Miss Missouri USA & Teen USA 2017 results recap

Congratulations to Miss Missouri USA 2017 Bayleigh Dayton and MIss Missouri Teen USA 2017 Sophia Dominguez-Heithoff!   Like Krista in Michigan the day earlier, Bayleigh was last year's first runner-up (the first to come back and win since 2009!) and a 2014 semi-finalist.  She is the first African-American to win the title in the pageant's history.  Sophia was competing for the first time, but had been a prelim gown winner and non-finalist in Miss MO's Outstanding Teen a couple of months ago.  Both are from the Kansas City area.

Bayleigh & Sophia are crowned Miss MO USA & Teen USA. Photos by Laurel Austin.

The entire top five all had past Miss or Teen runner-up experience or were former Teen titleholders.  Bayleigh's first runner-up was Tori Kruse, who was second runner-up last year.  Both Bayleigh & Tori improved one spot on their placement from 2016. Tori won both the Photogenic and Congeniality award - Bayleigh had won Congeniality last year and it was clear that both of the final two were very much loved by their fellow contestants.    Second runner-up was Miss Missouri Teen USA 2014 Samantha Bowers.  This was Samantha's first attempt at the Miss title (although she was a semi-finalist at Miss Missouri in June), and she was the first 2014 Teen to compete this year.  Third runner-up was Miriah Ludtke, first runner-up at Miss Illinois Teen USA 2011.  Fourth runner-up went to Miss Arizona Teen USA 2012 Alexa Zellers, who attends Lindenwood University on the scholarship she won with her Teen title.  ​Bayleigh won the overall evening gown award, Tori won swimsuit, and Samantha won interview.

In the Teen division, newcomer Chloe Bartlett was first runner-up, 2016 non-finalist Elizabeth Anthony placed second runner-up, third runner-up went to newbie Bailey Tiefenbrunn (whose sister was a semi-finalist in the Miss competition) and fourth runner-up was Victoria Newlove, 1RU in last year's pageant.  Whilst Sophia was the clear standout in all categories in my eyes (with Chloe right behind her, I correctly picked the final two), she didn't actually win any of the overall awards!  Activewear went to Bailey, Gown to Elizabeth and Interview was won by Chloe.  2016 finalists Ashleigh Bedwell and Jacqueline Janorschke made the top 15 this year.

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Miss Missouri USA 2017: Bayleigh Dayton
1RU: Tori Kruse (2RU 16, SF 15, SF IA USA 13, SF IA TUSA 10)
2RU: Samantha Bowers (MO TUSA 14)
3RU: Miriah Ludtke (SF IL TUSA 12, 1RU IL TUSA 11)
4RU: Alexa Zellers (AZ TUSA 12)

Semi-finalists:
Sara Allen 
Sydney Benson (SF MO TUSA 16)
Maikieta Brantley 
Jacqueline Griffith 
Ashley Hassell 
Libby Martin
Kristen McDowell 
Montanna Neisen (SF IL TUSA 14)
Alexandria Spry (SF 16, SF 15)
Ashley Thakur (NF NY USA 16)
Lindsay Tiefenbrunn (SF 16, SF MO TUSA 14)

Congeniality: Tori Kruse
Photogenic: Tori Kruse

Overall Swimsuit: Tori Kruse
Overall Interview: Samantha Bowers
Overall Gown: Bayleigh Dayton

Hon Mention: Britney Janssen
Hon Mention: CJ Thomas
​
Spirit: Lindsay Tiefenbrunn 
Mentor: Bayleigh Dayton
People's Choice: Alexa Zellers

Bayleigh Dayton, Tori Kruse, Samantha Bowers, Miriah Ludtke, Alexa Zellers

Miss Missouri Teen USA 2017: Sophia Dominguez-Heithoff
1RU: Chloe Bartlett
2RU: Elizabeth Anthony (NF 15)
3RU: Bailey Tiefenbrunn
4RU: Victoria Newlove (1RU 16)

Semi-finalists:
Ashleigh Bedwell (2RU 16)
Brianna Bianco
Molly Delano
Morgan Donnohue
Amanda Isom (NF 13)
Jacqueline Janorschke (4RU 16)
Bailey Julian 
Tinara Lynch 
Isabella Rouse
Emily Schneider 
Kendra Shelton (NF 16)

Congeniality: Janelle Brown
Photogenic: Victoria Newlove

Activewear: Bailey Tiefenbrunn 
Interview: Chloe Bartlett 
Gown: Elizabeth Anthony 

Hon Mention: Destiny Drake 
Hon Mention: Lauren Everett 

Spirit: Morgan Donnohue 
People's Choice: Amanda Isom 

Sophia Dominguez-Heithoff, Chloe Bartlett, Elizabeth Anthony, Bailey Tiefenbrunn, Victoria Newlove