The Miss USA pageant (not to be confused with Miss America) is a beauty contest that has been held every year since 1952, with winners competing in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA. The winners of the state pageants that compete in the Miss USA pageant have had "USA" appended to their titles (e.g. "Miss Delaware USA") since the mid-1980s in order that these state-level winners not be confused with the competitors in the Miss America pageant.
Miss Kentucky USA, Tara Conner, is the reigning Miss USA. Tara was almost dethroned due to behaviour and personal problems allegedly involving drugs and partying. On a press conference on December 19, 2006, Donald Trump gave Tara a second chance and she was not dethroned.
Jackie Loughery of New York was crowned that first year in Long Beach, California, a day before the first Miss Universe was crowned. From 1952 until 1964, both pageants were concurrent events, with the Miss Universe Pageant taking place the day after the new Miss USA was crowned. In the mid-1960s, it was established when a Miss USA wins the Miss Universe pageant, the first runner-up becomes the new Miss USA. This happened in 1980, 1995 and 1997. In 1967, the first runner-up declined the title and the crown went to the second runner-up Cheryl Ann Patton. This is considered to be really rare by pageant fans in pageant history. The only instance where a first runner-up assumed the title of Miss USA prior to this period was in 1957 when Leona Gage was disqualified from the Miss Universe pageant and was stripped of her crown, with Charlotte Sheffield being the new queen. (Source Wikipedia)
