Nolia Voigt of Venezuela has been crowned Miss USA 2023.

(CNN) — Nolia Voigt, a young woman of Venezuelan descent from Utah, was crowned the new Miss USA in Reno, Nevada, at the climax of the 2023 pageant at Grand Sierra Resort on Friday night, broadcast live on the CW Network. Hawaii’s Savannah Kankiewicz finished second.

Voigt, 23, defeated 50 other state champions in the tournament. At the beginning of the televised competition, the number of finalists was reduced to 20, and after the swimsuit rounds and evening dress, it was reduced to five (Voigt, Gankiewicz, Jasmine Daniels of Pennsylvania, Lluvia Alzate of Texas and Alexis Loomans of Wisconsin).

When asked what she would bring to the Miss Universe Organization as a “brand ambassador” and to the Miss USA finals Q&A, Voigt highlighted her status as a “bilingual Venezuelan-American” and promised to reach out to different communities. In America. joined

Judges include Vivica A. Fox, former “Real Housewives” Luann de Lesseps and beauty blogger Patrick Starr.

Laila Rose, president and CEO of the Miss USA Organization, said in a statement released in early September that the pageant was created to offer “a modern and progressive approach to a 70-year tradition.” Following a recent rule change introduced by the Miss Universe Organization, this year’s Miss USA pageant took place First married candidate From a state: Juliana Morehouse-Locklear, from Maine. (Morehouse-Locklear, the daughter of a contestant in the 1994 Miss USA pageant, did not make the top 20.)

The latest controversy is Miss USA

Voigt succeeded Miss USA 2022 Morgan Romano of North Carolina. Romano takes over from Texas’ R’Bonney Gabriel, who was crowned Miss Universe 2022 in January.

Gabrielle won the Miss USA 2022 pageant Affirmations From some of her classmates that the competition was “rigged” in her favor.

In the weeks following her coronation in October 2022, Miss USA’s parent company, the Miss Universe Organization, launched an investigation and suspended then-Miss USA National Director Crystal Stewart and her company, Miss Brands.

Both Gabriel, Stewart and other managers denied the allegations. At the time, Gabrielle announced to E! The message: “There was no unfair advantage, nothing was rigged,” Stewart said in a statement: “The last thing I want to do is disparage or deny competitors equal opportunities in a fair competition. I will never compromise my dream of leading an organization that empowers these young women.

In August, the competition announced the end of its collaboration with Stewart.

In a statement confirming that a “thorough investigation” of the allegations had been found to be false, Miss USA said, “After much discussion and consideration, (the Miss Universe Organization) and Crystal continue to be unable to reach an agreement. He decided to use the success to pursue other business interests.”