Pageant News Bureau - Miss USA 2000

A real Tennessee titan

Lynnette Cole of Tennessee was crowned Miss USA on Feb. 4, 2000, in Branson, Mo. The first runner-up was Bridget Jane Vezina of New Hampshire, and the second runner-up was Jina Mitchell of Alabama. Other finalists were Patti Dunn of Georgia and Tiffany Meyer of Kansas.

Michele Kaplan of Hawaii won the Miss Congeniality award, while Kristin Ludecke of Florida won the Clairol Hydrience Style award. Ms. Cole, a former Miss Teen All American and Miss Tennessee Teen USA, had been seen for months as a strong contender for the crown.

In the final answer, about the current publicity activities of former presidential girlfriend Monica Lewinsky, Ms. Cole gave a tasteful, diplomatic answer that was a crowd favorite.

The five finalists (above) and Miss USA and the two runners-up (left).

This was the 49th Miss USA Pageant, the second to be held in Branson. The theme of the pageant was an imitation of the wildly popular quiz show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"

Ms. Cole will represent the United States in the Miss Universe Pageant in May in Cyprus.