Alex was Miss Illinois Teen USA 2012 and a semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA and will be the fourth 2012 Teen to compete at Miss USA. She was a semi-finalist in last year's pageant. A'Maiya was also a semi-finalist last year, and has held national titles in other pageant systems. She is the first Illinois titleholder from Bolingbrook.
Alex won the evening gown award for the second year in a row, and A'Maiya won the interview award -- the fourth consecutive Miss IL Teen USA winner who also won the interview category.
Three 2018 semi-finalists also made the cut this year: Shenell Randall (a 2011 Teen RU), Angel Reyes (2017 4RU) and Allison Seys. The top 16 also included another former Teen runner-up Taiylore Merriweather. The other semi-finalists were Stephanie Preuss, daughter of Miss Virginia Teen USA 1992 (& Miss Teen USA semi-finalist) Andrea Balengee, past Teen non-finalists Haley Heeg (2015) and Aryssa Joel (NF in TX in 2011) and newcomers Whitney Scasny, Jaclyn Torrento and People's Choice award winner Ava Mashouf.
The Teen semi-finalists were Sydney Bitar (2018), Brianna Buccellato (2018), Zoe Brown (2017) and Sara Hampsten (2016) and newcomers Taylor Andrews, Shanley Kearney, Sydney Kirin, Shaniyah Myers, Amanda Pasternak, Bella Rose, Julissa Unzueta.
Full results
1RU: Michela Moe (3RU 18)
2RU: Missy Galvin (4RU 18)
3RU: Gina Melchiorri (2RU 18, 3RU 17, 2RU 16, 1RU 15, 3RU IA USA 14, 3RU IA USA 13)
4RU: Chandler Short (3RU MS USA 16, 3RU 15, 2RU IL TUSA 12)
Semi-finalists:
Stephanie Dearwester
Haley Heeg (NF IL TUSA 15)
Aryssa Joel (NF TX TUSA 11)
Ava Mashouf
Taiylore Merriweather (3RU IL TUSA 13, NF 11)
Savannah Preuss
Shenell Randall (SF 18, SF 17, SF MO USA 16, NF IL TUSA 13, SF 12, 3RU 11, NF 10, NF 09)
Angel Reyes (SF 18, 4RU 17)
Whitney Scasny
Allison Seys (SF 18)
Jaclyn Torrento
Congeniality: Dena Khalafallah
Photogenic: Shenell Randall
Swimsuit: Chandler Short
Gown: Alex Plotz
Interview: Gina Melchiorri
1RU: Samantha Elliott (3RU 18, SF 17)
2RU: Victoria Rhemrev
3RU: Serena Napolitano (1RU 18, NF 17, 4RU 16)
4RU: Lonnie Camer
Semi-finalists:
Taylor Andrews
Sydney Bitar (SF 18)
Zoe Brown (SF 17)
Brianna Buccellato (SF 18)
Sara Hampsten (NF 17, SF 16)
Shanley Kearney
Sydney Kirin
Shaniyah Myers
Amanda Pasternak
Bella Rose
Julissa Unzueta
Congeniality: Ashley Brady
Photogenic: Samantha Elliott
Activewear: Victoria Rhemrev
Gown: Samantha Elliott
Interview: A'Maiya Allen