Miss Henderson USA, Emelina Adams was crowned Miss Nevada USA 2016 by outgoing titleholder Brittany McGowan of Las Vegas on November 22, 2015 at Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at UNLV. Emelina will now compete at the 2016 Miss USA Pageant where she hopes to be crowned by the reigning Miss USA Olivia Jordan from Oklahoma. Amanda Jenkins was titled as the first runner-up, as she represented Sparks. Susan Romanishin, who held the sash of Carson City was adjudged as the second runner-up. Juliann Nicole, the face of Seven Hills was announced as the third runner-up, followed up by the Las Vegas Beauty, Kimberly Andres as the fourth runner-up. Seven Hills Teen, Carissa Morrow was crowned Miss Nevada Teen USA 2016.
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Completing the semi finalists spot were, Stefanie Naylor, Shelby Johnson, Stephanie Cook, Breanna Andes, Joy Thompson, Anayeli De Santiago, Christina Ko and Jordan Hankins. The pageant was hosted by Miss USA 2011, Alyssa Campanella. On the other hand, Seven Hills Teen, Carissa Morrow will fly to the Bahamas for the Miss Teen USA Pageant early next year.
While Nevada gave a sound performance in the early years of the Miss USA pageant, they only placed once from 1987 to 2000. This streak was broken by Gina Giacinto’s finalist placing in Miss USA 2001. Last year, Miss Nevada, Nia Sanchez went on to win Miss USA also ending up as the runner up to Miss Universe 2014, Paulina Vega in the much anticipated Miss Universe pageant.
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Emelina Adams is working as a proficient model currently. Her experience includes photoshoots, promotional modeling, music video shoots, bikini competitions. Having competed at beauty pageants formerly, her win does not come as a surprise. Emelina was a Top 10 Finalist for Miss Nevada 2014 and first Runner-Up at Miss Arizona 2015.
Post crowning, the 23 years old, Emelina was found expressing her ecstasy before the paparazzi: “It’s unreal — I am in shock. I can’t believe I won. It’s going to take until tomorrow to sink in, but I am so excited. The tiara is so beautiful.” She added: “This is my third pageant. I entered Miss Nevada USA in 2014 and made Top 10 for my first pageant right here in this same UNLV theater. Last year while I was attending the University of Arizona, I was first runner-up in the Miss Arizona Pageant. So this third time is the charm if it’s really true that I won Miss Nevada. I can’t believe it.
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Beaming with glistening joy, the newly crowned beauty queen said: “I’m happy to be back home in Nevada. I graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor of arts pre-law and psychology. I wanted a typical college experience, and I love traveling. I spend a lot of time mentoring younger children on a weekly basis in a local program called Spread the Word Nevada. I help them with their reading, concentration and comprehension skills.”
One of the judges, Nia Sanchez, who was the first-ever Miss Nevada to be crowned Miss USA in 2014 opined: “The judges made the right choice with Emmy. She’ll make a great Miss Nevada with all the right qualities. She will do our Silver State proud. I put her No. 3 when I first saw her, but then from the moment she stepped onstage tonight with her beauty and personality and effervescence, she went right to No. 1.”
Fellow judge hair guru, Michael Boychuck expressed: “I picked Emmy right from the start. She had all the qualifications. I’ve been right with my picks as a judge of this pageant for the past five years, and I knew that I would be right again.”
Emmy will represent Nevada at the Miss USA Pageant next year to be broadcast on Fox and probably from Baton Rouge, La. She will attend the upcoming sister Miss Universe Pageant at Planet Hollywood also on Fox on Sunday, Dec. 20.
2015 Miss Nevada USA Brittany McGowan, who was sponsored by Chateau Nightclub at Paris Las Vegas, had the audience laughing just before she crowned Emmy: “I had two goals this year. The first was to represent a realistic image of beauty, one that inspires girls to feel comfortable with who they are and be proud of the things that make them different. The second was not to trip on the Miss USA stage. I’m proud to say that I stayed true to at least one of those goals. It has all been a dream come true.” Brittany now goes on to film directing school in her quest of a Hollywood movie director career.
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Nevada Pageant Director and 1995 Miss USA Shanna Moakler revealed: “My goal has always been to promote a program we can all celebrate, a program that unites the community and brings opportunity to the young women of Nevada. As the program has grown, it has changed the lives of young citizens. It makes me proud to show the country what Nevada is made of. Over the past six years, I have had the chance to work with so many wonderful titleholders. I have watched girls from their crowning moment transform before my eyes and grow into strong, powerful women. I know this year is no different. Nia went on to win Miss USA and became first runner-up at Miss Universe. Last year’s Nevada winner Brittany McGowan made Top Five in the national Miss USA Pageant. I have very high hopes for Emelina. She has everything it takes to win.”
Do you think Emelina will succeed Nia Sanchez as the second lady from Nevada to win the coveted Miss USA crown?