Photos of the exact moment 36 contestants found out they won Miss USA

Gabbi ShawNov 11, 2020, 22:39 IST

Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey from Missouri, reacts after receiving her crown.Nam Y. Huh/AP Images

The 2020 Miss USA pageant was on November 9, 2020, and Miss Mississippi Asya Branch took the crown.
The pageant started back in 1952 in retaliation for a slight by the reigning Miss America, who refused to wear a bathing suit designed by sponsor Catalina.
Now it's one of the two biggest pageants in the country, and its winner represents the US at Miss Universe.
It's also a very emotional day, as shown by these winners.

Winning Miss USA is potentially the peak of any beauty queen's career. It's no shock that getting crowned would cause an emotional reaction of joy, shock, and even tears.

Luckily for us, there's usually a camera around to capture the thrilling moment. From 1953 to 2020, here are 36 Miss USA winners the exact moment they won.

1955: Miss Vermont Carlene King Johnson

Carlene King Johnson, Miss Vermont, sits enthroned as Miss United States after her selection at Long Beach, California. Bettmann/Getty Images

1958: Miss Louisiana Eurlyne Howell

Returning Miss USA Charlotte Sheffield of Utah puts the crown on head of new Miss USA, Eurlyne Howell of Louisiana. Los Angeles Examiner/USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images

1965: Miss Ohio Sue Ann Downey

Mis USA 1965, Sue Ann Downey of Columbus, Ohio. Bettmann/Getty Images

1967: Miss Alabama Sylvia Hitchcock

Sylvia Louise Hitchcock with her court as Miss USA. Bettmann/Getty Images

1968: Miss Washington Dorothy Anstett

A radiant Dorothy Anstett of Kirkland, Washington, poses with her newly won Miss USA trophy. Bettmann/Getty Images

1972: Miss Hawaii Tanya Wilson

Tanya Wilson of Honolulu is crowned Miss USA of 1972 at the conclusion of the annual pageant. Bettmann/Getty Images

1973: Miss Illinois Amanda Jones

Bob Barker and Amanda Jones during the 1973 Miss USA Pageant. Ron Galella/WireImage

1974: Miss Illinois Karen Morrison

Miss USA 1974, Karen J. Morrison. Bettmann/Getty Images

1980: Miss South Carolina Shawn Weatherly

South Carolina's Shawn Weatherly burst into tears as she was named the new Miss USA on May 16, 1980. AP Photo/Jerry Lodriguss

1983: Miss California Julie Hayek

Miss USA of 1983 Julie Hayek wins the Miss USA Pageant title on May 12, 1983. AP Images

1986: Miss Texas Christy Fichtner

Christy Fichtner (right) reacts as she is named the 1986 Miss USA on May 21, 1986. At left is first runner-up Halle Berry of Ohio. Raul Demolina/AP Images

1990: Miss Michigan Carole Gist

Miss Michigan Carole Anne-Marie Gist is crowned Miss USA at the 1990 pageant. George Rose/Getty Images

1992: Miss California Shannon Marketic

Miss California Shannon Marketic reacts to the announcement that she was named 1992 Miss USA on February 7, 1992. Steve Rasmussen/AP Images

1993: Miss Michigan Kenya Moore

Kenya Moore, Miss Michigan USA, reacts after winning the Miss USA 1993 title on February 19, 1993. MISS UNIVERSE,INC./AFP/Getty Images

1996: Miss Louisiana Ali Landry

Ali Landry, Miss Louisiana USA, reacts after being named Miss USA 1996 on February 2, 1996. AP

1999: Miss New York Kimberly Ann Pressler

Kimberly Ann Pressler reacts as she is crowned Miss USA 1999 on February 5, 1999. Orlin Wagner/AP Images

2000: Miss Tennessee Lynnette Cole

Miss Tennessee USA Lynnette Cole reacts when she is announced as Miss USA 2000 during the pageant finals on February 4, 2000. Orlin Wagner/AP Images

2001: Miss Texas Kandace Krueger

Kandace Krueger reacts as she's proclaimed Miss USA 2001 on March 2, 2001. PATRICK PRATHER/AFP/Getty Images

2002: Miss Washington, DC, Shauntay Hinton

Shauntay Hinton is crowned Miss USA on March 1, 2002. Stephen J. Carrera/AP Images

2004: Miss Missouri Shandi Finnessey

Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey from Missouri reacts after receiving her crown during the 53rd Annual Miss USA Competition on April 12, 2004. Nam Y. Huh/AP Images

2005: Miss North Carolina Chelsea Cooley

Miss North Carolina USA Chelsea Cooley reacts after winning the Miss USA 2005 pageant on April 11, 2005. Chris Gardner/AP Images

2006: Miss Kentucky Tara Conner

Miss Kentucky Tara Elizabeth Conner reacts as Miss USA 2005 Chelsea Cooley places the crown on her head after she won the Miss USA 2006 pageant on April 21, 2006. Chris Gardner/AP Images

2007: Miss Tennessee Rachel Smith

Rachel Renee Smith, Miss Tennessee USA 2007, reacts after winning the Miss USA pageant on Friday, March 23, 2007. Kevork Djansezian/AP Images

2008: Miss Texas Crystle Stewart

Miss Texas Crystle Stewart reacts as she's announced the new Miss USA during the 2008 Miss USA Pageant on April 11, 2008. Eric Jamison/AP Images

2009: Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton

Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton reacts after she is announced Miss USA on Sunday April 19, 2009. Eric Jamison/AP Images

2010: Miss Michigan Rima Fakih

Miss Michigan Rima Fakih reacts as she is crowned Miss USA 2010 on Sunday, May 16, 2010. Isaac Brekken/AP Images

2011: Miss California Alyssa Campanella

Alyssa Campanella, Miss California, reacts as she is announced as the 2011 Miss USA on June 19, 2011. Julie Jacobson/AP Images

2012: Miss Rhode Island Olivia Culpo

Miss Rhode Island USA Olivia Culpo reacts as she is announced Miss USA during the 2012 Miss USA pageant on June 3, 2012. Isaac Brekken/Getty Images

2013: Miss Connecticut Erin Brady

Miss Connecticut Erin Brady becomes the new Miss USA during the 2013 Miss USA pageant on June 16, 2013. Michael Stewart/WireImage via Getty Images

2014: Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez

Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez is crowned Miss USA during the Miss USA 2014 pageant on Sunday, June 8, 2014. Jonathan Bachman/AP Images

2015: Miss Oklahoma Olivia Jordan

Miss Oklahoma Olivia Jordan is crowned Miss USA during the 2015 Miss USA pageant on Sunday, July 12, 2015. Derick E. Hingle/AP Images

2016: Miss Washington, DC, Deshauna Barber

Miss District of Columbia USA 2016 Deshauna Barber reacts as she is named Miss USA on June 5, 2016. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

2017: Miss Washington, DC, Kára McCullough

Miss District of Columbia USA Kára McCullough reacts after she was crowned the new Miss USA during the Miss USA contest Sunday, May 14, 2017. John Locher/AP Images

2018: Miss Nebraska Sarah Rose Summers

Miss Nebraska, Sarah Rose Summers, is named Miss USA at the 2018 Miss USA Competition. FOX via Getty Images

2019: Miss North Carolina Cheslie Kryst

Miss USA 2019, Cheslie Kryst, is crowned. Alex Mertz/The Miss Universe Organization

2020: Miss Mississippi Asya Branch

Miss USA 2020, Asya Branch, is crowned. Benjamin Askinas/Miss USA

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