Miss USA 1999

Miss USA 1999
Date	February 4, 1999
Presenters	Shemar Moore Julie Moran Ali Landry
Entertainment	Collin Raye The Atomic Fireballs
Venue	Grande Palace Theatre, Branson, Missouri
Broadcaster	CBS KOLR
Winner	Kimberly Pressler
Congeniality	Cara Jackson (Arizona)
Photogenic	Elyzabeth Pham (Wisconsin)

Miss USA 1999 was the 48th Miss USA pageant, held at the Grande Palace Theatre in Branson, Missouri on February 4, 1999. Kimberly Pressler became the fourth former Miss Teen USA state delegate in five years to win or inherit the Miss USA title.^[1]

At the conclusion of the final competition, Kimberly Pressler of New York, was crowned by outgoing titleholder Shawnae Jebbia of Massachusetts.^[2] Pressler became the fourth titleholder from New York, following Shanna Moakler four years prior as Miss USA 1995. However, as Moakler inherited the crown after Chelsi Smith won Miss Universe 1995, this is the third outright win for New York, and the first in twenty years since Mary Therese Friel won Miss USA 1979.

After months of negotiation, Branson was announced as the pageant's location in November 1998.^[3][4] City officials spent $125,000 of tax money to host the pageant in Branson in the hope that it would encourage tourism but admitted after the pageant that it was not worth the cost.^[5][6] Sponsors contributed a further $1 million towards the hosting of the event.^[7] The pageant had previously been held in Shreveport, Louisiana from 1997 to 1998.^[7]

Shemar Moore hosted the pageant for the only time, and color commentary was added by Miss USA 1996 Ali Landry and Julie Moran, for the second consecutive year.^[8] Entertainment was provided by Collin Raye and The Atomic Fireballs.^[8]

Results

Placements

Map showing placements by state

Final Results	Contestant
Miss USA 1999	New York – Kimberly Pressler
1st Runner-Up	Tennessee – Morgan Tandy High
2nd Runner-Up	California – Angelique Breaux
Top 5	South Carolina – Lauren Poppell New Mexico – Michelle Rios
Top 10	Indiana – Pratima Yarlagadda Virginia – Kellie Lightbourn Oklahoma – Dia Webb Ohio – Melinda Miller Michigan – Shannon Grace Clark

Special awards

• Miss Congeniality: Cara Jackson (Arizona)
• Miss Photogenic: Elyzabeth Pham (Wisconsin)
• Style Award: Kellie Lightbourn (Virginia)
• Best in Swimsuit: Lauren Poppell (South Carolina)

See also

• Miss Teen USA 1999
• Miss Universe 1999

References

1. McDonough, Kevin (1999-02-05). "Miss USA brings fun back pageants". Reading Eagle. p. W21.
2. Associated Press (1999-02-06). "Miss New York Wins Miss USA". Toledo Blade. p. 12.
3. "Branson hopes to hold beauty pageant". Southeast Missourian. 1998-08-12. p. 5B.
4. Associated Press (1998-11-04). "Branson to Play Host to Next February's Miss USA pageant". The Nevada Daily Mail. p. 5A.
5. Associated Press (1999-01-26). "Branson seeks Miss USA pageant rewards". Southeast Missourian. p. 8A.
6. Associated Press (1999-07-30). "Branson Chamber slashes Miss USA sponsorship". Southeast Missourian. p. 6A.
7. Avila, Oscar (1999-02-05). "Miss USA Pageant gives Branson a chance to update its image". Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service.
8. Martin, John (1999-02-05). "Miss USA follows formula". The Spokesman-Review. p. D4.

External links

• Miss USA official website