Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.
Miss USA: Ownership Drama and Dates Finally Drop
If you’ve been following the Miss USA saga, you know it’s been… messy. Thom Brodeur popped up saying he’s the new owner of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. Meanwhile, Laylah Rose dropped a statement on the Miss USA account saying she hadn’t heard a thing.
Whatever you think of Thom, he comes across as a sharp businessman. I interviewed him just a couple of weeks ago, and I can’t imagine he’d go public with ownership if he didn’t have the paperwork to back it up. And today (Sydney time), he finally gave us what everyone’s been waiting for: dates. Miss Teen USA on October 23 and Miss USA on October 24, both in Reno, Nevada. After weeks of “are we even sending someone to Miss Universe this year?”, the general mood I’ve seen online is shockingly positive - rare in pageant social media, which usually finds something to argue about.
Pageantry should be about the contestants, not about directors playing celebrity. If this reset gets the spotlight back to where it belongs, that’s a win.
Are We Actually Entering a New Era?
Like it or not, American pageantry sets the tone for a lot of us in the Western world (Australia, the UK, Canada, New Zealand). When the U.S. systems slide (sponsors, TV coverage, general buzz), everything else shrinks too: production budgets, opportunities, and eventually participation numbers. That’s why the U.S. matters more than some people realize.
Right now, I’m cautiously optimistic. Beyond Miss USA, Thom’s also working with folks he’s teamed up with before on Miss Earth USA and Miss International USA. That’s three of the Big Four (Universe, Earth, International). Not perfect, but overall a solid group. Shared know-how, better systems, more opportunities - that’s the kind of ripple effect that helps everyone.
New and Revived Systems to Watch
The Miss USA drama had one unintended side effect: a bunch of disillusioned state directors quit and built something new. RPM Productions launched Miss All American and brought back Miss Teen All American. RPM’s been around forever, they have a loyal following, and their first national pageant had both Noelia Voigt and Uma Sophia show up - that’s a huge endoresement.
And then there’s Miss Volunteer America, which I’ve already raved about. I’ve honestly never seen anything quite like it - think crane cameras swooping across the crowd, huge screens syncing with pre-shot contestant clips, and an audio-visual setup that just made the whole thing feel next level. Production isn’t everything, but energy matters. You want to feel fired up on stage, and your family and friends want to watch something that looks like a proper show, not some grainy livestream from a judge’s phone.
For comparison: right after Volunteer America, I watched my friend Savannah Miles compete and win at Miss Georgia USA. The production was fine, but coming straight from Volunteer, the difference in scale was obvious. And I heard competitor numbers were down, which explains why Miss Georgia USA was held in Tennessee alongside Miss Tennessee USA. That dip probably wasn’t helped by all the negative press under the old Miss USA leadership. Hopefully the reset helps turn those numbers around.
So add it all up: Miss USA looks like it’s stabilizing, the team also linked to Miss Earth USA and Miss International USA is a good sign, and then you’ve got fresh options like Miss All American and Miss Volunteer America generating real excitement. That’s a lot of reasons for competitors to feel hopeful.
The Miss America Question Mark
Now, let’s talk about Miss America. Someone asked me recently what I thought of their ballot system. I hadn’t seen that used in pageantry before, so I gave my quick take: pros and cons. What I didn’t expect was what came next. Over the last 48 hours I’ve received numerous DM requests from people I’d never talked to, sharing negative stories about their daughters’ experiences at MAO, or asking if I’d seen certain judging practices that don’t look good at all.
One message stood out: they asked about coaches who work very closely with directors and hang around backstage with contestants, and whether it’s a conflict of interest when those coaches’ girls win more often. (Spoiler: yes, it’s a conflict.)
To be clear, I have friends who see Miss America, not Miss USA, as their dream system. It’s one of the oldest brands in the country, and the scholarship focus genuinely works for a lot of people. Plus, I know there’s new leadership nationally. What I don’t know is whether the issues I’m hearing are a state thing, a national thing, or just baggage from the past. I’m not anti–Miss America. I’m just saying: I don’t know what’s going on there, and I want to find out.
If you’ve had firsthand experience, I’d really like to hear from you.
Looking Toward 2026: More Options, More Optimism
I keep up with all this mostly by talking to you - through interviews and those off-camera conversations we have around them. Tomorrow I’m chatting with my first state titleholder from the Teen American system (hoping to get their national titleholder on soon too). And honestly? For the first time in a while, if someone in the U.S. asked me which pageant to enter, I’d actually have solid recommendations.
I don’t think we’re headed back to the so-called “glory days” of decades past. But if you’re in the U.S. and considering competing in 2026, you might have more choice than ever. With Miss USA steadying itself, connected systems sharing resources, and newer contests putting on slick shows, I’m more optimistic than I’ve been in years.
So tell me:
Are you thinking about entering in 2026?
Do you feel more optimistic about American pageantry lately, or are you waiting to sit back and see what happens?
And if you’ve got an opinion on the scoring system at Miss America, I’m all ears.
Have an amazing week. 🙌
Timestamps
0:00: Intro + What’s Coming Up
2:17: Miss USA ownership drama explained
4:35: Thom Brodeur confirms Miss USA + Teen USA dates
6:53: Why contestant focus matters more than directors
9:11: Are we entering a new era of pageantry?
11:30: RPM launches Miss All American + Teen All American
13:47: Miss Volunteer America’s next-level production
16:05: Comparing Volunteer America with Miss Georgia USA
18:23: The Miss America ballot system controversy
20:41: Looking to 2026: optimism, options, and closing thoughts
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