Miss USA 2014 Crowned, Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez Wins Miss USA Title (PHOTO SLIDESHOW)
4 photos(Photo: Reuters/Adrees Latif)Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez is crowned by Miss USA 2013 Erin Brady after winning the 2014 Miss USA beauty pageant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana June 8, 2014.Miss USA 2014 crowned Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez as this year's winner in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Sunday, June 8.
The fourth-degree black belt in the Korean martial art of taekwondo was named Miss USA out of 50 other contestants from all the states as well as the District of Columbia. After a three-hour telecast featuring interviews, evening gowns and swimsuits, Sanchez was crowned at the 63rd Miss USA pageant by former Miss USA Erin Brady of South Glastonbury, Connecticut.
The 24-year-old new Miss USA is from Las Vegas, Nevada and has trained in taekwondo for over 12 years. Sanchez has also been a face character for Disney in both the U.S. and abroad, and following her win, the beauty queen said she is "so proud to bring the title of Miss USA back to Nevada."
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"I'm so excited," she said, according to Yahoo News. "It's a dream come true."
During the 63rd Miss USA pageant, Sanchez responded to judge Rumer Willis' question about the high rate of sexual assaults on college campuses. It was then that Sanchez explained her training in taekwondo and detailed her volunteer work at women's shelters.
"I relate to them on a personal level because I've been there myself," she explained before noting plans to spread her passion and knowledge of martial arts as Miss USA.
Meanwhile, Sunday's first runner-up was Miss North Dakota Audra Mari, while home state queen Miss Louisiana Brittany Guidry claimed second runner-up. Other runners-up included Miss Georgia Tiana Griggs, Miss Florida Brittany Oldehoff and Miss Iowa, Carlyn Bradarich.
The national beauty pageant also saw a performance by Nelly, Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelly. The event was co-hosted by E! News anchor Giuliana Rancic and MSNBC's Thomas Roberts.
