SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss USA 2017: Top 10 Preliminary Gowns

SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss USA 2017: Top 10 Preliminary Gowns

Best In Gown: Miss USA 2017 contestants during the Evening Gown portion of the Miss USA 2017 Preliminary Competition--Mandalay Bay Events Center Las Vegas

Last night was the Miss USA 2017 Preliminaries, which occurred at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The Preliminary Competition is very important because it's when the Top 10 Semifinalists are decided that will go on to compete in Sunday night's Final Miss USA 2017 pageant. 51 contestants representing the 50 states plus District of Columbia competed in Swimsuit and Evening Gown. Naturally here on my Sashes and Tiaras blog, I'm interested in the EVENING GOWNS!

Satin and Sequins: Miss USA 2017 contestants during the Evening Gown portion of the Miss USA 2017 Preliminary Competition--Mandalay Bay Events Center Las Vegas

The Preliminaries give pageant fans a "glimpse" into what the contestants will wear for the Evening Gown portion and their taste level and more importantly, who went the "Pageant Betty" route or tried to be at least more Fashion Runway Fab. As a fashion designer--and beauty pageant fan--when commenting on the Evening Gowns, there are several things I'm looking for...

Exhibit A, B, C, D & E: Fashion-forward, Red Carpet Fab and...Pageant Gown Gorgeous--Miss South Dakota USA 2016 Madison McKeown at last year's Miss USA 2016 Finals

My criteria for judging a gown is based on my desire to see an element of Fashion-forward/Fashion risk-taking designs combined with the understanding that these dresses are primarily for stage and have to somehow be "Pageant Appropriate"--which inherently has their own set of "Dress Criteria". A perfect example of how one can bridge Fashion & Pageant/Stage Impact would be last year's Miss South Dakota USA  Madison McKeown who wore this cape-fab gown from Lebanese designer Tony Ward and his Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2015 Collection seen in above photo. With that said...



Here are my TOP 10 Best Gowns of the Miss USA 2017 Preliminaries--in order of Highest to Lowest:

Miss Massachusetts USA Julia Scaparotti: Julia's black gown was probably my favorite of the night. She wore this black halter neck gown featuring gorgeous sequined lace applique in a smooth fit-and-flare "mermaid"-like silhouette with Open Back. The gown fit her perfectly, defined her figure and best features and was the correct length (hiding those tacky nude platform pumps!). This is a nice example of a fashionable style that was Pageant Perfect as well--and notice lack of HOOCHIE-licious too-high slits and no breast-a-licious cleavage (Thank You Julia!). I also liked her modern hair and the earrings. I hope, though, she lightens up on the too-heavy makeup. Score: 9.9

Miss North Carolina USA Katie Coble: LOVED this gold gown worn by Miss North Carolina USA. It was my second favorite. The gown featured gold lame pleated fabrication and great criss-cross torso draping detail. The style gave me a definite "Old Hollywood" vibe, harking back to the 1930s and 1940's days of Lauren Bacall, Jean Harlow and Marlene Dietrich with a nod to Cleopatra. The look was unique and stood out, for all the right reasons. Score: 9.89

Miss Kansas USA Catherine Carmichael: Catherine was a STUNNER last night during the Miss USA 2017 Preliminary Evening Gown Competition. When she came out in this coral colored gown, I was like "OK, NOW we're talking!". The crepe gown--which fit her perfectly playing up her 6' 1" tall statuesque beauty--featured a multicolored sequined bodice and DIVA-like dramatic chiffon back cape which she modeled as if THE RENT WAS DUE! Every pageant girl worth her sash needs to watch her modeling this to learn and take a lesson on how to work a gown with a chiffon cape. ASAP! She looked like a QUEEN. Score: 9.8

Miss Louisiana USA Bethany Trahan: Miss Louisina USA Bethany Brehan comes in fourth position of my Favorite Gowns of the Miss USA 2017 Preliminaries. She made quite a fashion statement with this black sequin applique-over-nude gown with iridescent organza back overskirt. The base gown was GORGEOUS: The sequin work was outstanding and it fit her to a 1/4" of her life! To be honest, I would have done without that back overskirt. I understand why it's there (drama, stage presence, etc.) but it needed to be re-thought. It did not seem organic with the beauty of the dress. Score: 9.65

Miss Nevada USA Lauren York: Lauren--who is one of the favorites to win the top crown (according to many pageant followers/missosologists on the internet) didn't disappoint in her choice of evening gown for last night's Preliminaries. She wore this very pretty column-style gown featuring a side nude illusion panel, white crepe base and unique geometric sequins and pearls. It was from Venezuelan fashion designer Dheymid Galaviz who has created many a sequined-and-crepe gown for many Miss Venezuela contestants and last year's Miss World Venezuela. Sometimes they can look similar to one of his design compatriots Gionni Straccia and at first I thought it was an Straccia gown because the sequin work looked like this: Score: 9.6

Mariam Habach Miss Lara (and eventual Miss Venezuela) at the Miss Venezuela 2016 Pageant wearing Gionni  Straccia

Miss Ohio USA 2017 Dinaleigh Baxter: One of my other Top Ten favorite gowns from the Miss USA 2017 Preliminaries was this black and fuchsia dress worn by Miss Ohio USA 2017. One of my all-time favorite color combinations are black and fuchsia mainly because Cristobal Balenciaga utilized this combination in a lot of his super stunning Haute Couture creations back in the day (Lower Photo above). So when Dinaleigh came out, I was like "You Go Girl!". Her gown had a very fitted black velvet base gown with plunging sweetheart neckline and a GORGEOUS satin cape that was precariously knotted and twisted into these tiny shoulder straps. It was dramatic, entrance-making and yes, VERY fashionable and Cristobal Balenciaga-like. Score: 9.55

Miss New Hampshire USA Sarah Mousseau: Nice gown. BAAAD shoes. Let's discuss the dress first (please!). I liked this gown so much that yes, I included it here in my Top 10. I thought the style was impacting, suited her well...I admired the unique silver sequin work and I even liked the back overskirt. Here, in this gown it seemed a bit more natural to the rest of the gown. I also thought her hair and styling were on-point. But then, she wore those nude platform pumps!!! One question: WHY??? Where there no silver strappy shoes available? I just don't get it. It baffles the mind. NO ONE would be caught wearing these type of shoes with this type of a gown on the red carpet, black-tie gala, Haute Couture fashion show...ANYWHERE! Score: 9.3

Miss Montana USA Brooke Bezanson: I included Miss Montana USA's gown here because of its elegant simplicity and chic style. It was giving a little bit of a nod to what Miss South Dakota USA wore last year in the Finals (go to the top of this post). It was also a nice breath of fresh (Gown) air to see NO SEQUINS, NO SLIT and NO tacky platform pumps (she still made a wrong color choice in wearing NUDE shoes!). The white satin crepe gown featured a column shape highlighted by a dramatic hi-lo cape. While I liked this gown, I'm not so sure it was the right gown for Miss Montana USA. Brook is a lovely looking woman but I think this might have been more effective and had more "Diva" stage effect if it was worn by an olive-skinned or darker skin toned contestant...a "Miss Venezuela" or "Miss Curacao"-type.  It also needed to be just 1" longer. Score: 9.25

Miss Tennessee USA Allee-Sutton Hethcoat: In 9th place of my Top Ten Favorite Gowns was this golden/Blush-colored sequined gown worn by Miss Tennesse USA Allee-Sutton Hethcoat. In terms of style or silhouette, there was nothing really Earth-shattering Fashion Diva about it, but it looked beautiful nonetheless. The halter-style gown fit her well and the sequin-over-nude fabric looked expensive and nice. From head to toe, this was a perfect Miss USA look. Score: 9.2

Miss Washington USA Alex Carlson-Helo: Finally, I want to give MAJOR props to Miss Washington USA Alex Carlson-Helo. While I liked her black sequined gown and thought it was impacting, I just about FELL OFF MY COUCH when I saw that she was NOT wearing those tacky nude platform pumps that EVERY OTHER contestant wore: She wore the PERFECT strappy black heels! Who knew that these women actually had other choices?? And for her perfect shoe choice, Miss Washington USA belonged in my Top Ten list! Score: 9.2



**UP NEXT: The UH OH/Oh No She Didn't/Could Have Been Better...of Miss USA 2017 Preliminary Evening Gowns

Beauty Pageant Minute: Miss USA 2012 Finals--My Evening Gown Recap!!

Beauty Pageant Minute: Miss USA 2012 Finals--My Evening Gown Recap!!

The Girl wearing the Gown WITHOUT The HOOCHIE Slit Wins...Quelle Surprise!!!:

A Queen's Wave: Olivia Culpo "Miss Rhode Island USA 2012", the newly crowned Miss USA 2012

This past Sunday night was the Miss USA 2012 Pageant, telecast LIVE on NBC from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Las Vegas. 51 beautiful ladies representing the 50 United States plus the District of Columbia competed. And the Winner was 20 year old Olivia Culpo Miss Rhode Island USA 2012. She is one of the shortest Miss USA's standing at 1.66 m or about 5' 5"/5' 6" (some sites state her height as 5' 7" as well, so who knows!) and this is the FIRST TIME the State of Rhode Island has won the Miss USA pageant--in sixty one years!! (Go Rhode Island!) Olivia Culpo wore one of my favorite gowns when I reviewed the "Miss USA 2012 Website Portrait Evening Gowns" last week HERE.

 OMG: The moment Olivia Culpo finds out she is the new Miss USA

When I watched the LIVE telecast Sunday night, and saw her, I thought "She's GORGEOUS! There's your Winner" and I also remarked how she resembles one of those actresses on HBO's "Entourage" show, Emmanuelle Chriqui. She may not be editorial or runway model height (you need to be 5' 9" or taller, so fashion designers lending her gowns will have to, well, alter the length, kids) but she is PERFECT "Actress Height", thank you very much. Supposedly she is a cellist. Not for very long. Time to get a big Hollywood agent and go for Hosting/Acting gigs (after her Miss USA 2012 reign is over of course!).

She was a well-deserved winner--not only for her beauty, poise, perfect swimsuit figure (see above photo) but after she answered that Final Question regarding "Transgender Pageant Contestants", well, she "had it in the bag", as they say. So now that we've got that out of the way, let's discuss my "Nick V. Two Cents" of the Evening Gowns:



The Best Dressed Were:

Alyssa Campanella, Miss USA 2011: Alyssa was giving up her crown on Sunday and she did it in style! Usually as the beauty queen who is "passing the torch" you have better choices in gowns and fashion--by the mere fact that you have been at this for a year and have access to stylists, more high-profile designers, etc. She wore two fabulous evening gowns, first when she was introduced by the evenings hosts, Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic, she wore a GORGEOUS ivory gathered Grecian Goddess gown with a sequined neckline and structured shoulders (above photo).

Then when she made her "Farewell Walk", she wore yet another fabulous gown (above photo)--this time a light pink sequined number that Mermaid-flared into organza and tulle ruffles. This could have gone Tacky Toddlers and Tiaras but it was anything but; she looked Paris Haute Couture Runway Model Chic!

My other "Best Dressed" was the beautiful Giuliana Rancic: I just LOVE her, for so many reasons but in terms of fashion and style, she's worn my NIKOLAKI designs in the past so she's in my "Nick Style Hall of Fame"! Not sure who the designer is of this silver and nude gown but she looked great. This, ladies, is how you do, all over embellishment/sequins.



Now, let me discuss the "Oh Dear's" of last night Live Telecast/Pageant and then, I'll get to my "Top Gowns" of the finalists...



The Intro:

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding  meets Kentucky Derby C-List: Miss Texas USA 2012 Brittany Booker (left) and Miss California USA 2012 Natalie Pack (right) doing their best through The Most Tacky-licious Miss USA Live Telecast Intro EVAH!

What. In Toddlers and Tiaras Fashion was that Intro "Fashion Show"? The Live telecast began with a supposed fashion show that was a cross between Kentucky Derby C-List, Bravo's "Real Housewives of Orange County" and Grown-Up Toddlers and Tiaras! I thought I had somehow gone back in "Pageant Time" and  it was 1992 all over again! Why don't the producers look at any of the last Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows and think THAT'S how one should open a 21st Century Live Televised Beauty Pageant/Fashion Show.



Now, the Ten Finalist's Gowns:

Miss Georgia USA 2012 Jazz Wilkins: She wore the same gown for the Preliminaries as well as Sunday night's live telecast. She loved this gown so much, in fact, that she also wore this to win her Miss Georgia USA 2012 Pageant. I thought it was HOOCHIE and Stripper-Fab back when I reviewed the Prelims HERE and well, my mind did not change last night. Jazz IS absolutely gorgeous, tall and has a PERFECT figure. So, why did she need to press the matter wearing a plunging neckline exposing her cha-cha's; slit up to her you-know-what and then, it was BACKLESS! Seriously Jazz? It was interesting to see how, during the Finals, her "Miss Georgia" sash was double-stick taped to her plunging cleavage, thereby covering that part of her body--wisely.  

My Unofficial Nick Judging Score For Miss Georgia: 7.8 out of 10

Sequined Ladies: Semi-Finalists Miss Alabama USA Katherine Webb (a favorite to win) (left) and  Miss  Colorado USA Marybel Gonzalez (right)--these two ladies did good in terms of their evening gowns. I liked Alabama's better than Colorado's but Miss Colorado USA, Marybel WORKED the runway and had SO much stage presence. She watched all those Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Venezuela Pageants and learned A LOT, huney!



Miss Alabama USA: 8.2; Miss Colorado USA 8.4

Miss Ohio USA Audry Boute: Miss Ohio USA 2012 wore the same canary yellow strapless silk shantung gown she wore for her "Portrait Evening Gown", as well as the Preliminaries. I liked this gown at every stage of the competition. It was very 1996, in terms of its silhouette and styling but it fit her well, the color was perfect for her and she stood out in a good way. PS: Bless Her Heart on that Final question and referring to Julia Roberts and "Pretty Woman". Bless Her Heart.



My Evening Gown Score: 8.9

Ivory Queen: Miss Nevada USA 2012 Jade Kelsall looked AMAZING Sunday night but I can see how she might have come off as aloof and too "model"-like. And yes, after the "well, we had been up at 4 am to answer that 'who's the Vice President of the USA' question.." She didn't fare so well. If I was her, I would not have made excuses and have been all "We have no knowledge of POLITICS darling, all we do is Facebook and Tweet!". In terms of her gown, it was gorgeous. She looked very "Spartan Princess". I just do not know why she over-accessorized so much. Why all the extra necklaces Jade? Not necessary.  



My Score: 8.5

Miss New Jersey USA Michelle Leonardo: Michelle, on the other hand, kept it clean when it came to the accessories and looked fresh and Pageant Pretty in her ivory halter neckline jersey gown with sequined midriff. It wasn't original but it fit her well, and she worked the stage with it.  



My Score: 9.0



Beaded Ladies:  

Miss Oklahoma USA Lauren Lundeen wore one of my favorite gowns as I mentioned during my Review of the Preliminaries. It was nude-colored backed and embellished with countless multicolored mirrored crystals. It was modern, directional yet still "Pageant Perfect". Her bun was a little high and yes, those stacked LEGO-looking pumps (Thanks Global Beauties for that Perfect reference!) were a bit much...but still an impacting overall look.



My Score: 9.5

Miss Texas USA 2012 Brittany Booker: Supposedly this lovely lady is a good Christian girl. Well....looking at this "I'm a Stripper in West Hollywood" gown it's hard to understand...what do you guys think? My opinion is that she's STUNNING and did not need to look so HOOCHIE...It's great for a Vegas Showgirl Act and Revue, or as a Back-Up Dancer for Cher, Celine Dion, or Elton John...but as a Miss USA evening gown??



My Score for Evening Gown: 7.5



Finally, the Top Two:

Miss Maryland USA Nana Meriwether: Nana Meriwether was THE Star--or Star Runner-Up of the night. Born in South Africa, six foot tall Nana tried out for Miss California USA a bunch of times (My sister Rita Verreos even runway trained her in one of those Miss California tries) finally she was wise to move on---and went on to "Miss  Maryland USA" where she won. And good for her! She looked GLORIOUS at last night's "Miss USA 2012" Finals. Her white chiffon gown with silver leaf-like detail evoked visions of Aphrodite at Mt. Olympus: Flawless.



Score: 9.8

Miss Rhode Island USA Olivia Culpo: I loved her raspberry chiffon Empire-style gown back in the Miss USA Website Profile Photos and she wore it also for the Preliminaries and she decided to not change when it came time for the Finals. No HOOCHIE Slit. No HOOCHIE Plunging neckline. She looked elegant, glamorous, red carpet-ready. It was perfect. These Empire-cut "flinging chiffon" gowns are popular as of late and it can get a bit of a "OK, enough of the chiffon Empire Dresses!" however, I would take these gowns over HOOCHIE Slit-Up-To-The-Ya-Ya-These-Are-My-Breasts ones ANY DAY.



My Score for her Evening Gown: 9.8.

Congrats to Olivia, the new Miss USA. Good Luck at Miss Universe 2012--wherever it may be. And hope you choose a FABULOUS evening gown. PS: Call me!!

SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss USA 2017 Finals: The EVENING GOWN RECAP!

SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss USA 2017 Finals: The EVENING GOWN RECAP!

Gown Throwback: A Not-So-Fashion-Exciting Evening Gown Top 10 at Miss USA 2017 Finals--Mandalay Bay events Center Las Vegas

Last night were the finals of Miss USA 2017 in Mandalay Bay Events Center at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Las Vegas. Fifty one contestants representing all 50 U.S. states plus District of Columbia competed for the top crown and a chance to represent the USA at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant. And the winner was...

Back-to-Back: Miss USA 2016 (and former Miss District of Columbia) Deshauna Barber crowns Miss District of Columbia USA Kara McCullough as Miss USA 2017--Mandalay Bay Events Center Las Vegas

Miss District of Columbia USA Kara McCullough! Kara is 25 years old, stands 5' 10" (178 M) and was born in Naples Italy. Because of her father--who worked in the U.S. Marine Corps--she was raised in various places including Sicily, South Korea, Japan and Hawaii. Oh, and did I mention she's also a RADIOCHEMIST! Now, Kara might be interested in the study of radioactive materials but she's also no stranger to beauty pageants: She was 1st runner-up at the Miss District of Columbia USA beauty pageant TWICE, in 2015 and 2016, where she was the first runner-up to last year's Miss USA, Deshauna Barber.

Beauty and Brains: Miss USA 2017 Kara McCullough

Kara caused a little bit of controversy in the Twittersphere with her answer to a question regarding health care in which she said that it should be a privilege as opposed to a right for all U.S. citizens. But this blog isn't about that, it's all about THE GOWNS! And the controversy here is how MEH the Top 10 gowns were...

Sequins and Slits: Miss USA 2017 Kara McCullough--Miss USA 2017 Finals, Mandalay Bay Events Events Center Las Vegas

Honestly, this was ONE OF THE MOST LACKLUSTER Evening Gown showings at a Miss USA Finals in a LOOONG time! They were dated, semi-Pageant Betty and in terms of FASHION, or fashion-forward...look elsewhere darlings 'cause you wouldn't find it here. It was as if we had regressed back to the late 1990's/early 2000's in terms of Gown designs. Only ONE of my Top Ten Best Gowns from the Preliminaries made the Final 10 and if that wasn't enough, two of my "UH Oh/Worst" picks made the final Top Ten (Yikes!)

So...I guess, the evening gowns had little-to-no effect on the judges in choosing the 10 semifinalists, which I suppose is fine, since all 10 semifinalists seemed to be some of the most intelligent women in the contest and, in addition, perfect representations of the tagline "Confidently Beautiful". Well, even though the style (or lack thereof) of the contestants Evening Gowns might not have been important to the judges, they are still important to me here on my "Sashes And Tiaras" blog!



So here's my RECAP of the Ten Semifinalist's Gowns--from Worst to Best:

Miss Minnesota USA Meridith Gould: Meridith did an OUTSTANDING job last night at Miss USA 2017. She had a strong stage presence and in addition, answered the questions perfectly and eloquently. No misstep there. Oh, and she looked like a toned Goddess in Swimsuit. It's her gown that I thought was problematic. Back in my recap of the Preliminary Competition, I placed her gown as one of my least favorite and that sentiment didn't change in the Finals. She revealed that this white organza, tulle and applique design was a combination of TWO gowns that she liked. Well, kids, that might have been the problem: It looked it. The top was this sequined bustier/leotard with neckband and Breast-a-licious front cut-out and then the bottom were pants AND a matching overskirt. It was A LOT to say the least and really overpowered her. I get the "J Lo-on-the-Latin Billboard Awards Red Carpet" look she was going for (very popular with Lebanese designers like Zuhair Murad and Elie Saab) but it was a Too-Mucheey mess. On a good note, she didn't wear those tacky "Stripper" platform heels. On a not-so-good note: NUDE??? Really??!! With a WHITE gown?? 

Miss New York USA Hannah Lopa: Red-haired Hannah is next on my list of least favorite gowns for the 10 Miss USA 2017 semifinalists. I'll start with the positive: I liked the emerald green sequins over nude tulle but...she was almost-nude underneath! I could literally see her PANTIES! (Yikes!). Maybe I'm too old-school but I just don't want to see panties. I get the see-through style but it really isn't supposed to be really SEE-THROUGH (it should have been lined to the bottom, in a nude colored lining of course). And then, if the see-through-ness of that wasn't distracting enough...

We get SMOOSHED-BOOB Syndrome with a waaaay too revealing neckline. She's too gorgeous too wear something so "Real Housewives of Atlanta"-like. Period.

Miss Alaska USA Alyssa London: First off, Congratulations to Miss Alaska USA Alyssa London, who was a definite spoiler and surprise in making the Top 10; quite an accomplishment all on it's own. The gown was designed by herself with the help of Joey Galon Atelier. Galon had quite a night for himself since he not only created Miss Alaska USA's gown but also Miss Hawaii USA and...

Outgoing Miss USA Deshauna Barber's beautiful lavender gown (LOVE!)

I will say, of the 3 gowns, Miss Alaska's was the least successful however. I appreciated Alyssa honoring her Native American/Tlingit heritage with the ceremonial robe aspect to her gown. The sequin work and images of Tlingit patterns and whale's tail were quite impressive, but I didn't think that the reveal was effective. This was VERY hard to pull off from a technical design perspective, and the robe that transitioned into a train ended up being clunky and dragged the look down. In addition, the dress itself was a bit "been there, done that" Pageant Gown. But kudos to Alyssa for showing her Alaska Native/Native American heritage in her evening gown! 

Miss Missouri USA Bayleigh Dayton: There were several issues I had with this gown. First, the style was dated. I am also not a fan of those "pick-up's" as they are called (the horizontal folding and pleating and picking-up of the fabric). The Pick-up detail + the satin = Prom 1995. In addition to all this, the gown was just too heavy looking; she looked like a red swirling Christmas ornament and/or bell. I just want to see a little FASHION, a little fashion-forward-ness, a little inspiration from the Haute Couture shows of Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab, something!

Miss California USA India Williams: When I saw this white sequined gown on the beautiful Miss California USA in the Preliminaries, I was not a fan. I was disappointed. India is so pretty, so tall (six feet!) and statuesque and the gown was too Miss Teen USA "Sweet" and Prom-like. She needed something more "Runway Fab" in my eyes. The neckband was useless, the crystal waist trim was too low, and overall, this gown just wasn't a WOW. If she had worn something like this, I would have jumped from my couch and given her a standing gown ovation...

Miss Falcon Jennifer Saa at Miss Venezuela 2014--But, alas, I just stayed seated bored to tears.

Miss New Jersey USA Chhavi Verg: Seriously kids, what is happening with these women picking the most boring traditional oh-so-meh gowns??? If there was one contestant who could bust out in a fab Runway-like gown, it would have been the exotic Chhavi Verg, Miss New Jersey USA. She looked nice and very safe. And maybe that was the point. If so, she gets a TEN for that, but this choice of a black sequined halter gown was just nice, and that's about it. I would have loved to have seen her in something more like this:

Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2014--Notice that I'm not even referencing anything recent; these gowns are from 2014! The women (and their pageant glam squad) need to be a bit more creative with their gown choices and pageant gown designers/manufacturers need to start getting "inspired" by gowns like the ones above. ASAP.

Let's just get to some of the better ones from the Top Ten:

Miss Tennessee USA Allee-Sutton Hethcoat: Allee-Sutton wore one of my Top Ten Favorite Gowns back in the Preliminary Competition earlier in the week. And she wore the same one for the Finals last night. In terms of style or silhouette, there was nothing really Earth-shattering Fashion Diva about it, but it looked beautiful nonetheless, especially the fabrication. The halter-style gown fit her well and the sequin-over-nude fabric looked expensive and nice. From head to toe, this was a perfect Miss USA look. She looked like a top actress walking the red carpet of a top awards show. 

Miss South Carolina USA Megan Gordon: Megan is so beautiful--she reminds me of a Somali or Ethiopian model like Fatima Siad or Kadra Ahmed Omar. While I also wished her choice of gown would have been more runway fab and directional, this royal blue design wasn't a bad choice. The gown featured flower sequin applique, a nice v-neckline (not too revealing) and slightly dramatic overskirt. The style was Pageant Predictable but I think what I really liked was the strong color. It was impacting on stage and at least looked more of this century as opposed to the past.

Miss Illinois USA  Whitney Wandland: Whitney was quite a star at last night's Miss USA 2017 Finals. At only 5' 7" tall (compared to the glamazon heights of Miss California USA and Miss Minnesota USA!) but I have to tell you she exuded the confidence, air and SUPERFAB runway walk that made her look like a six foot tall Supermodel! I also liked her choice of this gold sequined fringe gown. Many people have made comparisons to the gown last year's Miss USA Deshauna Barber wore to win the crown:

It was gold and had that "Liza With a Z"-like sequined fringe. The style and golden color was impacting for Miss Illinois USA and she WORKED it on the stage. If I had to pick my favorites (I didn't have many in these Top 10), this one would have been up there.

Finally...

Miss District of Columbia USA Kara McCullough: The eventual winner of the Miss USA 2017 crown wore this white and sequined gown for the Finals Evening Gown Competition. This was one of the better dresses in my view of the Top 10 Semifinalists. The gown featured gold and silver jeweled sequin top and a white flowing skirt with side-front slit. The gown was very effective onstage and Kara utilized the silhouette and that slit very well. The colors were also quite nice for Kara and her skin tone. I also like the bit of Cleopatra Drama in the overall look. Again, this was not a super fashion-forward gown but it wasn't tacky, it wasn't revealing too much cleavage and it was a good choice for her.

If I did have some criticism...(Take a guess what that could be?)...YEP: Those shoes! Putty colored platform heels are NOT--under any circumstances--the right shoe choice when wearing a white and golden gown. Come to think of it, I'm not sure when there is a good style time to wear putty colored platform pumps. Were there no gold strappy (NON PLATFORM!) shoes available?? Oh well. Who cares. She won!!

Congratulations to Kara and to the Miss District of Columbia USA organization for back-to-back Miss USA wins!! Now, STEP AWAY from the Putty COLORED Platform Heels!