to-flare floor-length skirt and oversized jeweled neckline. She couldn't have been more perfect.  
Score: 9.9.

Miss Texas USA Alexandria Nugent: Alexandria just about stole the Evening Gown Competition on Wednesday night with this red with silver oversized paillettes gown designed by Venezuelan beauty pageant "go-to" fashion designer, the very talented Gionni Straccia. Straccia has designed gowns for Miss Venezuela's who have won Miss Universe and Miss World amongst others so, let's just say, he knows a thing or two about Pageant Gowns that Win! This gown is no exception; Alexandria looked like a Miss Venezuela in this. 
And for me, that gets her a 9.9 as well.

Miss Michigan USA Jaclyn Schultz: Jaclyn wore this green applique over nude gown with long sleeves and looked fabulous. I know that we have seen variations of this for a while (Hello Miss Croatia at Miss Universe 2012!) so some would argue it's a bit "pageant tired" but I disagree: It's all very good.  
Score: 9.87

Miss Mississippi USA Paromita Mitra: When she stepped onto the Miss USA 2013 Preliminary stage, I thought "Wow, she looks like a 'Miss Venezuela' contestant". Well, of course she does. The Bangladeshi-born Paromita wore a gold sequined and ivory crepe gown from Venezuelan fashion designer Gionni Straccia. This was one of my favorites gowns of the Prelims--not just for the style of the dress--but the way Paromita WORKED IT.
Score: 9.79

Miss Louisiana USA Kristen Girault: Kristen also wore an ivory and gold sequined gown from Venezuelan fashion designer Gionni Straccia. It was similar to Miss Mississippi USA's gown. But it was still striking and very impacting; very "Cleopatra in the Louisiana Bayou".  I'm not a huge fan of the thick beaded halter straps, maybe if they were thinner? 
Score: 9.65

Miss Kansas USA Staci Klinginsmith: Staci wore a midnight blue gown with a keyhole front and draped front and flared bottom section. I thought the gown was elegant and red carpet appropriate and I thought the embellished neckline was very "on-trend". Very well done Miss Kansas USA".  
Score: 9.62.

Miss Georgia USA Brittany Sharp: One of my favorites for the crown is this lovely woman, Brittany Sharp Miss Georgia USA. For the Miss USA 2013 Preliminary Evening Gown Competition, she wore a cap-sleeved ivory and silver sequined gown with a plunging neckline. I liked this gown and I liked this on her. It doesn't have any "red carpet"/runway couture fabulousness but somehow, it still got my attention. 
Score:  9.5.

Miss Idaho USA Marissa Wickland: I absolutely LOVE the color of Marissa's gown--a royal blue chiffon gown with ruched bust and silver sequined accents. It's beautiful. Is it very "Pageant Safe"? Maybe. But it looks DIVINE on her.
Score: 9.49

Miss Washington USA Cassandra Searles: Cassandra has got some piercing eyes--and dark hair to contrast them. This emerald green satin gown with ruched bust and over-skirt detail is quite dramatic and works for Miss Washington USA. I liked it in her Miss USA 2013 Website photos...and I like it even more here at the Miss USA 2013 Preliminary Competition. 

Score: 9.47

 

Miss Massachusetts USA Sarah Kidd: Elegant, Ivory Princess, very "Gionni Straccia-Lite" (with the turquoise crystal accents at the high-hip and shoulders). Sarah looks very "Grecian Goddess". Therefore: I like it. 
Score: 9.45

Miss West Virginia USA Chlesea Welch: First off, this gown is a bit of a "Pageant Throw-Back". It is a little bit 2002 with it's fully applique main gown and the sunburst pleated chiffon "overskirt". But Chlesea makes it look fairly fresh. I would have prefered this beautiful woman to wear something a bitb more up-to-date but this creme-yellow gown is not that bad.
Score: 9.20.

Miss Vermont USA Sarah Westbrook: Sarah looks very pretty in this strapless gold-and-silver sequined applique bodice gown with attached sunburst pleated chiffon full skirt.She looks very "Pageant Perfect" in this. It's nothing fashion runway earth-shattering, but if you are going for a typical pageant look, this was a good one for Sarah and the fit is perfect.
Score: 9.00.

***Up Next: The Slit Queens, Evening Gown Color Trends and the Pageant Betty's of the Miss USA 2013 Preliminary Evening Gown Competition

Missed the Miss USA 2013 Preliminary Competition? Watch it in full below: