Miss Kentucky USA organization held its 2021 edition on Saturday night at the Center for Rural Development in Somerset where Elle Smith was crowned Miss Kentucky USA 2021 and became the official representative of Kentucky at Miss USA 2021. She succeeds Miss Kentucky USA 2020 Lexie Iles.
Smith bested forty-five other contestants to win the state title. Smith is a graduate from the University of Kentucky’s School of Journalism who joined WHAS11 News in October and covers stories throughout southern Indiana.
After winning, Smith told WHAS11's Shay McAlister it has been a whirlwind of emotions. “It’s just so many different emotions but the whole process was amazing. It was my first-ever pageant. I walked in wanting to do my best, I knew I had done everything I possibly could and it just worked out”, she said.
The newly crowned Miss Kentucky USA 2021 Elle Smith’s court included –
1st Runner-up – Veronica Chisholm
2nd Runner-up – Rebecca Cook
3rd Runner-up – India Marks
4th Runner-up – Kristen Bach
From the batch of 2021 state delegates, the Top 17 who made it to the final leg of the competition included Walton (Kristen Bach), East Louisville (Michaela Arnold), West Louisville (Ariel Thompson), Mercer County (Savannah Burke), Northern Kentucky (Samantha Toney), Germantown (Elle Smith), Murray (Courtney Rager), Capital City (Rebecca Cook), Corbin (Hannah Harrison), Elizabethtown (Langley Williams), Keeneland (Yulia Perevozchikova), Churchill Downs (India Marks), Vette City (Maiah Cisco), Pendelton (Haven Wolfe), Northpointe (Abbigaile Gibson), Central Kentucky (Ollice Spaulding) and Owenton (Veronica Chisolm).
Miss Kentucky USA 2020 Lexie Iles represented her state at Miss USA 2020 but unfortunately failed to place in the Top 16. On her successful reign, Lexie quoted, “How do I even start? First off, thank you Kentucky for allowing me to represent my beautiful home this last year. If you would’ve told 9 year old Lexie she achieved her dream of not only walking on the Miss USA stage representing Kentucky, but also becoming the longest reigning Miss Kentucky - I would’ve told you that you are CRAZY. While these past 16 months are nothing what I expected - throughout all the tears, I continued to carry this year with positivity and a huge smile! I couldn’t be more grateful to have had this opportunity to share authenticity and who the true Lexie is. Thank you to my momma, my family, and everybody who guided and supported me through this journey. I also couldn’t have gotten through these last 476 days without the support from: Henri’s Cloud Nine, Sunkissed Blooms, Team FLAWLESS, NV Models & Talent, Deb Knoske Photography, Edwin Shaw Photography, A Queens Conversation, Rodan & Fields, Airbrush Tanning by April Hartfield, Hardin Advanced Dentistry, Josh Rogers Fitness, Amy Kirchen, The Pageant Planner, Bosom Couture, Eye for Design, Pageantology. Signing off, Lexie Iles Miss Kentucky USA 2020.”
Along with crowning of Miss Kentucky USA 2021, Kennedy Mosley was crowned Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2021 and will represent her state at Miss Teen USA 2021. Aryah Redmond, Allison Fitzgerald, Shealyn Mason, Maggie Woodruff were adjudged first, second, third and fourth runners-up respectively.
Congratulations to the newly crowned queen!