Miss USA 2004

Miss USA 2004
Date	April 12, 2004
Presenters	Billy Bush, Nancy O'Dell
Venue	Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, California
Broadcaster	NBC
Winner	Shandi Finnessey Missouri
Congeniality	Michelle Fongemie
Photogenic	Jennifer Sherrill

The Miss USA 2004 pageant was held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California on April 12, 2004. The winner of the beauty pageant was Shandi Finnessey, who became the first winner from the state of Missouri. Finnessey was crowned by outgoing Miss USA Susie Castillo, of Massachusetts.

The pageant was hosted by Billy Bush and Nancy O'Dell, the first time this partnership had hosted the pageant. Bush had previously hosted Miss USA 2003 and Miss Universe 2003.

For the first time since 1970, fifteen semi-finalists competed in the final competition, although not all the semi-finalists competed in both the swimsuit and evening gown. Following the new format established at Miss Universe 2003 and Miss Teen USA 2003, the top fifteen semi-finalists were reduced to ten after the evening gown competition, and then to the final five after swimsuits. This was the first time that contestants did not have the opportunity to compete in both competitions.

Official results

Placements

Map showing placements by state

Final results	Contestant
Miss USA 2004	Missouri - Shandi Finnessey
1st runner-up	South Carolina - Amanda Pennekamp
2nd runner-up	North Carolina - Ashley Puleo
3rd runner-up	Oklahoma - Lindsey Hill
4th runner-up	Tennessee - Stephanie Culberson
Top 10	Alabama - Tara Darby Florida - Kristen Berset Georgia - Caroline Medley Idaho - Kimberly Weible Oregon - Jennifer Murphy
Top 15	Arizona - Danielle Demski New Hampshire - Vanessa Bissanti New Mexico - Jenna Hardin Texas - Stephanie Guerrero Washington - Tara McCormick

Special awards

• Miss Photogenic: Jennifer Sherrill (Arkansas)
• Miss Congeniality: Michelle Fongemie (Vermont)

Delegates

The Miss USA 2004 delegates were:

Alabama – Tara Darby Alaska – Cari Leyva Arizona – Danielle Demski Arkansas – Jennifer Sherrill California – Ellen Chapman Colorado – Janel Haw Connecticut – Sheila Wiatr Delaware – Courtney Purdy District of Columbia – Tiara Christen Dews Florida – Kristen Berset Georgia – Caroline Medley Hawaii – Justine Michioka Idaho – Kimberly Glyn Weible Illinois – Molly Graham Indiana – Stephanie "Steffi" Keusch Iowa – Brooke Hansen Kansas – Lisa Forbes Kentucky – Lauren Stengel Louisiana – Melissa McConnell Maine – Mackenzie Davis Maryland – Tia Shorts Massachusetts – Maria Lekkakos Michigan – Stacey Lee Minnesota – Jessica Dereschuk Mississippi – Beth Richards Missouri – Shandi Finnessey

Montana – Molly Flynn Nebraska – Guerin Austin Nevada – Victoria Franklin New Hampshire – Vanessa Bissanti New Jersey – Janaye Ingram New Mexico – Jenna Hardin New York – Jaclyn Nesheiwat North Carolina – Ashley Puleo North Dakota – Jennifer Smith Ohio – Lauren Kelsey Hall Oklahoma – Lindsey Hill Oregon – Jennifer Murphy Pennsylvania – Nicole Georghalli Rhode Island – Sarah Rose Bettencourt South Carolina – Amanda Pennekamp South Dakota – Andrea Parliament Tennessee – Stephanie Culberson Texas – Stephanie Guerrero Utah – Kyla Faye Dickerson Vermont – Michelle Fongemie Virginia – Kristi Lauren Glakas Washington – Tara McCormick West Virginia – Carolyn Jennings Wisconsin – Jenna Shultz Wyoming – Katie Rudoff

Miss USA contestants during rehearsals Miss USA contestants during rehearsals Miss USA contestants during rehearsals Miss USA contestants during rehearsals Miss USA contestants during rehearsals

Historical significance

• This became the first win for Missouri in pageant history.
• South Carolina had its highest placement since Lu Parker won Miss USA 1994. South Carolina also placed for the fourth time in five years.
• North Carolina had its best finish in 10 years and its best finish for the third time in pageant history. North Carolina finished 2nd Runner-Up in 1975 and 1994.
• Oklahoma had its best finish in the pageant since 1989.
• Tennessee repeated its highest placement for the second time since Lynnette Cole won Miss USA 2000.
• Alabama makes it through the first cut for the third time in a row.
• Florida makes it through the first cut for the first time since 1997.
• Idaho had its first placement since Brandi Sherwood inherited the Miss USA 1997 title after Brook Lee won Miss Universe 1997.
• New Hampshire had its first placement since 2000, and became only the fourth placement by a New Hampshire delegate in pageant history.
• New Mexico placed for the second time since 1999.
• Texas made the first cut of delegates for the third time in a row since Kandace Krueger won Miss USA 2001.

Contestant notes

Miss New York USA 2004 Jaclyn Nesheiwat (left) visited U.S. troops in Iraq in March of 2004. While in Baghdad, she met her sister, Army Capt. Julie Nesheiwat (right)

• Kristi Lauren Glakas (Virginia) had previously held the title Miss Virginia Teen USA 1999 (semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA 1999) and would later become Miss Virginia 2005 (3rd runner-up at Miss America 2006). She is one of six triple crown winners.
• Other delegates who had previously or would later hold Miss America state titles
  • Shandi Finnessey (Missouri) – Miss Missouri 2002
  • Stephanie Culberson (Tennessee) – (4th runner-up), Miss Tennessee 2001 (2nd runner-up)
  • Cari Leyva (Alaska) – Miss Alaska 2007
• Delegates who had previously competed at Miss Teen USA were:
  • Danielle Demski (Arizona) – Miss Arizona Teen USA 1999 (finalist at Miss Teen USA 1999)
  • Tiara Dews (District of Columbia) – Miss District of Columbia Teen USA 2000 (semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA 2000)
  • Kimberly Weible (Idaho) – Miss Idaho Teen USA 1999
  • Victoria Franklin (Nevada) – Miss Nevada Teen USA 1998 (second runner-up at Miss Teen USA 1998)
  • Katie Rudoff (Wyoming) – Miss Wyoming Teen USA 1999
• Jennifer Murphy (Oregon) later appeared on Donald Trump's reality television show The Apprentice 4
• Jaclyn Nesheiwat (New York) later married Creed drummer Scott Stapp
• Mackenzie Davis (Maine) became director of the Miss Maine USA and Miss Maine Teen USA pageants in 2006.
• It was the first time since 1984 where two of the top 5 finalists were former Miss America state titleholders. In 1984, the top 3 were all former Miss America state titleholders.
• Later on two delegates went on to win the Miss Earth USA title. The first was Amanda Pennekamp, Miss South Carolina USA who won the Miss Earth USA 2006 title and was a top 16 semifinalist at Miss Earth 2006. The second was Miss Kansas USA, Lisa Forbes who won the 2007 title and competed at Miss Earth 2007.

Related competitions

For the second year there was a Miss USA Fear Factor special, in which Tara Darby of Alabama won the $50,000 prize (half of which to be donated to the charity of her choice).

External links

• Miss USA Magic's Miss USA 2004 coverage
• Official Miss USA site