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.
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.
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.
Full results
1RU: Tanya Crowe (T10 18, 4RU 17, NF 16, 3RU 15)
2RU: DeAudrea Horne
3RU: Anna Kirksey (1RU 18, T16 17, NF 15, NF 14)
4RU: Alyssa Bradley
Top 10:
Marlee Henry (1RU 17, LA TUSA 12, T10 11)
Jordyn McKey
Olivia Rackley
Josie Stephens (T10 18, NF 15, T10 LA TUSA 12)
Ali Williams (T10 17, T15 16, NF LA TUSA 15)
Top 16:
Chloe Burkett (T15 18, T10 17, T15 LA TUSA 16, T10 15, NF 14)
Mariah Clayton (T15 16)
Avery Greene (4RU 18, SF TX USA 17, SF 16)
Emma Key (T10 18, T18 14)
Sylvia Masters (T15 18)
Tajá White
Congeniality: DeAudrea Horne
Photogenic: Avery Greene
Swimsuit: Anna Kirksey
Evening Gown: Tanya Crowe
Interview: DeAudrea Horne
People's Choice: Alyssa Bradley
Online Favourite: Avery Greene
1RU: Grace Petry (1RU 18, NF 17)
2RU: Sydni Terradot
3RU: Ryleigh Magee (4RU 18)
4RU: Kylie Morgan
Top 10:
Jillian Elliott (T15 18)
Avery Jeffcoat
Leanna Lanford
Micaiah McZeal
Jasmine Shiloh
Top 16:
Layna Baker (T15 18)
Caroline Colvin (NF 18, NF 16)
Hallie Kent (NF 18)
Jillian Maxwell (NF 18)
Sarah Pace
Kinyson Voges
Congeniality: Avery Jeffcoat
Photogenic: Layna Baker
Activewear: Leanna Lanford
Evening Gown: Grace Petry
Interview: Avery Jeffcoat
People's Choice: Kinyson Voges
Online Favourite: Sarah Pace