The phrase “Miss USA Top 20” comes into sharp focus as the 74th edition of the Miss USA 2025 competition takes shape. With the night of the finals set for October 24, 2025, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, the pageant has just announced its full Top 20 list of semi-finalists — marking a major milestone for the contest.
📝 What is the Miss USA Top 20?
The “Miss USA Top 20” refers to the 20 delegates who advanced into the semi-final round of the Miss USA competition. Historically, semi‐final rounds often featured fewer contestants (Top 15 or Top 16), but the 2025 format expanded to a Top 20 to allow broader representation.
This gets interesting because of changes in format this year:
- Internet fan-voting now sends four delegates directly into the semi-finals, which helps comprise the Top 20.
- The selection process begins with some 51 entrants from U.S. states and districts and results in this Top 20 cut.
📋 The Confirmed Miss USA Top 20 – 2025 Edition
Below is the current list of semi-finalists who form the Miss USA Top 20 in 2025:
- Alabama – Kennedy Whisenant
- Arkansas – Olivia Halsey §
- Florida – Lou Schieffelin
- Georgia – Savannah Miles
- Idaho – Jenny Ting Crawford §
- Louisiana – Francie Millan
- Maine – Shelby Howell
- Missouri – Shae Smith
- Nebraska – Audrey Eckert
- Nevada – Mary Sickler
- New Hampshire – Mona Lesa Brackett
- New Jersey – Ivy Harrington
- Oklahoma – Zoe Ferraro
- Oregon – Chantéa McIntyre
- Rhode Island – Brianna Vega §
- South Carolina – Gallienne Nabila §
- Tennessee – Madison Kunst
- Texas – Taylor Lauren Davis
- Vermont – Victoria Chuah
- Wisconsin – Aneisha Cox
(“§” denotes contestants who advanced via the fan-vote component.)
This list sets the stage for the next rounds where the Top 20 will compete in swimsuit and evening gown rounds, then narrowed further into a Top 10 and Top 5.
🔍 What to Watch in the Miss USA Top 20
The announcement of the Miss USA Top 20 brings several key storylines to the forefront:
- Fan Power Is Stronger Than Ever: The inclusion of fan-voted delegates shows the organization values broad audience engagement. Four of the Top 20 were picked via this public voting mechanism.
- Diversity & Inclusion in the Mix: Among the semi-finalists this year are contestants who broke barriers. For instance, New Hampshire’s Mona Lesa Brackett is the first contestant to wear a hijab in this pageant’s history.
- New Organization Leadership: The Top 20 selection comes under a new leadership era. Thom Brodeur recently became CEO of the Miss USA franchise and has signalled reform in judging, inclusivity and transparency.
- High Stakes for Title & Beyond: The winner from this Top 20 will represent the U.S. at the upcoming Miss Universe 2025 competition in Thailand on November 21, 2025.
📆 Timeline & Format Around the Top 20 Cut
Here’s a breakdown of relevant dates and format details connected to the Miss USA Top 20 stage:
| Phase | Date / Detail |
|---|---|
| State titleholder selection | January–September 2025 |
| Final competition (Top 20 onward) | October 24, 2025 – Reno, Nevada |
| Internet fan-voting surge | Top 20 includes four voted-in delegates |
| Rounds after Top 20 | Swimsuit & evening gown → Top 10 → Top 5 |
📣 Why the Miss USA Top 20 Matters
- Reaching the Top 20 means a contestant is one of the strongest in the field so far.
- It gives significant visibility: semi-finalists will get broadcast/stage time and heightened media exposure.
- For pageant followers and fans, the announcement of the Miss USA Top 20 is a major moment—predictions, social-media buzz and state pride all hinge on it.
- It signals what the organization values: with new leadership and a top 20 expansion, the stage is revamping itself.
👀 What’s Next for the Top 20
The contestants in the Miss USA Top 20 will now:
- Participate in preliminary rounds (swimsuit, evening gown, closed-door interview) to determine rankings.
- Undergo the live show where the Top 10 will be cut.
- Compete for the Top 5, who will answer a final question round.
- One will emerge as Miss USA 2025 and move on to Miss Universe.
And because the leadership change emphasizes fairness and transparency under the new CEO, the audience and contestants alike are paying closer attention than ever.
In closing, the announcement of the Miss USA Top 20 for 2025 marks a pivotal moment in this year’s competition. From the broadened semi-final cut to the spotlight on inclusivity and fan engagement, this stage sets the tone. Stay tuned for how the Top 20 will perform, who will rise to the Top 10, and ultimately who will claim the crown.
Let us know which of the Top 20 contestants you’re rooting for or which state you’re most excited about—comment below and stay in the loop as the pageant unfolds.