Miss USA 2025 Crowns Nebraska’s Audrey Eckert, Signaling Fresh Start for Historic Pageant
The Crowning Moment: A New Era Begins
In an emotional moment that marked both a personal triumph and an organizational rebirth, Audrey Eckert of Nebraska fell to her knees as her name was announced, crowned Miss USA 2025 amid a blizzard of gold streamers at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. The 22-year-old digital safety advocate’s victory heralds what pageant organizers have boldly proclaimed a “new era” for the scandal-plagued institution.
In a striking break from tradition, Eckert was crowned not by her predecessor but by reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig, as outgoing Miss USA 2024 Alma Cooper notably declined to attend the ceremony. Cooper announced her decision just hours before the event in an Instagram post, stating she had chosen to “stand in honour of my values, work, and resolve”.
The pageant, which took place on October 24, 2025, featured 51 Miss USA pageant contestants from across the nation, with Ivy Harrington from New Jersey and Chantéa McIntyre from Oregon named first and second runners-up respectively. The event culminated in five days of competition that included swimwear presentations, evening gown parades, and Q&A sessions with judges.
Meet Audrey Eckert : More Than a Crown
Beyond the glittering crown, Audrey Eckert brings a multifaceted background that reflects the evolving nature of modern pageant contestants. The Lincoln, Nebraska native is a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate with a degree in Business Administration, where she also served as a member of the Husker cheer squad.
Professionally, Eckert works as a social media and marketing coordinator for Sapahn, a Thai handbag brand. Her career in digital media directly informs her advocacy work—she has founded “Queen of Your Feed,” an initiative focused on digital safety for youth.
During the final question round, when asked what she hopes people will say about her generation 100 years from now, Eckert emphasized their adaptability. “We have learned to grow and change through so many things,” she stated, connecting her digital media work to the responsibilities of Miss USA. “She needs to be adaptable, she needs to roll with the punches, and she needs to lead our great nation with pride”.
Eckert will have immediate opportunity to demonstrate that adaptability as she prepares to represent the United States at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand on November 21.
Reforming the Pageant: Transparency and Inclusion
The 74th Miss USA competition marked the first under the direction of Thomas Brodeur, who acquired the franchise from the Miss Universe Organization. Brodeur has implemented significant reforms aimed at restoring public trust after what he described as “egregious NDA language that suppressed the voices” of previous titleholders.
In a dramatic shift from previous years, Brodeur eliminated the selection committee rule that had historically allowed pageant management to influence judging decisions. “What that means to the competitors… is that they are going to have a 100% fair shot where nobody else’s voice or influence affects their ability to place in the competition,” Brodeur told Business Insider.
Additional reforms included:
- Restoration of current events questions in interviews, which had been banned under previous leadership
- Transparent judging criteria focused solely on judge evaluations rather than backroom influences
- Elimination of age restrictions, allowing more women to compete
These changes represent what Brodeur calls a commitment to “reestablish Miss USA and Miss Teen USA as America’s It Girls” through fairness and transparency.
Overcoming Turmoil: From Scandal to Renewal
Eckert’s victory represents a potential turning point for an organization rocked by nearly 18 months of turbulence. The pageant’s troubles became public in May 2024 when then-reigning Miss USA Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava resigned within days of each other.
Voigt initially cited mental health concerns, but social media users detected a hidden message in her announcement—the first letters of the first 11 sentences spelled “I am silenced”. Her subsequent resignation letter, obtained by CNN, alleged a “toxic work environment” that “at best, is poor management and, at worst, is bullying and harassment”. Voigt further claimed the pageant failed to provide an effective handler, resulting in her being sexually harassed during a Christmas parade event.
The controversy deepened when Miss USA 2024 Alma Cooper alleged she never received her promised $100,000 annual compensation, and Miss Teen USA 2024 Addie Carver reportedly never received her $10,000 scholarship.
The turmoil culminated in September 2025 when Brodeur announced he had acquired the rights to Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. The transition was not smooth—former CEO Laylah Rose initially disputed the change in a since-deleted Instagram post. The Miss Universe Organization subsequently filed a lawsuit against Rose’s company, VVV Global, alleging breach of contract and claiming the company had brought the Miss USA brand “into disrepute”. VVV Global countersued, denying allegations and seeking over $116 million in damages.
Historic Representation: A Pageant for Modern America
This year’s competition showcased unprecedented diversity among Miss USA pageant contestants, reflecting Brodeur’s commitment to making the pageant more inclusive. Significant milestones included:
- Tetra Shockley of Delaware, who at 44 became the oldest person ever to compete in Miss USA
- MonaLesa Brackett of New Hampshire, the first woman to compete wearing a hijab
- Mary Sickler of Nevada, the first woman with alopecia to compete
The pageant also featured more than a dozen contestants aged 30 or above, following the elimination of longstanding age restrictions that had previously banned women over 28 from participating.
Table: Special Award Winners at Miss USA 2025
| Award | Winner | State |
|---|---|---|
| Miss Congeniality | Tetra Shockley | Delaware |
| Miss Photogenic | Shelby Howell | Maine |
| Best State Costume | Shae Smith | Missouri |
##The Road Ahead: Miss Universe and Beyond
Eckert now begins a whirlwind reign that will immediately test the adaptability she championed during the competition. Her first priority: preparation for the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand on November 21, 2025.
Brodeur has promised the new Miss USA will have a “pretty aggressive appearance roster” upon her return from international competition. This ambitious schedule represents both an opportunity for Eckert to make her mark and a test of the organization’s ability to support its titleholder effectively—something it failed to do under previous leadership.
For the Miss USA organization itself, the work of institutional repair continues. The pageant faces ongoing challenges, including the fact that this year’s event was not televised on any American network for the first time since 1963, instead streaming exclusively on the Queen Beauty Network. A lawsuit filed by JKN revealed that the pageant had been “shunned by TV networks” due to recent scandals.
Yet the historic diversity of this year’s Miss USA pageant contestants and the implementation of more transparent processes suggest a genuine commitment to change. As the newly crowned Eckert stated in her final answer, adaptability may be the defining quality of this generation—a quality both she and the organization she now represents will need in abundance.
Table: Top Five Finalists at Miss USA 2025
| Placement | Contestant | State |
|---|---|---|
| Miss USA 2025 | Audrey Eckert | Nebraska |
| 1st Runner-Up | Ivy Harrington | New Jersey |
| 2nd Runner-Up | Chantéa McIntyre | Oregon |
| 3rd Runner-Up | Taylor Lauren Davis | Texas |
| 4th Runner-Up | Mary Sickler | Nevada |
Beauty Pageants Reimagined
The crowning of Audrey Eckert as Miss USA 2025 represents more than the victory of one accomplished young woman—it signals a potential renaissance for an American institution at a crossroads. Through significant reforms and a commitment to inclusivity, the pageant has taken substantial steps toward rehabilitating its image and purpose.
As Eckert herself demonstrated during the competition, today’s Miss USA pageant contestants are not merely beauty queens; they are advocates, professionals, and community leaders who happen to compete in pageants. The diversity of this year’s competitors—in age, background, and life experience—suggests a promising new direction for an organization seeking to remain relevant in modern America.
While challenges remain, the 74th Miss USA pageant may be remembered as the moment the organization truly began to practice what it has long preached: that every woman has the opportunity to be her authentic self, and that every voice deserves to be heard.