What 12 Miss USA contestants look like without makeup

Miss Arizona Isabel Ticlo, 28, is studying to get her doctorate in physical therapy. She also works as a game-show host and freelance writer. She has volunteered with the visually-impaired community for more than 10 years.

Ticlo told Insider that she was nervous but excited to "demonstrate that empowered women can be glamorous with or without makeup."

"We're changing the narrative of pageantry and showcasing that real beauty doesn't come off with a makeup wipe," she added.

Miss Delaware Grace Lange, 22, is currently a law student at the University of Pennsylvania. She was a Division I basketball player at Villanova University. Lange also works as a commercial model and has played in the Little League World Series.

"As a lifelong athlete, wearing makeup feels comforting and refreshing to me," she told Insider. "There's no glam on the basketball court!"

Miss Hawaii Kiana Yamat, 28, works as a civil engineer. She wants to advocate for young women to confidently pursue careers in STEM as well as be a role model in the "male-dominated construction and engineering industries," according to her Miss USA bio.

Yamat told Insider that she loved taking part in Miss USA's makeup-free photo shoot because "it's important to love who you are without the glam."

Miss Kentucky Lizzy Neutz, 23, is a real-estate investor in short-term housing. According to her Miss USA bio, Neutz bought a 12-unit apartment building when she was just 20 years old.

"Taking a photo, especially at something as glamorous as Miss USA, without makeup was something I never expected," she told Insider. "But we are real women."

"I was very excited about the shoot because I don't wear makeup every day," she added. "And it's important to showcase our natural selves as well as our glamorous selves."

Miss Maine Elizabeth Kervin, 20, is studying biochemistry at Husson University and plans to become a trauma surgeon. She has been volunteering with veteran programs in Maine for seven years.

Kervin told Insider she was excited "to be able to show another side of myself" in the makeup-free photo shoot.

"It feels amazing to be confident with or without the glamorous makeup," she added.

Miss Nevada Summer Keffeler, 20, is currently an aviation student with dreams of becoming a commercial pilot one day. She was a competitive cheerleader and dancer and has written a book about her experience of being bullied.

Keffeler told Insider she was raised by two makeup artists and has always seen makeup as a "fun pastime."

"But allowing myself to feel beautiful in my own skin is always liberating," she added.

Miss New York Heather Nunez, 26, graduated with a degree in criminal justice and cybercrime from John Jay College. She is trained in karate and CPR and hopes to join the FBI one day.

"Taking these photos with a fresh face made me feel confident," she told Insider. "I love a bare face and, as a title holder, it's important to show young girls that they are beautiful in their own skin."

Miss North Carolina Morgan Romano, 24, is a chemical engineer and a classically-trained ballerina. She next hopes to earn a Juris Doctor degree and become a patent attorney.

Romano told Insider it was "freeing to wear no makeup in an environment that is normally full of glam."

"It made me feel confident and empowered to step outside of the societal expectations that come with competing in Miss USA," she added.

Miss Ohio Sir'Quora Carroll, 23, is a full-time model who dreams of opening her own agency one day. Carroll shaved her hair in 2018 because she wanted to redefine beauty for herself.

Carroll told Insider she felt like "the most authentic version of myself" during the makeup-free photo shoot.

"I generally feel more confident without makeup because it took me so long to learn to love myself unapologetically," she said. "And now I prefer to wear and embrace what I saw as flaws as qualities of authenticity."

Miss Oklahoma Ashley Ehrhart, 25, currently works as a community family advisor. She also hosts a podcast, knows how to fly a plane, and used to be a dancer for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"Taking a photo in your natural state is a vulnerable feeling," Ehrhart told Insider. "You're showing the world 'you' — no glitz, no glam, just you."

"But when taking this photo, I realized that this is what the world needs right now," she added. "It needs me — vulnerable, authentic, and real. And the world needs you, just as you are."

Miss Texas R'Bonney Gabriel, 28, has a degree in fashion design. She now works as a model and designer for her own eco-friendly clothing line. Gabriel designed and constructed her entire wardrobe for the 2022 Miss USA pageant.

"I actually love days when I can wear no makeup, show my freckles, and let my skin feel fresh," Gabriel told Insider. "As a model and beauty queen, I think it's important to show girls they can feel beautiful with or without makeup on!"

Miss Virginia Kailee Horvath, 23, volunteers as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. She aspires to work in a pediatric emergency room as an emergency nurse.

"I don't get to wear makeup on a daily basis because of my job, so not wearing makeup felt really normal," Horvath told Insider. "I felt confident and free."