Pageant News Bureau - Miss USA Coverage 1997

P a g e a n t N e w s B u r e a u

Shreveport, Louisiana
February 1997

Brook Lee's winning smile.

A red-hot time on the Red River

On Feb. 5, 1997, Brook Lee of Hawaii was crowned Miss USA in Shreveport, La. The first runner-up was Brandi Sherwood of Idaho, and the second runner-up was Towanna Stone of Tennessee. Other semifinalists included Angelia Savage of Florida, Temple Taggart of Utah and Amanda Little of Texas, all of whom made the final six. Additional semifinalists were Autumn Smith of Alabama, Jennifer Makris of New Jersey, Trisha Stillwell of Oklahoma and Claudia Jordan of Rhode Island.

It was a remarkably strong field: Ms. Sherwood was a former Miss Teen USA, Ms. Savage was a former winner of the Venus Swimwear International Model Search, and Ms. Makris was a former finalist at Miss America.

Napiera Danielle Groves of the District of Columbia was voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants. Audra Wilks of Virginia was voted Miss Photogenic by readers of the pageant's official Internet site.

Brandi Sherwood

Brandi Sherwood
on her way to winning
Miss Teen USA in 1989

A ripple of controversy was created during the interview portion as Ms. Lee appeared to defend Alicia Machado, the reigning Miss Universe, who had been criticized for gaining weight. Pageant co-owner Donald Trump, one of Ms. Machado's critics, later dismissed Ms. Lee's comments as "political correctness."

Ms. Lee's reign as Miss USA was brief but blessed with good fortune. On May 16 in Miami Beach, she was crowned Miss Universe. Ms. Sherwoord assumed the title of Miss USA, becoming the first former Miss Teen USA to do so.