Miss Oregon USA & Teen USA 2017 contestant list commentary

Miss Oregon USA & Teen USA 2017 will be held the weekend of 15-16 October, and contestants are posted here.  The contestants have been engaging in Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat takeovers over the past couple of months and the contestant group growth we saw in Montana has continued for Oregon, showing that Pageants NW is doing a great job of publicising their pageants through social media.  

There are 27 contestants in the Miss division, 69% growth over the average of the last three years.  In 2015 there were just 12!  Teen numbers are steadier, the 16 being slightly higher than the recent average but equal to 2015.

Miss Oregon Teen USA 2013 Summer Pilcher is back, and is only the second Miss OR Teen USA to compete in Oregon in a decade - the others being Michelle Modey (Miss OR Teen USA 2009) in 2012 and Jenna Jones (Miss OR Teen USA 2005) in 2007 & 2008.  Three of last year's top five, first runner-up Stephanie Matheson, second runner-up Elizabeth Denny and fourth runner-up Kayla Knock have all returned.  Tarah Land, a  2013 & 2015 runner-up in OR and 2014 runner-up in WA is also back, as is 2014 Miss & 2009 Teen fourth runner-up Natalie Tonneson.  Arielle Freytag and Caitlen Monnone are returning semi-finalists.  

Miss Oregon Teen USA 2015 second runner-up Bridgette Wallace is competing in Miss for the first time, as are Gabriella Sturgill, a Miss Washington Teen USA 2014 runner-up, and Bailey Breving, twice a semi-finalist at Miss Arkansas Teen USA. I have a Kacie Tucker in my state results as a semi-finalist at Miss CO Teen USA 2006, I can't confirm whether this is the same Kacie but her bio does say she is a graduate of Colorado State University, so maybe!

Contestants mentioned above & a few others that caught my eye | Row 1: Summer Pilcher, Stephanie Matheson, Elizabeth Denny, Kayla Knock, Tarah Land | Row 2: Arielle Freytag, Caitlen Monnone, Bridgette Wallace, Natalie Tonnenson, Gabriella Sturgill | Row 3: Bailey Breving, Kacie Tucker, Jennifer Albertson, Michelle Mannenbach, Hailey Dent

In the Teen competition, 2016 first runner-up Vanessa Matheson and second runner-up Emma Alsept-Ellis are competing again.  Vanessa is the sister of Stephanie Matheson - the sisters were both 1RU last year.  The only other returning Teen contestant is 2016 semi-finalist Olivia Gaunt.

Vanessa Matheson, Olivia Gaunt, Nyah Branch, Emma Alsept-Ellis, Alexis Johnson

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​Contestant lists

MISS CONTESTANTS (27)
​Jennifer Albertson • Track Town
Karina Becker • Lane County
Jordyn Beebe • High Desert
Kolleen Belecz • Downtown Portland
Bailey Breving • Columbia River (SF AR TUSA 15, SF 14)
Tayler Clarno • Coos County
Amber Colson • Hillsboro
Elizabeth Denny • Portland (2RU 16)
Hayley Dent • SW Portland
Arielle Freytag • Willamette Water Trail (SF 16)
Elexa Jeffrey • Bend
Matrika Kitchen • Medford
Kayla Knock • Forest Grove (4RU 16, 4RU 15, SF CO TUSA 14, SF 13)
Tarah Land • West Portland (3RU 15, 3RU WA USA 14, 2RU OR USA 13)
Michelle Mannenbach • Marion County
Stephanie Matheson • Rose City (1RU 16)
Caitlen Monnone • Benton County (SF 16)
Celina Munoz • Morrow County
Rosie Nguyen • Willamette Valley
Kanoe Pelfrey • Fairview
Summer Pilcher • Milwaukie (Miss OR Teen USA 13)
Gabriella Sturgill • Willamette (3RU WA TUSA 14, SF 13, SF 12, NF 11, NF 10)
Natalie Tonneson • Multnomah (4RU 14, 4RU OR TUSA 09)
Kacie Tucker • SE Portland (? SF CO TUSA 06)
Bridgette Wallace • Washington County (2RU OR TUSA 15)
Shandee White • Eugene (NF & Congeniality 16)
Zeycan Yildirim • Lake Oswego

TEEN CONTESTANTS (16)
Emma Alsept-Ellis • City of Bridges (2RU 16)
Nyah Branch • Willamette Valley
Amaya Dayanan • Portland
Abigail Fellows • Happy Valley
Olivia Gaunt • Rogue Valley (SF 16)
Marlie Gill • Deschutes
Cassie Hickman • Bend
Alexis Johnson • West Portland
Brittney Manson • La Pine
Vanessa Matheson • Klamath County (1RU 16)
Rochelle Nunez • Salem
Hope Prozanski • Treasure Valley
Madison Trickel • Gresham
Molly Vail • Grants Pass
Victoria Walker • Pilot Rock
Nicolina Williams • East County​