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See the full story · 2 sourcesMiss USA 2026 kicked off with the state costume contest. Reza Venegas
The 2026 Miss USA pageant is in full swing, kicking off with the costume contest on Monday.
Contestants wore colorful, decorative outfits representing their states.
Miss Nevada's costume looked like the Vegas strip, and Miss Idaho carried a massive fish.
Miss USA is upon us at last.
It's been another year of drama leading up to the pageant, with The CW pulling out of airing the finals a week before showtime. Not to fear, though, you can stream it online at the Queen Beauty Network.
Despite the hiccup, the 2026 Miss USA pageant kicked off on Monday with the state costume competition. The contestants took the stage in dramatic costumes that represented their states, wearing feathers, sheer bodysuits, and daring backpieces.
Take a look at the wildest costumes of the night.
Miss Alabama was in full bloom as she paid tribute to the camelia, her state's official flower.
Miss Alabama Samantha Havenstrite in the 2026 Miss USA costume contest. Reza Venegas
Samantha Havenstrite walked down the Miss USA stage in a strapless white gown that featured sculpted camelia petals attached to the waist, as well as a matching camelia headdress. The pageant queen said she wanted to honor the resilience of the "rose of winter," as the camelia can still bloom during the coldest of months.
Since the camelia is also an important emblem of the House of Chanel, Havenstrite incorporated pearl details as a reference to the famous French luxury fashion label.
Miss Arizona brought Cupid to life on the Miss USA stage.
Miss Arizona Kaitlyn Humphrey in the 2026 Miss USA costume contest. Reza Venegas
Kaitlyn Humphrey was inspired by Arizona's nickname as the "Valentine State," which it earned after gaining statehood on February 14, 1912. The pageant queen wore a sparkling red bodysuit with a sweetheart neckline, which she paired with baby-pink feathered wings.
She accessorized the outfit with a gold headpiece that curved into a heart shape, as well as a matching bow and arrow.
Miss California took inspiration from two queens, one mythical and the other modern, for her state costume.
Miss California Acacia McBride in the 2026 Miss USA costume contest. Reza Venegas
Acacia McBride wore a sparkling black-and-gold long-sleeved bodysuit designed to evoke the armor of Calafia, the warrior queen who rules over the island of California in the 16th-century novel "Las Sergas de Esplandián" by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo. McBride wore a matching headpiece that resembled a (very glamorous) helmet.
On the official Miss California Instagram page, McBride gave credit to another queen who served as her inspiration.
"Queen A channeling Queen B at Miss USA," the caption read alongside the bee emoji, familiar to every Beyoncé fan.
Miss Connecticut glittered from head to toe as she paid tribute to her state, which is home to the "submarine capital of the world."
Miss Connecticut Jaeden Hamelly in the 2026 Miss USA costume contest. Reza Venegas
Jaeden Hamelly's sparkling bodysuit and dramatic backpiece were made by her mother and brother and featured thousands of rhinestones.
The navy-blue outfit was designed to replicate the USS Connecticut rising through the waves, which were sculpted out of lace.
Miss Delaware represented the chemical capital of the world.
Miss Delaware Julia Hatoum in the 2026 Miss USA State Costume Contest. Reza Venegas
Julia Hatoum wore a silver corset and shorts beneath a white, floor-length lab coat with a train. The costume was decorated with metallic hoops around her torso that resembled electron shells of silicon.
She aimed to highlight her career as a chemical engineer and show that Delaware is a state of innovation. Hatoum also carried a conical flask in each hand.
Miss District of Columbia commemorated America's 250th birthday with her Miss USA state costume.
Miss District of Columbia Kennedy Lucas in the 2026 Miss USA costume contest. Reza Venegas
On her Instagram , Kennedy Lucas wrote that she wanted her costume to honor the country's history "while celebrating the progress, possibility, and many voices that continue shaping our country."
The star-spangled ensemble featured a red-and-blue bodysuit decorated with gold stars and matching gloves. Lucas also wore a headpiece that featured the Washington Monument against a backdrop of fireworks.
Miss Florida looked pretty in pink as she brought her state's beloved flamingo to Miss USA.
Miss Florida Aileen Cerchiara in the 2026 Miss USA costume contest. Reza Venegas
Aileen Cerchiara's state costume featured over 10,000 pink crystals to honor the flamingo, which is native to Florida.
Cerchiara's ensemble also featured diamond chains and a large feathered backpiece that looked ready for a Las Vegas stage. She accessorized with a feathered headpiece and sparkling pink boots.
Miss Hawaii's bejeweled ensemble paid tribute to the hibiscus, her state's official flower.
Miss Hawaii Darja Bassut in the 2026 Miss USA State Costume Contest. Reza Venegas
The centerpiece of Darja Bassut's state costume, designed by Simón Villalba, was her backpiece of large crimson hibiscus petals, which shimmered in the light.
Bassut also wore a sparkling yellow bodysuit with matching gloves and thigh-high boots, along with a feathered headpiece.
Miss Georgia's sporty look embodied the spirit of the Masters Tournament.
Miss Georgia Jade Kircus in the 2026 Miss USA State Costume Contest. Reza Venegas
Jade Kircus looked to the Masters Tournament , which takes place in Augusta, Georgia, each year, for her costume.
The outfit looked like a sparkly version of a golf uniform. The costume — adorned with pink azaleas, which are famous in Georgia — included a visor, boots, and a belt with a golf ball on the waist.
There was something fishy about Miss Idaho's state costume.
Miss Idaho Katie Tetreault in the 2026 Miss USA State Costume Contest. Reza Ven...
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