Congratulations to Miss Louisiana USA 2019 Victoria Paul and Miss LA Teen USA 2019 Emma McAllister!  Click their names to view their profiles and see more photos.

I mentioned in the Louisiana contestant rundown that no newcomers have won the Miss Louisiana USA title in the past two decades other than Candice Bennatt, who as a former Miss New Mexico had plenty of experience, if not in the USA system.  The trend continued this year despite a stiff challenge from second runner-up DeAudrea Horne (Vieux Carre), as Victoria was second runner-up at Miss Louisiana USA last year and top 10 in 2017 (I remember a lot of people saying she should have made top five in her first year as well). From what I can tell Victoria is the first titleholder from the central Louisiana city of Alexandria, where she is an emergency room nurse.  During the pageant was hard not to notice her striking resemblance to Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey!

Emma was also a runner-up last year, and is just the second in the last decade who had made the top five the year prior to winning - the other was her predecessor Lindsey Conque.  She is from Houma, also hometown to Miss LA Teen USA 2009 & Miss LA USA 2014 Brittany Guidry and Miss LA Teen USA 2014 Mary Risener.

This was the first year since 2014 that there were two first-time contestants in the top five.  Victoria's first runner-up was Tanya Crowe, who made the top five for the third time.  Odd numbered years must bring her good luck because she was fourth runner-up in the 2017 pageant and third runner-up in 2015, as well as making the top 10 last year and missing the cut (to most people's absolute shock) in 2016.  Second runner-up as mentioned previously was newcomer and US Olympic Skeleton hopeful DeAudrea Horne.  Third runner-up went to last year's 1RU Anna Kirksey and fourth runner-up was the second newbie Alyssa Bradley, who also won People's Choice.  Tanya was the Evening Gown winner, DeAudrea won Interview and Congeniality and Anna won Swimsuit.

The top 10 was rounded out with Miss Louisiana Teen USA 2012 Marlee Henry (first runner-up in 2017), Josie Stephens (also top 10 last year and at Miss LA Teen USA 2012) and Ali Williams (top 10 in 2017 & top 15 in 2016) and newcomers Jordyn McKey and Olivia Rackley.  The rest of the top 16 were last year's fourth runner-up Avery Greene, who also won Miss Photogenic and a mysterious "online favourite" award - I'm not sure where that was being voted on but it was apparently to do with the production and streaming company, four-time semi-finalist ​Chloe Burkett, other past semi-finalists ​Mariah Clayton, Emma Key and Sylvia Masters ​and newcomer Tajá White.

Teen first runner-up, for the second consecutive year, was Grace Petry.  Second runner-up went to newcomer  Sydni Terradot, third runner-up was Ryleigh Magee who moved up one spot from last year and fourth runner-up was another newcomer, Kylie Morgan.  Grace was the only member of the top five to win a special award - she took him the Evening Gown award, also for the second year in a row.

This year's top 10 were Interview and Congeniality winner Avery Jeffcoat, swimsuit award winner Leanna Lanford, Jillian Elliott, Micaiah McZeal and Jasmine Shiloh.  Jillian was the only top 10 finalist who had competed previously, she was top 15 last year.  

The top 16 included Miss Photogenic Layna Baker (also top 15 last year), first-time contestants Sarah Pace and Kinyson Voges (People's Choice winner) and three 2018 non-finalists, Caroline Colvin, Hallie Kent and Jillian Maxwell​.