Christina has always been very active. Growing up, she was a competitive gymnast for 15 years and also an avid runner. At the University of Maryland, College Park, from which she graduated in 2012, Christina was a D-1 cheerleader. Her major while at UMD was Hearing and Speech Sciences and it was through this that she began working as an ABA Therapist, tutoring a young student on the Autism Spectrum, with whom she still works. It was this job which inspired Christina to pursue more charity work for those with special needs. She has volunteered with many organizations including serving as a coach for the Special Olympics! After graduation, she even taught her own special needs classroom! Making a difference in the lives of others is a passion of hers and she hopes to continue to do so in the future. In her free time, she loves to work out, cook, and play with her cats. She is a licensed Zumba instructor and loves leading others in their pursuit of a happy and healthy life!

Whitney is a 21-year-old junior attending Lynn University, and is double majoring in broadcast journalism and fashion and retail management. Her dream is to secure a job as an on-air personality for an entertainment news network. She is a successful fashion blogger who loves to connect with people from all over the world. Whitney has enjoyed modeling since the age of five, and feels “at home” in front of the camera. Whitney loves swimming, skiing, and just being outdoors. When not working out, she spends her time sewing new garments and tailoring her clothes to get the perfect fit. She has dedicated a big portion of her life volunteering with special needs and disabled children because she has a soft spot in her heart from attending an integrated school. As a victim of a cyberstalking case, Whitney uses every opportunity she can to teach the importance of social media safety to children and teens. She says now that she is not the victim anymore, and she can overcome anything.

Susie Leica is a native Michigander, with a Bachelor's of Science in Human Biology from Michigan State University. She is a first-generation American daughter of Polish Romanian immigrants. She learned to speak three languages by age five. Susie lived a fearless, adventurous youth; always exploring the world around her. You could always count on Susie in time of need. Her passion for helping others led her to become an OR Spine Specialist for a leading orthopedic medical device company. Ranking #1 in national training allowed Susie to become the first female state specialist for one of the most minimally invasive spine surgeries. She is a current fellow at an Innovation Institute working to address healthcare challenges through entrepreneurial approaches.
Susie believes that the circumstance of one's childhood does not have to define who the person becomes. She is determined to be a role model for young girls experiencing hardship. She describes herself as vivacious and dedicated.

Haley is a 22-year-old from Meridian, MS. She is a recent graduate from Mississippi State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree. Haley has been a dancer since the age of 3 and has had the privilege of dancing on a college level, as well as the professional level. Haley is a member of the 2015-2016 Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders and was chosen to be featured on the web series "Cut 27: Who's Next?" for the Titans. She is also a singer/songwriter and enjoys performing. Haley enjoys giving back and wants to bring awareness to Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, as well as Parent Circle Support Group in Meridian, both of which are close to her heart. Haley is excited to represent the state of Mississippi in the upcoming Miss USA pageant.

Sydnee Stottlemyre, 22, grew up in Chesterfield, MO. A natural athlete, Sydnee played basketball and ran track & field in high school. She is a senior at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she majors in Strategic Communication. She has experience reporting for KBIA FM and KOMU 8, the NPR and NBC affiliates in Columbia, Missouri. Following graduation, she plans to attend law school and specialize in Constitutional Law. When she is not working or studying, Sydnee loves to read. She has always deeply enjoyed science fiction novels and movies. Sydnee loves animals, especially dogs (the smaller, the better)! She is the former international spokesperson for the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri-Columbia, a role she used to advocate for animal therapy. Sydnee is excited to fulfill her lifelong dream of competing for Miss USA!

Sibahn was born on a rainy day in Orlando, FL. After her brother was born, her family moved to Dallas, GA, then again, a few years later, to her hometown of Frenchtown, MT. Her three youngest siblings; Venn, Rhoswen, and Carys were born shortly after. In high school she started a women’s rugby club. As captain, she led her team in winning the State Championship! Since that time she continued her love for the sport by volunteering with Olympic Rugby teams and USA Youth Rugby. September 6, 2010 (exactly 5 years before winning Miss Montana USA), she competed and won her first pageant, Miss Montana Teen USA 2011. Currently, she is a personal trainer, model, and has appeared in featured films including “Fast Seven”, “Hunger Games”, “Insurgent”, and the upcoming film “Nice Guys.” Soon she plans on training to become a stuntwoman. Sibahn is an advocate for children’s health/nutrition and supporting our military. She enjoys painting, reading books (especially on history) and shooting guns.

Upon graduating high school in Omaha, Sarah started school at Creighton University and competed in Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2009, bringing home the crown on her first try. After winning she used her scholarship to the New York Film Academy to study broadcast journalism. Sarah earned a bachelors degree from one of the country's top journalism schools, the Missouri School of Journalism. She has worked as a reporter for an NPR affiliate station, a producer and anchor for KOMU in Columbia, Missouri, and even hosted her own sports show online covering SEC sports. She took a break from television and worked in Public Relations and Government Affairs for an aerospace company where she worked closely with members of Congress on aerospace initiatives. She found herself back in her comfort zone in front of the camera hosting a trivia game show. She also runs her own business as a freelance publicist for small businesses and teaches fitness classes.

Emelina Adams, 24, was born and raised in Nevada. Her love of travel began in childhood, and she has visited more than 13 countries. In high school, Emmy (as her friends call her) was a member of the National Honor Society. She later graduated from the University of Arizona, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a Pre-law minor. In college, she had the opportunity to study abroad. That allowed her to hone her Italian (which she speaks fluently) and fueled her love of cooking and trying new foods. As Miss Nevada USA, Emelina is helping young people deal with addiction in their families by speaking about substance abuse in schools. She hopes to show others, through her experience, that with independence and strength, anything is possible. Emelina also enjoys acting and modeling. She has appeared in campaigns for Jovani and walked in fashion week for numerous designers. She plans to return to school to earn her PhD in Psychology and ultimately become a child psychologist.

Jessielyn is a resident of Wayne, where she grew up. She graduated with honors from Wayne Hills High School in 2010 & Cum Laude from The College of New Jersey in 2014. In college she interned at Fadil Berisha & Maxim Magazine. She received a BFA in Digital Arts and a minor in Fine Arts. She was inducted in The Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society for her academic accomplishments. She was chosen as the only recipient of the Dean's Purchase Award. Her Art legacy will live on as part of the permanent TCNJ Art Collection. Today Jessielyn owns her own studio & is a nationally published Photographer. Her work has been published in Maxim & Glady’s Magazine. She also Freelanced as an Online Photo Editor for Maxim. She hopes to become an internationally published celebrity photographer, shooting for the cover of Vogue. She is also an established model, appearing in magazines and runway shows, including NYFW. Her community services involvement includes the USO, Heart Disease and Breast Cancer Awareness.

Naomie Germain is 22 years old, was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is the olderst of three children. Her parents moved to the United States, resided in New York, and moved to New Mexico in 1992. She is a Political Science major at the University of New Mexico and a member of Emerge New Mexico. When she is not in school, Naomie enjoys hiking, yoga, watching the Food Network, trying new recipes, and learning new things through different "DIY"(Do-it-yourself) projects. Naomie received the "Living Portrait Award" from the National Council of Negro Women for her involvement in her community in 2015. Naomie looks forward to leaving a lasting legacy after her reign.

Serena grew up in a first generation Albanian household where she was raised with the values and culture of her country. She is a middle child with an older sister and younger brother. Her father passed away of a sudden heart attack when she was 13 and was forced into an adult role sooner than expected. She began working full-time at the age of 16 while attending school. Serena graduated from Monroe Woodbury high school and went to Rockland Community College for two years where she majored in Criminal Justice. She interned at the Woodbury Police department hoping to one day work for the FBI. Although they are at two opposite sides of the spectrum, Serena worked hard at obtaining a career in the entertainment field as well. She auditioned for The Voice and American Idol while also filming pilot tv shows and competing for Miss New York USA 4 years in a row. She was fortunate enough to land a 3 year modeling contract with Major Models in New York City and continues that occupation today.

Devin Gant was born and raised in the Queen City of Charlotte, North Carolina and is a 2016 honors graduate of High Point University. The 23 year old earned her bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communications and Marketing. While at HPU, she was an Ambassador for High Point University, member of the Big Brother/Big Sister program, and a Resident Advisor. Devin was a consultant for The Greater High Point Food Alliance Foundation working to end hunger in the community.

Devin was previously an NBA Charlotte Hornet Honeybee Dancer and is currently employed at Love You Back Boutique as their Social Media Coordinator and consultant.

Her hobbies include physical training, water color painting, and creative cooking for healthier versions to satisfy her sweet tooth and love for food.

Halley is a junior at the University of North Dakota pursuing a career in nursing. She plans to become a traveling nurse and eventually go back to school to become a nurse practitioner. Halley grew up in a hockey family and loves that she is breaking the stereotype that only boys can play hockey. She loves seeing the look on peoples' faces when she tells them she plays hockey and also competes in pageants. Growing up in the restaurant business, her passion for cooking started at a young age. One of her favorite things to do is prepare traditional German-Russian meals with her grandma. Halley would love to share her story with the world about not letting her circumstances define her. She hopes to open an outreach center for people affected by drugs and alcohol. Halley wants to use her experience of having a mother that struggles with alcoholism to help other families. She believes that this situation has made her into the strong, independent woman she is today.