How The Miss USA Pageant Is Changing Because Of Coronavirus

The Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants are still slated to go on in Memphis, Tennessee this weekend and next week, but with a few changes because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are 51 contestants in each of the pageants, one for every state, including the District of Columbia. They’ve all been quarantining in Elvis’ Graceland mansion campus.

All the contestants have been isolating since Monday and the girls are broken up into various groups and under “host moms.”

Miss Mississippi USA, Asya Branch explained to KAIT 8, “It’s hard because we’re so used to socializing with all the girls and getting to know them, but we’re kept in groups with our “host mom” so we only get to see a few girls regularly, and we don’t get to interact with everybody like we normally would.”

The Miss Universe Organization said that every contestant had to get tested for COVID-19 before even leaving their home states, as well as before they entered “the bubble.” The organization also said that the girls had to quarantine for 12 hours while they waited for their results.

As for the regulations for the audience and staff at the event, everyone will have to wear a mask at all times. The contestants won’t be required to wear masks when they’re competing on the Miss USA stage.

Kevin Kane, who works with Memphis Tourism, says that with the competition being in Memphis, it’ll bring great things for the economy, even if many people have to watch it through a computer screen.

He went on to explain, “Everybody is so concerned as they should be about doing things the right way and the safe way - and we’re doing things the right way and the safe way during this pageant and obviously being on national television is going to show what Memphis' capabilities are.”

Safety and health of the contestants, the staff and the audience are the Organization and Memphis’ top priority.

Even though there were 300 audience tickets on sale, the Miss Teen USA competition is completely free to watch on all the Miss Universe Organization social media platforms on Saturday, Nov. 7, and Miss USA on FYI™ on Monday, Nov. 9.