The new Miss USA is Miss Nebraska Audrey Eckert

There’s a new Miss USA in town.

Miss Nebraska Audrey Eckert was named the winner of the 74th annual Miss USA pageant Friday evening at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. She was crowned by the current Miss Universe, Victoria Kjær Theilvig.

Miss USA 2024 Alma Cooper shared in a Instagram published on Friday that she had declined to participate in the 2025 pageant, although they paid tribute to her reign in the finale.

Eckert studied business administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she was a member of the Husker cheer team, according to her Miss USA biography. She is now the social media and marketing coordinator for Thai handbag brand Sapahn.

The 23-year-old will represent the United States at the Miss Universe pageant in November.

Redesign of the Miss USA pageant

Fifty-one women competed for the Miss USA crown, competing in the swimsuit, evening gown and interview events during the preliminary competition earlier this week in Reno.

In past years at Miss USA, the top 15 to 20 contestants were selected by a selection committee. New CEO Thom Brodeur told Business Insider in September that he was eliminating the committee to bring more transparency to the competition.

“For many, many years, young women have come into this organization competing with a rule — it’s very clearly stated, you know what you’re committing to in your contract as a candidate — that the leadership team, management and others can be part of the selection process,” Brodeur said. “So the process of selecting a new Miss USA and Miss Teen USA is not just left to the judges. That’s how it’s happened historically.”

“Part of what my team and I intend to do is remove this rule from the candidate contract selection committee,” he added. “What that means, very simply, is that the judges choose the winner of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. And what that means for the competitors – the young women who compete in this sport – is that they will have a 100% fair chance where no one else’s voice or influence will affect their ability to place in the competition.”

This year’s judges included Nia Sanchez, Miss USA 2014 and current star of “The Valley,” “Dancing With the Stars” pro Sasha Farber, former “Bachelor in Paradise” star Jade Roper Tolbert, model Hannah Edwards and fashion designer Kenneth Barlis.

The last question

Brodeur also brought back current affairs interview questions, which were banned under former Miss USA CEO Laylah Rose.

“We don’t just talk about our favorite colors or movies or songs,” Brodeur told Business Insider in September. “So I think it’s important that we allow the intelligence of women in the Miss USA and Teen USA communities to shine.”

In the final round of questions, candidates were asked about artificial intelligence, the obstacles women may face when creating lasting wealth, and much more.

Miss Nebraska’s question was: “When people look back at our generation 100 years from now, what do you hope they will say about us, and what are you doing to help make that happen?”

“Our generation is definitely adaptable,” Eckert said. “We have learned to grow and change through so many things.”

“I work in digital media every day and I teach 500 athletes every week how to stay safe online, and be safe online, and learning to grow in a digital world requires being adaptable, just like the job of Miss USA,” she continued. “She is going to Miss Universe very soon and she has to be adaptable, she has to roll with the punches and she has to lead our great nation with pride.”

A new winner for a new era

Miss USA hasn’t had a scandal-free year since 2020. In the five years since, there have been accusations of fixing, allegations of sexual harassment, three different CEOs, two resigning queens and an explosive lawsuit.

Brodeur hopes to usher in a new era with the new Miss USA, who will begin her reign with a flight to Thailand for the week-long Miss Universe 2025 pageant. The televised finals will be broadcast on November 21.

Brodeur told Business Insider in September that the new Miss USA will have a “pretty aggressive list of appearances” when she returns.

“Time will prove it, and we have to do the work to prove it, but my goal is to reestablish Miss USA and Miss Teen USA as America’s It Girls,” he said.

Let the reign begin.