Miss USA 2004

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53rd Miss USA pageant

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Miss USA 2004

Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey

Date| April 12, 2004
Presenters|

* Billy Bush
* Nancy O'Dell

Venue| Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, California
Broadcaster|

* NBC
* KNBC-TV

Entrants| 51
Placements| 15
Winner| Shandi Finnessey
Missouri
Congeniality| Michelle Fongemie
Vermont
Photogenic| Jennifer Sherrill
Arkansas

<- 2003

2005 ->

Miss USA 2004 was the 53rd Miss USA pageant, held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on April 12, 2004. The winner of the beauty pageant was Shandi Finnessey, who became the first winner from the state of Missouri. The judges were racing driver Jeff Gordon, businessman Jerry Buss, basketball player John Salley, actor Mekhi Phifer, chef Rocco DiSpirito, and fashion designer Jill Stuart. Finnessey was crowned by outgoing Miss USA Susie Castillo, of Massachusetts.[1]

Pageant co-owner Donald Trump opened the pageant by telling Castillo "You're fired", his catchphrase from his television program, The Apprentice.[1] The pageant was hosted by Billy Bush and Nancy O'Dell.[1] This was the first time this partnership had hosted the pageant. Bush had previously hosted Miss USA 2003 and Miss Universe 2003.

For the first time since 1970, fifteen semi-finalists competed in the final competition, although not all the semi-finalists competed in both the swimsuit and evening gown. Following the new format established at Miss Universe 2003 and Miss Teen USA 2003, the top fifteen semi-finalists were reduced to ten after the evening gown competition, and then to the final five after swimsuits. This was the first time that contestants did not have the opportunity to compete in both competitions. This was also for the first time since 1979 that the pageant took place in the month of April.

## Results

[edit]

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### Placements

[edit]

Map showing placements by state Final Results  | Contestant

|

Miss USA 2004 |

* Missouri – Shandi Finnessey

1st Runner-up |

* South Carolina – Amanda Pennekamp

2nd Runner-up |

* North Carolina – Ashley Puleo

3rd Runner-up |

* Oklahoma – Lindsay Hill

4th Runner-up |

* Tennessee – Stephanie Culberson

Top 10 |

* Alabama – Tara Darby
* Florida – Kristen Berset
* Georgia – Caroline Medley
* Idaho – Kimberly Weible
* Oregon – Jennifer Murphy

Top 15 |

* Arizona – Danielle Demski
* New Hampshire – Vanessa Bissanti
* New Mexico – Jenna Hardin
* Texas – Stephanie Guerrero
* Washington – Tara McCormick

### Special awards

[edit]

Award | Contestant

|

Miss Congeniality |

* Arkansas – Jennifer Sherrill

Miss Photogenic |

* Vermont – Michelle Fongemie

## Delegates

[edit]

Rehearsing

* Miss USA contestants during rehearsals

* Miss USA contestants during rehearsals

* Miss USA contestants during rehearsals

* Miss USA contestants during rehearsals

* Miss USA contestants during rehearsals

## Related competitions

[edit]

For the second year, there was a Miss USA Fear Factor special, in which Tara Darby of Alabama won the $50,000 prize (half of which to be donated to the charity of her choice).

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Pageant". The Miami Herald. Associated Press. April 13, 2004. p. 4. Retrieved July 20, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Official Miss USA site Archived September 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine

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