When Miss USA Already Felt Like Miss Universe… Then Lost

There were moments when the United States looked only seconds away from winning Miss Universe… moments where fans were already celebrating, cameras were ready, and the crown seemed destined for Miss USA. But in the final seconds, everything changed. In this video, we revisit the 9 times Miss USA finished as 1st Runner-Up at Miss Universe and came incredibly close to winning the crown. From Myrna Hansen in 1953 to Nia Sanchez in 2014, these unforgettable finals featured shocking results, emotional moments, controversial decisions, and legendary beauty queens who many fans still believe should have won. We’ll revisit iconic finalists including Deborah Shelton, Amanda Jones, Judi Andersen, Julie Hayek, Christy Fichtner, Carole Gist, Shandi Finnessey and Nia Sanchez — and compare them to unforgettable winners like Christiane Martel, Marisol Malaret, Margarita Moran, Margaret Gardiner, Barbara Palacios, Mona Grudt, Jennifer Hawkins and Paulina Vega. Which Miss USA do YOU think truly should have won Miss Universe? 👑 #missuniverse #missusa #pageant #beautypageant #missuniversehistory #pageantfans #missuniverserunnerup #niasanchez #shandifinnessey #paulinavega #jenniferhawkins #barbarapalacios