Miss USA renames award after former Miss Universe
The Miss USA organization paid tribute to pageant history during its 74th annual broadcast Friday night, renaming the Miss Congeniality Award after the late Chelsi Smith.
The trailblazing Miss Texas USA, Miss USA and Miss Universe titleholder became the first American to win Miss Universe in 15 years when she took the crown in 1995.
Smith died in 2018 at age 45 after a battle with liver cancer.
The historic announcement was made on stage by co-host Olivia Jordan, Miss USA 2015, who called Smith "one of the most iconic beauty queens in history."
Also during the broadcast, Miss Nebraska Audrey Eckert was crowned Miss USA 2025.
But the coronation unfolded without the traditional passing of the crown: reigning Miss USA 2024 Alma Cooper revealed just hours before the event that she would not attend.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Cooper said she had made the “extremely difficult decision not to attend this year’s Miss USA pageant and crowning ceremony."
"As I close this chapter, I do so with the knowledge that I finished what I started with integrity and my self-worth held high, just like the crown I was honored to wear," she added.
The organization has faced increased scrutiny in recent years with former Miss USA Noelia Voigt, who won the national title in 2023 as Miss Utah USA, announcing her resignation from the crown in May 2024, citing mental health reasons.
Voigt called it a "very tough decision" in a public Instagram post, which was later acknowledged and confirmed by the official Miss USA account.
