SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss USA 2018 Finals: The EVENING GOWN RECAP!

USA Queen--Miss Nebraska USA Sarah Rose Summers is Miss USA 2018--Miss USA 2018 Finals Hirsch Memorial Coliseum, Shreveport Louisiana

Last night was the Crowning Night Finals of the 67th Miss USA pageant. Miss Nebraska USA, 23 year-old, 5' 5"(165 cm) tall Sarah Rose Summers bested fifty other contestants for the top crown. This was the first time a contestant from the state of Nebraska has won the prestigious Miss USA beauty pageant. Sarah was not on any Pageantista/Missosologist's Top Faves to win the crown and in fact many of the top faves--Miss California USA, Miss Tennessee USA, to name a couple--didn't even make the Top Five.

Crowned--Outgoing Miss USA Kara McCullough(L) crowns the new Miss USA, Sarah Rose Summers Miss Nebraska USA as Miss Universe 2017 South Africa's Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters and Miss Teen USA 2018 Hailey Colborn (with flowers) look on--Miss USA 2018 Finals Hirsch Memorial Coliseum, Shreveport Louisiana

So it was a total shock but Kudos to Miss Nebraska USA because she surprised all those pageant experts--including herself!--and seriously OUTDID all the other contestants, especially when it came time to answer the very important questions.

OH MY GAWWWD!!--Miss Nebraska USA Sarah Rose Summers (L) reacts as she hears her name being called as the new Miss USA, with her First Runner-up Miss North Carolina Caelynn Miller-Keyes (R)--Miss USA 2018 Finals, Hirsch Memorial Coliseum, Shreveport Louisiana

HEYYYYYY!!--Miss USA 2018 Sarah Rose Summers "Miss Nebraska USA" (center) reacts as she celebrates winning the crown--Miss USA 2018 Finals, Hirsch Memorial Coliseum, Shreveport Louisiana

Sarah had this GENUINE non-"Pageant Perfect" demeanor and realness about her that made her stand out immediately once she made the Top 15. She reminded me A LOT of Tara Conner (for her looks) and Brook Lee (for her unfiltered and genuine answers).

From Nebraska to...USA--Sarah Rose Summers Miss Nebraska USA

The new Miss USA will now move to New York City and will represent her nation at the 2018 Miss Universe contest, to be held at the end of this year. Now that we've gotten all the details out of the way...it's time for THE EVENING GOWNS!!! The Top Ten Finalists got the chance to compete in the Evening Gown "competition" of the pageant and here are my thoughts on the gowns....

Time for the Top Ten Evening Gowns Recap:

Gown Ladies--Miss USA 2018 Top Ten in their evening gowns

I'll begin with the eventual winner, Miss Nebraska USA:

Miss Nebraska USA (and eventual Miss USA) Sarah Rose Summers--Sarah wore this black gown from the pageant's sponsor, Sherri Hill. The gown was impacting--especially with her blond hair and skin tone. This wasn't anything Haute Couture Pageant UBER Fab but it was nice still. The black design featured a sequined column gown with an attached satin gathered overskirt. It was dramatic and elegant; no Hoochie slits no visible tacky stripper platform pumps. Overall, this was nice.
Score: 8.99

And now, my Scores--from Best to...Ayyyy Miss Florida USA!!!:

Miss Nevada USA Carolina Urrea--This was my FAVORITE GOWN of the Top Ten. Hands down. The silver sequined dress was the work of Colombian designer Alfredo Barraza, known for his gowns worn by Miss Universe's and Miss Colombia's alike. Carolina wore this for the Preliminaries and I loved it then as well. The dress is PERFECTION; the sequins, the fit, the style...WOW. This is a gown worth $10,000 if not more. And it was worth every Swarovski crystal.
Score: 9.90

Miss Georgia USA Marianny Egurrola--Marianny wore the same gown she wore to the Preliminaries, this royal blue/nude sequined design from Sherri Hill. She looked gorgeous and like a Miss Universe-worthy queen in this. The color was perfect for her and the fit was ON POINT! The sweetheart neckline highlighted her beautiful shoulders and INSANELY LONG neck.
Score: 9.50

Miss South Dakota USA Madison Nipe--Third on my list was the gown worn by Madison Nipe Miss South Dakota USA. She also wore this for the Preliminaries and it was wise to not change a thing. She looked like a super tall Aishwarya Rai while strutting down the runway/stage. While I'm getting a little tired of the nude/blush/golden gowns, I do get that it's a trend to stay. This was a perfect interpretation of the trend. The gown fit beautifully (it was TO THE FLOOR!) and made her figure stand out. It also looked expensive, well done and was impacting onstage.
Score: 9.40 

Miss Tennessee USA Alexandra Harper--Alexandra looked like Miss USA Perfection in this golden/nude sequined applique Custom Jovani gown. She wore this dress for the Preliminaries and chose to wear it for the Finals. The gown featured golden sequined appliques over a nude tulle base of a column dress with a high side slit and attached flowy crepe back overskirt.
Score: 9.35

Miss North Carolina USA Caelynn Miller-Keyes--Caelynn was the First Runner-up of the pageant and she wore this coral colored column gown for the Finals--as well as the Preliminaries. I loved the bold color and clean elegant un-fussy style: This was elegant and chic, and it fit her quite well. If there was any fault: Those Lucite stripper platform heels (Yes, I can see them from under the dress!)--Just too tacky for words. But overall:
Score: 9.10

Miss New Jersey USA Alexa Noone--Alexa also chose to wear the same gown she wore to the Preliminaries. This golden/nude column gown (yes, kids, another one!) featured gold sequined applique over a nude tulle base and was from Miss USA sponsor Sherri Hill. The dress fit her nicely and looked sexy on her. If there was any critique, it would be the weird visible "Grandma Panties" and those nude platform heels. I would have rather seen either more sexier underwear or have the gown be fully lined; and in terms of shoes...gold NO PLATFORM strappy heels. Please.
Score: 8.90

Miss California USA Kelley Johnson--Kelley wore the one gown with a full/A-line silhouette. This black design featured lace organza detail and sequined lace applique as well. This was also the same gown Kelley wore for the Preliminaries and frankly, I wished she would have changed and worn something more fitted and Runway Fierce, especially since she is SIX FOOT TWO and has a PERFECT FIGURE! While this was nice, it didn't take her to a higher (gown) level.
Score: 8.50

Miss Maine USA Marina Gray--This was an interesting choice for Marina. She wore this for the Preliminaries and (I guess) thought it was wonderful enough to wear for the Finals. It's a total knockoff of those Elie Saab/Zuhair Murad gowns from, like SEVEN YEARS AGO...but while I do not fault her for that, I do fault her for not OWNING the fabulousness of this style. This is a dress that requires a RUNWAY DIVA and Marina was good but not so "Diva"-like. On a good note: The powder blue color was pretty.
Score: 8.20

Miss Florida USA Genesis Davila--Genesis was one of the top favorites to win the crown. She lost it during the Question-&-Answer portion (Oh Dear!). It also didn't help matters when she wore this stiff, un-flattering gown for the Evening Gown Competition. At first, when she came out I was "Uh Oh, wait....She is Kinda Working It..Genesis is trying to GIVE Miss Venezuela!!" But then, the gown was not moving, looked awkward and, as they say, the gown was wearing HER as opposed to HER wearing the gown. The design, from Venezuelan pageant gown designer Alejandro Fajardo, was quite stunning on its own--very Couture-worthy hand-sewn Swarovski crystals over nude organza--but when actually worn, it just didn't work. All I can say is: Bless Her (Gown) Heart.
Score: 8.00

CONGRATULATIONS to Sarah Rose Summers Miss Nebraska USA for winning Miss USA 2018!! Good luck at Miss Universe! 

...And Don't Forget about my "The Pageant Coloring Book" where you can create your VERY OWN Evening Gown Competition using my Fashion Illustrations! Click HERE to Purchase: