Miss Nebraska USA & Teen USA 2016 contestant commentary

The final chapter of the 2016 season is upon us, with Nebraska and New York crowning their winners this weekend.  New Mexico following the weekend of the 23rd-24th (they've had a number of date changes), and Kentucky is as late as the 30th-31st - it's been particularly hard to find information from them this year and I gather the dates have changed a few times.

Competing in Nebraska this year are three former Teens, hoping to add to this record-breaking year (see more info on that here).  The three are 2011 Teen Madison Novak, 2RU last year; 2009 Teen Sarah Hollins, 3RU last year and 2RU in 2014, and first-time Miss contestant Sarah Summers who was Miss NE Teen USA 2012.  Sarah is only the fourth 2012 Teen to compete this year and fifth ever! (but we may be seeing another in NY this weekend too).  

2015 fourth runner-up Taida Pajazetovic is also back.  Jessica White is competing for the first time since she placed fourth runner-up at Miss NE Teen USA 2007!

The only returning Teen contestants are 2015 third runner-up Megan Karas and semi-finalists Lacey White and Ariel Zach.

Kudos to Nebraska for keeping their numbers steady, with 19 Miss contestants and 25 Teens - their highest Teen group since 2007.  Special mention to my favourite local title for 2016, "Miss Middle of Nowhere Teen"!  Contestant photos can be viewed here.

2016 contestants marked with asterisks below:

Miss NE USA 2015 Top Five | Taida Pajazetovic* (4RU), Nicole Golyer (1RU), Hoang-Kim Cung (Miss NE USA), Madison Novak* (2RU), Sarah Hollins* (3RU)

Miss NE Teen USA 2015 Top Five | Megan Dillon (2RU), Lauren Brown (1RU), Paige Pflueger (Miss NE Teen USA), Megan Karas* (3RU), Chelsea Amend (4RU)

Sarah Hollins Miss NE Teen USA 2009

Madison Novak Miss NE Teen USA 2011

Sarah Summers Miss NE Teen USA 2012

See also:
Miss Nebraska USA & Teen USA Titleholder History | Nebraska state pageant results 

Click "read more" or scroll below for the full list of contestants with notes of past placements.

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Contestant list

MISS NEBRASKA USA (19)
​​Lakyra Johnson • Cornhusker State
Angelica Mercado • Dodge County
Jessica White • Douglas County (4RU NE TUSA 07)
Eva Mottl • Grand Island
Danielle Hill • Grant (NF KS USA 14)
Madison Novak • Greater Omaha (2RU 15, Miss NE Teen USA 2011)
Michaela Kosiski • Heartland
Jessica Shultis • Island View Dental
Brooke Thomas • Kenesaw
Sandra Hayes • La Vista
Meredith Burroughs • Lincoln
Madison Manders • Madison County
Taida Pajazetovic • Midwest (4RU 15, SF NE TUSA 10)
Chrissy Townsend • Millard
Sarah Hollins • North Douglas County (3RU 15, 2RU 14, Miss NE Teen USA 2009)
Emily Geschwentner • North Platte
Sinead Siems • Omaha
Melissa Sloboth • Regency Omaha (NF 15)
Sarah Summers • Sarpy County (Miss NE Teen USA 2012)

​MISS NEBRASKA TEEN USA (25)
Nicole Abbott • Bellevue
Jonae Thomas • Bennington
Lesli Schneider • Cherry County
Cassidy Judd • Garden County
Lacey White • Garfield County (SF 15)
Meggan Andrade • Grand Island
Hanna Ehmke • Gretna
Rebekah Larson • Heartland
Marie Kliewer • Heartland Pet Hospital
Katherine Hoatson • Hershey
Brianna Aguilar • Husker Nation
Lakin Macgregor • Lancaster County
Josiane Dominguez • Mccook
Brianna Debolt • Middle Of Nowhere
Estrella Haros • Omaha
Miranda Pospisil • Palmer
Megan Karas • Sarpy County (3RU 15)
Samantha Washington • South Lincoln
Madalynn Haschke • Spalding
Ariel Zach • Stanton (SF 15)
Amanda Wubbenhorst • Star City
Brianna Samuelson • Wakefield
Erika Etzelmiller • West Lincoln
Carley Childers • West Omaha
Heaven Smith • Wright Livestock