Meet the 51 women competing to be Miss USA 2021

• The Miss USA pageant will air live on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET.

• The show, which is being held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will be broadcast on FYI and Hulu.

• Among the contestants are a newborn nurse, special education teacher, and a US Air Force veteran.

Alabama: Alexandria Flanigan

Alexandria Flanigan, 25, is new to the pageant world. She earned her way to the Miss USA stage after entering her very first pageant this year.

Flanigan is currently studying philosophy and political science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, according to the school's website. She serves as treasurer for the university's pre-law honor society and plans to attend law school. She also currently works as a model.

Alaska: Madison Edwards

Madison Edwards, 25, is an all-star cheerleading coach and a world competitive all-star cheerleader. According to her Miss USA bio, Edwards can do a handstand while riding on a skateboard.

Edwards is also an avid video game player and dreams of opening her own video game bar in Alaska one day.

Arizona: Cassidy Jo Jacks

Cassidy Jo Jacks, 27, has been competing in pageants since she was in the seventh grade. She currently works in medical sales and also volunteers for a children's home and a domestic violence nonprofit.

In her Miss USA bio, the pageant queen said she grew up playing on an all-boys soccer team. She currently enjoys deer hunting, skiing, and teaching herself how to play the piano.

Arkansas: Stephanie Barber

Stephanie Barber, 23, recently graduated from the University of Arkansas with degrees in journalism and political science. She's currently applying to law school and dreams of becoming a federal judge and law professor, according to her Miss USA bio.

Barber loves traveling and once bungee-jumped from the world's tallest commercial bridge in Cape Town before sky-diving from 10,000 feet the very next day. She also has an Instagram page dedicated to reviewing french fries from Arkansas restaurants.

California: Sabrina Lewis

Sabrina Lewis, 24, has been competing in equestrian show jumping competitions since she was a child. Lewis was the captain of the Cal Equestrian Team while attending the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied business administration and was also president of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Lewis has volunteered at the US Embassy in Benin, West Africa, and walked the runway at Los Angeles Fashion Week. She dreams of opening a nonprofit equine therapeutic center for disabled children and veterans one day, according to her Miss USA bio.

Colorado: Olivia Lorenzo

Olivia Lorenzo, 20, is currently studying for degrees in product development and marketing at Colorado State University, according to her Miss USA bio. She plans to work as a fashion creative director with brands that strive for environmental sustainability.

Lorenzo loves spending time outdoors and once hiked two different mountains that are higher than 14,000 feet in a single day.

Connecticut: Amanda Torchia

Amanda Torchia, 25, is an educator, motivational speaker, activist, model, and the first Afghan woman to win Miss Connecticut USA.

Torchia has implemented her youth program, Educate To Create, to the statewide level. In her Miss USA bio, the pageant queen said it's her "mission in life to serve as a mentor to all students, specifically in poverty-centric neighborhoods."

Delaware: Drew Sanclemente

Drew Sanclemente, 25, is currently a second-year medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College. She is also president of the Medical-Pediatric Society of Philadelphia and provides COVID vaccines to Afghan refugees as a member of the statewide emergency management association.

In her spare time, Sanclemente teaches science lessons to local kindergarteners and speaks to survivors of sexual assault, according to her Miss USA bio. The pageant queen loves the outdoors and recently summited Mount Kilimanjaro.

District of Columbia: Sasha Perea

Sasha Perea, 28, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in communication studies. She is the co-founder of Foobee, an app that "merges dating, crypto, and e-commerce industries" with the "goal of making cryptocurrency easy and fun," according to her Miss USA bio.

Perea also wrote and published "Model Mindset: A Beginner's Guide to the Modeling Industry," based on her own experiences, and has hosted fashion week in the District of Columbia.

Florida: Ashley Carino

Ashley Carino, 27, was inspired to compete in her first-ever pageant this year by her mother, who used to compete in pageants in their native Puerto Rico, according to the Osceola News-Gazette.

Carino earned a degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Central Florida. She currently advocates for children and adolescents with mental-health diagnoses.

Georgia: Cora Griffen

Cora Griffen, 25, graduated with a political science degree from Auburn University, where she was also a cheerleader. Griffen has worked as a model for more than five years and once sang the national anthem at an NBA game.

Griffen recently received a scholarship from the King Center in Atlanta to learn how to promote and implement Martin Luther King Jr.'s nonviolent social change philosophy, according to her Miss USA bio.

Hawaii: Allison Chu

Allison Chu, 27, currently works as a full-time professional model and actress. She has appeared in television shows on FX, CBS, and the Style Network, and walked the runway for multiple designers at New York Fashion Week, according to her Miss USA bio.

Chu is also a professional hula dancer, professional oyster shucker, and a classically-trained opera singer. She is now a voting member of the Grammys after winning three Hawaii Music Awards.

Idaho: Katarina Schweitzer

Karatina Schweitzer, 27, earned a master's degree in early childhood and special education from Boise State University and has worked as a special education teacher for the last three years. She plans to earn her Ph.D. in children's development so she can "play a leading role in education services for children in hospitals," according to her Miss USA bio.

Schweitzer is a former cadet commander for the Naval Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps. She was awarded the Legion of Valor, which is only given to six cadets every year.

Illinois: Sydni Bennett

Sydni Bennett, 20, trained in ballet at the Chicago Academy of Arts. She became the co-director of a dance company and won national soloist competitions by the age of 16, according to her Miss USA bio.

Bennett, who had to stop dancing after a double hip injury, is now the CEO and founder of an international company that provides shoes in different shades of nude to women of all skin tones. The company's motto is, "Nude is more than one color."

Indiana: A'Niyah Birdsong

A'Niyah Birdsong, 26, graduated from a military high school before earning her degree in biology from Indiana University.

Birdsong currently works on the marketing team for a pharmaceutical company. She also advocates for women's involvement in STEM fields and encourages them to be "disruptive leaders in their networks," according to her Miss USA bio.

Iowa: Katie Wadman

Katie Wadman, 21, is currently a senior at the University of Iowa, where she's studying psychology, journalism, and mass communications. Wadman is a full-time news reporter and anchor for the university's on-campus television show, where she covers stories that "elevate awareness of women's accomplishments in sports," according to her Miss USA bio.

Wadman has been dancing for 18 years and is a member of the nationally-ranked University of Iowa dance team. She also advocates for domestic violence victims and serves as a freedom sponsor for the A21 Campaign, a nonprofit dedicated to abolishing human trafficking.

Kansas: Gracie Hunt

Gracie Hunt, 22, is currently pursuing a master's degree in sports management and dreams of becoming the first female NFL commissioner.

Hunt is currently training to qualify for the steeplechase competition at the 2024 Olympics. She serves as a global ambassador for the Special Olympics and also founded the nonprofit Breaking Barriers Through Sports, which aims to "level the playing field for women, the disadvantaged, and those with disabilities," according to her Miss USA bio.

Kentucky: Elle Smith

Elle Smith, 23, currently works as a full-time reporter for WHAS, an ABC affiliate in Louisville, Kentucky. In her Miss USA bio, Smith said that being a journalist in America today is "an honor and a role I take very seriously."

Smith participated in musical theater for 10 years and plays both the viola and piano. She also advocates for cervical cancer awareness and prevention in honor of her late grandmother.

Louisiana: Tanya Crowe

Tanya Crowe, 28, was an NFL cheerleader for the New Orleans Saints for four seasons, where she served as captain after earning a spot on the team without any formal dance training, according to her Miss USA bio.

Crowe — who has ties to both the Choctaw and Chappepeela tribes — was born and raised on her family's dairy farm, which she continues to help manage while owning and operating her own business.

Maine: Veronica Iris Bates

Veronica Iris Bates, 21, joined the United States Air Force after graduating high school, becoming the first female in her family to serve, according to her Miss USA bio. She worked as a Security Forces member, guarding important assets and training military working dogs.

Bates currently attends American Military University, where she's studying criminal justice and psychology.

Maryland: Layilah Nasser

Layilah Nasser, 26, is a technology advocate who has worked at Adobe — where she helped create the first-ever Diversity Talent Acquisition Team — and Google. She recently accepted a position at Facebook to help hire software engineers across the US.

Nasser has earned over 500 badges and 50 community awards during her past 16 years in the Girl Scouts, according to her Miss USA bio. She is now an official spokesperson for the organization and has served as a troop leader in two US states, as well as Denmark.

Massachusetts: Sarah De Souza

Sarah De Souza, 25, earned her bachelor's degree in interior design from Suffolk University. She currently works as an interior designer and artist, opening her first art show just before the pandemic hit.

De Souza, whose parents are from Brazil, also interviews immigrants from around the world for her podcast ISM ("Immigrant Stories Matter"). The pageant queen said in her Miss USA bio that she hopes to "change the negative stigmas around immigrants one story at a time."

Michigan: Taylor Hale

Taylor Hale, 26, currently runs Taylor Mack Style, a personal styling business that combines her "love of fashion and blogging with helping men and women step out into their world with confidence," according to her Miss USA bio.

Hale credits Black leadership in her native Detroit with inspiring her to become a Black female entrepreneur. She wants to use her platform to "encourage everyone to be unapologetically powerful and pretty."

Minnesota: Katarina Spasojevic

Katarina Spasojevic, 20, is a first-generation American and first-generation college student. She is currently studying for a pre-law degree from the University of Minnesota and plans to attend law school, with a focus on immigration law.

Spasojevic also works as an international commercial print model, according to her Miss USA bio. She has modeled for Target, bridal catalogs, and multiple magazines.

Mississippi: Bailey Anderson

Bailey Anderson, 22, has worked as a special care newborn nurse for the last year and once resuscitated a newborn baby during a hurricane. In her Miss USA bio, Anderson said she believes she has "the most special job in the entire world."

Anderson is a women's health advocate, recently partnering with the Mississippi Health Department to make it easier for pregnant mothers to obtain early access to prenatal care. She also works with the Alzheimer's Association of Mississippi in honor of her grandmother Nay-Nay, who has been diagnosed with the disease.

Missouri: Joye Forrest

Joye Forrest, 25, is a lifelong dancer who graduated from the California Institute of the Arts with a bachelor's degree in fine arts. She's since gone on to dance in music videos, appear in commercials, teach dance in nine countries, and more.

But she also has a passion for helping others, according to her Miss USA bio. Forrest is now working toward earning her doctorate in chiropractic medicine, while also serving as a brand ambassador for groups like The Salvation Army.

Montana: Jami Forseth

Jami Forseth, 24, is skilled in the martial art of Chi-Tu-Do. She got her black belt at age 12, later became a certified Krav Maga self-defense instructor, and now teaches self-defense to human trafficking survivors, according to her Miss USA bio.

Forseth was also deeply impacted by her childhood in a small town, where she grew up with three foster siblings. The experience pushed her to become a court-appointed special advocate for other foster children.

Nebraska: Erika Etzelmiller

Erika Etzelmiller, 24, has dreams of becoming a third-generation dentist. She's currently a dental student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and was inspired by the careers of her father and grandfather.

She also has a degree in marketing, which she earned while studying abroad in Italy and performing as a Husker cheerleader. Now, she advocates for free dental care in Nebraska's
underserved communities, according to her Miss USA bio, through an organization she created.

Nevada: Kataluna Enriquez

Kataluna Enriquez, 28, describes herself as a "multi-talented woman with a voice and a purpose," according to her Miss USA bio. Some of her most impressive skills include speaking four languages and designing her own wardrobe through her namesake fashion business.

She's also an advocate for mental health and the LGBTQ community, and will become the first openly trans woman to compete in Miss USA.

New Hampshire: Taylor Fogg

Taylor Fogg, 26, is a law student working toward becoming an attorney. That being said, she's also passionate about science, as stated in her Miss USA bio, and has worked on genetic, respiratory, and concussion research.

She often competes in triathlons in her spare time and enjoys helping others do so as well. She's worked as a running guide for athletes with disabilities, and as a cycling trainer for wounded veterans.

New Jersey: Celinda Ortega

Celinda Ortega, 27, is completing a degree in biomedical science as part of her journey to become a rheumatologist. She was inspired to pursue the career after a near-fatal flare of lupus in 2018.

As stated in her Miss USA bio, Ortega is also a first-generation Dominican American. She's bilingual, as she can speak English and Spanish, and spends much of her time mentoring young girls through the Stellar Role Models nonprofit she created.

New Mexico: Christa Schafer

Christa Schafer, 26, loves reading and writing. She graduated with a degree in English literature and is now working on a children's book. Her past work experience includes being a Disney intern and flight attendant, and she now works in real estate.

According to her Miss USA bio, Schafer created a program called "A Blessing in Disguise" in 2014, which allows her to dress as princesses and visit terminally-ill children staying in hospitals.

New York: Briana Siaca

Briana Siaca, 27, has a bachelor's degree in chemistry and business from Pace University, and currently works for an investment firm in New York City where she manages over $300 million in assets.

As she said in her Miss USA bio, Siaca also spends a lot of time with her family, including her two young nieces, and working with the Girls Inc. organization to help end poverty.

North Carolina: Madison Bryant

Madison Bryant, 24, describes herself as a "neuro nerd," according to her Miss USA bio. She originally studied psychology, completed award-winning research on PTSD, and is now working toward another mental-health degree in the nursing field.

She's also an athlete who played volleyball in Italy, and a musician with 15 years of vocal experience in opera and jazz. In her spare time, Bryant travels with teenagers to national parks to help "grow their interpersonal skills."

North Dakota: Caitlyn Vogel

Caitlyn Vogel, 21, was inspired by her best friend to create her nonprofit called Limitless, through which she advocates for people who have Down's syndrome and other disabilities. One way she does so is through an annual fashion show, during which people with different abilities are featured.

Vogel is also in school studying nursing, according to her Miss USA bio, and models when not in class. The latter hobby led her to walk in New York Fashion Week this week.

Ohio: Nicole Wess

Nicole Wess, 23, is passionate about helping others through healthcare. She's earning her doctorate in pharmacy at the University of Cincinnati and is working at a COVID-19 clinic and as an intern at a charitable pharmacy in the meantime.

She describes herself as a "proud Filipino-American" in her Miss USA bio, and says her hobbies range from modeling to riding her motorcycle.

Oklahoma: Albruena Gonzaque

Albruena Gonzaque, 28, has long dreamed of participating in the Miss USA competition. It took "six tries and 2,190 days," according to her Miss USA bio. She comes from a family of 150 people and is the tallest woman of the group at nearly 6 feet tall.

Her biggest passion is food, from sustainable cooking practices to making meals accessible to all. She plans to publish a cookbook in 2022 and has been working with local gardens to provide cooking and garden-themed therapy options for those who need it.

Oregon: Allison Cook

Allison Cook, 27, is an advocate for the Brain Injury Association of America. She's experienced numerous concussions and a traumatic brain injury in her lifetime but overcame all difficulties to graduate from Oregon Tech with a degree in radiologic sciences.

Cook also works as a clinical imaging specialist, according to her Miss USA bio, and travels to operating rooms across the country. Her other hobbies include playing volleyball, refereeing sports like basketball, and playing the electric violin.

Pennsylvania: Sydney Robertson

Sydney Robertson, 24, helps others nurture beauty "inside and out" as an esthetician and nutritional consultant, according to her Miss USA bio. She's also creating her own wellness brand, and spends much of her time modeling and doing volunteer work.

For fun, she enjoys traveling and outdoor activities like hiking. As for her signature short hairstyle, Robertson says she hasn't worn it longer than shoulder length since she was 10 years old.

Rhode Island: Karly Laliberte

Karly Laliberte, 27, is a lifelong athlete who wants to help women succeed in the sports industry. She played tennis in college while earning an art degree and now works as a marketing specialist for Franklin Sports.

Art still plays a big role in Lalinerte's life, according to her Miss USA bio. She's hosted gallery shows in the past and still sells commissioned pieces made from acrylic and graphite. Her program stART smART also allows her to provide art supplies to elementary students in her home state.

South Carolina: Marley Stokes

Marley Stokes, 24, splits her time between working as a makeup artist and a phlebotomist. She's also dedicated to her Crayons For Kids program, which she created to help children "colorfully express themselves," according to her Miss USA bio.

As a model, Stokes has been featured in magazine campaigns, and as a dancer, she's won awards. But sports are also important to her. She loves archery, axe throwing, and playing golf with her dad.

South Dakota: Caroline Pettey

Caroline Pettey, 27, has a degree in broadcast journalism from Auburn University, which led her to travel and report for a Women's National Basketball Association team. She's since gone on to become a weeknight news anchor in South Dakota, her Miss USA bio states.

She enjoys reading, baking, and snowboarding, among other hobbies, and is working toward hiking the Appalachian Trail in sections. One of her biggest passions, however, is helping women who have faced domestic violence.

Tennessee: Elizabeth Pistole

Elizabeth Pistole, 21, has accomplished a lot in two decades. She's visited 34 countries, became a certified open-water scuba diver, and is "on track to obtain 3 college degrees within 4 years," according to her Miss USA bio.

She also created a 501(c)3 called Dancing Divas and Dudes at the young age of 15. The group brings people together, including those with special needs, to dance and have fun.

Texas: Victoria Hinojosa

Victoria Hinojosa, 22, has a degree in agricultural communication and journalism from Texas A&M University. She now works as a social media and marketing director, and also runs a nonprofit called Victorious Angels. The group trains other nonprofits on social media practices.

According to her Miss USA bio, Hinojosa also cares deeply for children and spends much of her time volunteering at elementary school. Growing up, she spoke Spanish as her first language and was one of 21 grandchildren.

Utah: JessiKate Riley

JessiKate Riley, 25, is a skilled musician and artist. She's been playing the violin since she was 3 years old, and even traveled to Europe at the age of 9 to attend a music camp. Today, she has a degree in music and violin performance from Brigham Young University.

Riley is also a model and a motivational speaker. She often visits schools across Utah to spread her "Finding ValYOU Within" platform.

Vermont: Joanna Nagle

Joanna Nagle, 27, says she's a "search-engine marketing specialist by day, and an ice hockey player and coach by night" in her Miss USA bio. Both allow her to pursue her passion for teaching others, as does her volunteer work as a mentor to small businesses.

Her hockey skills have also helped her become well-traveled — she's played the sport for more than 20 years in 13 different states. She says her interest in the sport was sparked at a young age when she came across the "Harry Potter" series because hockey reminded her of Quidditch.

Virginia: Christina Thompson

Christina Thompson, 25, is an accomplished journalist and mentor. She earned a prestigious Edward R. Murrow award for her coverage of social-justice protests in 2020, and she's now working toward earning a master's degree in the field.

In her spare time, Thompson works on her mentorship program Purposeful Positions to help create opportunities for women and children. She learned a lot from influential women in her own life, including her mother, who held the same Miss Virginia title in 1987.

Washington: Christine Brodie

Christine Brodie, 26, uses her experience as a first-generation Filipino-American woman to help others like herself. She works in Amazon's executive-recruiting department, and "promotes female leadership in technology on a daily basis," according to her Miss USA bio.

She's also an avid traveler and enjoys spending as much time outdoors as possible. That's partly because she loves marine animals like sharks.

West Virginia: Alexis Bland

Alexis Bland, 22, is a real-estate agent who graduated from West Virginia University. She sold over $1 million in properties during her first four months on the job, according to her Miss USA bio, and now works as a model on the side.

To help other young women reach similar success, Bland partnered with local banks to teach students financial literacy and started an online clothing shop to provide affordable fashion. And she knows a thing or two about style – she walked four shows during her first New York Fashion Week.

Wisconsin: Samantha Keaton

Samantha Keaton, 20, is still in school at the time of writing. She's studying biology and pre-med, and has dreams of opening her own practice as a reconstructive plastic surgeon. In the midst of that and the COVID-19 pandemic, she also started her own cosmetics line.

According to her Miss USA bio, Keaton considers herself a "food connoisseur," and has been featured in two music videos in the past.

Wyoming: Mackenzie Kern

Mackenzie Kern, 21, is both a student and entrepreneur. She's studying at the University of Wyoming and does so while running an award-winning online fashion brand. That's not to mention her third role as a social media manager for numerous businesses.

As stated in her Miss USA bio, Kern is a survivor of assault and is passionate about empowering women to work toward healing from their trauma. She often speaks about this issue and others on her blog.

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