Maaliyah Papillion, Miss Louisiana USA 2016 will be competing at the 2016 Miss USA Pageant where she expects to be crowned by the reigning Miss USA Olivia Jordan from Oklahoma. Maaliyah was crowned on October 25’ 2015 at the Heymann Performing Arts Center in Lafayette. Papillion succeeds Miss Louisiana USA 2015, Candice Bennatt, who represented Louisiana at Miss USA 2015 in Baton Rouge on July 12 where she eventually finished in the Top 11. Louisiana is one of only seven states to have three or more Miss USA winners that are in year, 1958, 1961, and 1996. Since Maaliyah will be the face of Louisiana, the expectations from her are certainly elevated.
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Maaliyah is not a new face in pageantry. She embarked on the pageant journey in 2011 whereby she was 4th runner-up at Miss Teen Louisiana USA 2011, followed by becoming 2nd runner-up at Miss Teen Louisiana USA 2012 and 2013 edition, reaching to Top 10 of Miss Louisiana USA 2015. Post crowning, while talking to the paparazzi, Maaliyah beamed: “I am so humbled to be crowned Miss Louisiana USA 2016! This has been a dream of mine for a long time now and I couldn’t be happier to represent my state at Miss USA this year. There is no secret to success, all you have to do is believe!”
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Also known as, Miss Lake Charles USA, Maaliyah Papillion, the 21 year old striking beauty, hails from Lake Charles, Louisiana. She is daughter of Shaman Shawn Papillion.
With multiple placements, multitudes of runners up and dazzling three winners, Louisiana has managed to become a threat at Miss USA year after year. Will Maaliyah take this legacy to yet another level, time will enlighten!