Miss Teen USA 2016
In-game article clicks load inline without leaving the challenge.
Miss Teen USA 2016 was the 34th Miss Teen USA pageant, was held at The Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 30, 2016. The pageant was webcast on the Miss Universe website, Facebook page, and mobile app as well as on Xbox 360 and Xbox One consoles via Xbox Live. It was hosted by Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan and social media star Cody Johns, while American Idol winner Nick Fradiani performed. This is the first time that the state of Nevada hosted the pageant and the first Miss Teen USA pageant held in the United States since 2007.
This was the first edition of the Miss Teen USA pageant to be held under the ownership of WME/IMG, which purchased the Miss Universe Organization from Donald Trump on September 14, 2015.
Since this year, the swimsuit competition has been replaced by the sportswear competition.
Pageant
Selection of contestants
One delegate from each state and the District of Columbia were chosen in state pageants held from September 2015 to January 2016.
Competition rounds
For the first time, the swimsuit competition did not take place and was replaced with an athletic wear competition. Tapout, in collaboration with clothing designer Goldsheep, designed the athletic wear outfits for the pageant, with each individual outfit based on the delegates' representative states.
Preliminary round
Prior to the final competition, the delegates competed in the preliminary competition, which involves private interviews with the judges and a presentation show where they compete in athletic wear and evening gown. It was held on July 29, 2016, and was broadcast on the Miss Universe website and mobile app.
Finals
During the final competition, the top fifteen competed in athletic wear and evening gown. The top five also competed in a customized final question round, and the winner was decided by a panel of judges.
Judges
The judges for the pageant were:
- Natalie Eva Marie – WWE wrestler
- Hilary Cruz – Miss Teen USA 2007 from Colorado
- Keylee Sue Sanders – Miss Teen USA 1995 from Kansas
- Lu Parker – Miss USA 1994 from South Carolina
- Savannah Keyes – Singer
Contestants
51 delegates have been confirmed:
| State or district | Name | Age | Height | Hometown | Placement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Erin Snow | 18 | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | Gadsden | 3rd runner-up | Later 3rd runner-up at Miss Alabama USA 2020 Later 1st runner-up at Miss Georgia USA 2021 |
| Alaska | Nneamaka Isolokwu | 18 | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | Anchorage | ||
| Arizona | Tristany Hightower | 17 | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | Scottsdale | ||
| Arkansas | Makenzie Sexton | 18 | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | Cabot | ||
| California | Athenna Crosby | 18 | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | San Jose | Top 15 | Later top 12 semifinalist at Miss Utah USA 2019 & 4th runner-up at Miss California USA 2022 |
| Colorado | Alexis Wynne | 18 | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | Castle Pines | ||
| Connecticut | Katy Brown | 19 | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | Hebron | ||
| Delaware | Emily Hutchison | 18 | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | Wilmington | Top 15 | |
| District of Columbia | Dylan Murphy | 18 | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | Georgetown | ||
| Florida | Gracie Smith | 17 | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | Ponce Inlet | ||
| Georgia | Bentley Wright | 17 | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | Vidalia | Top 15 | |
| Hawaii | Joahnnalee Ucol | 16 | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) | Kahului | ||
| Idaho | Kate Pekuri | 18 | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | Boise | Later 1st runner-up at Miss Utah USA 2019 | |
| Illinois | Olivia Pura | 18 | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | Deer Park | Top 15 | Later Miss Illinois USA 2020 & Top 10 at Miss USA 2020 |
| Indiana | Lauren Boswell | 18 | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | Fisher | ||
| Iowa | Hannah Bockhaus | 18 | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | Tripoli | ||
| Kansas | Madison Moore | 17 | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | Olathe | ||
| Kentucky | Christiaan Prince | 15 | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | Grayson | ||
| Louisiana | Ellie Picone | 16 | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | Covington | Top 15 | |
| Maine | Jessica Stewart | 18 | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | Unity | ||
| Maryland | Amy Ingram | 19 | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | Germantown | ||
| Massachusetts | Alexis Frasca | 17 | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | Franklin | ||
| Michigan | Unjaneé Wells | 18 | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | Ypsilanti | Later 4th runner-up at Miss Michigan USA 2019 | |
| Minnesota | Sophia Primozich | 17 | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) | Minnetonka | ||
| Mississippi | Lauren Rymer | 18 | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | Natchez | ||
| Missouri | Dallas Ezard | 19 | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | Camdenton | Top 15 | |
| Montana | Jami Forseth | 19 | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | Huntley | Later Miss Montana USA 2021 | |
| Nebraska | Erika Etzelmiller | 18 | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | Lincoln | Later Miss Nebraska USA 2021 & Top 16 at Miss USA 2021 | |
| Nevada | Carissa Morrow | 17 | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | Henderson | 4th runner-up | |
| New Hampshire | Valeria Podobniy | 18 | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | Amherst | ||
| New Jersey | Gina Mellish | 17 | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | Oceanport | Later Miss New Jersey USA 2020 & Top 10 at Miss USA 2020 | |
| New Mexico | Margeaux Greene | 16 | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | Sandia Park | Later 2nd runner-up at Miss New Mexico USA 2020 | |
| New York | Natalia Terrero | 17 | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) | Commack | ||
| North Carolina | Emily Wakeman | 19 | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) | Cornelius | 1st runner-up | Later 1st runner-up at Miss South Carolina USA 2021 & 4th runner-up at Miss South Carolina 2021 |
| North Dakota | Paige Mathison | 17 | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) | Fargo | ||
| Ohio | Olivia Turk | 18 | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | Dublin | Top 15 | |
| Oklahoma | Hellen Smith | 17 | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | Oklahoma City | ||
| Oregon | Mikaela Bruer | 17 | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | Dallas | ||
| Pennsylvania | Sydney Dolanch | 18 | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) | Pittsburgh | ||
| Rhode Island | Malia Cruz | 19 | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | Warwick | ||
| South Carolina | Marley Stokes | 19 | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | Lexington | 2nd runner-up | Later Miss South Carolina USA 2021 & Top 8 at Miss USA 2021 |
| South Dakota | Makenzie Falcon | 18 | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | Aberdeen | Top 15 | Later 2nd runner-up at Miss South Dakota USA 2018 |
| Tennessee | Savannah Chrisley | 18 | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | Nashville | Top 15 | Stars in Chrisley Knows Best |
| Texas | Karlie Hay | 18 | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | Tomball | Miss Teen USA 2016 | |
| Utah | AbbyJade Larson | 17 | 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) | North Logan | ||
| Vermont | Tammy Vujanovic | 16 | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | Burlington | Top 15 | |
| Virginia | Gracyn Blackmore | 16 | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | Bristol | ||
| Washington | Claire Wright | 18 | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | Fall City | ||
| West Virginia | Cassy Trickett | 18 | 5 ft 0 in (152 cm) | St. Marys | ||
| Wisconsin | Karly Knaus | 18 | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | Plymouth | Later 2nd runner-up at Miss Wisconsin USA 2020 Later 3rd runner-up at Miss Wisconsin USA 2021 | |
| Wyoming | Shelly McRoberts | 18 | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | Kemmerer |