- Laylah Rose is the new president of Miss USA, and she's bringing some major changes to the pageant.
- Rose told Insider that the final question will no longer involve politics.
After a tumultuous year that made headlines around the world, Miss USA has a new president — and she's bringing some major changes.
Laylah Rose is now at the helm of the pageant, which came under fire last year after Miss USA contestants claimed it was rigged in favor of the 2022 winner, R'Bonney Gabriel. The organization faced further scrutiny after it was uncovered that Max Sebrechts, the husband of then-Miss USA president Crystle Stewart, had stepped down as vice president after multiple contestants accused him of sexual harassment during the 2021 Miss USA pageant. Sebrechts denied the allegations to Insider at the time.
In August, the Miss Universe Organization said a "thorough and extensive investigation" had found that the rigging allegations "were false." But it also announced that Stewart and the organization "were unable to reach an agreement as to Crystle and Miss Brand's continuing involvement with Miss USA and the Miss Universe Organization." Hours later, Rose was announced as the new president.
Needless to say, it's been a tough year for the 72-year-old pageant. But Rose isn't afraid to shake things up.
Insider sat down with Rose, a fashion designer and CEO of the VIP Pageantry television network, to talk about her new role. She revealed the three big changes coming to Miss USA 2023, which will air live on Friday night.
The interview round will be more important
Previously, all three rounds of Miss USA held equal weight. The swimsuit round, evening-gown round, and interview round each made up 33% of the contestants' total score for the finals. But that's going to change.
Rose told Insider that the interview will now make up 50% of the contestants' total score, while the swimsuit and evening-gown rounds will each be 25%.
"I came in and I wanted to really highlight the delegates as individuals," she said. "I tell the delegates, 'You're not onstage your entire reign. You're a spokesmodel, you're the leader of the brand.' Just like getting a job or career, you have to interview in order to be accepted. That, to me, is the most important piece of the organization, and I wanted to highlight that."
Rose said she believes the scoring change also makes the pageant "relevant to today."
"We're not just parading onstage and we're not just wearing heels," she continued. "We're actually out there supporting our platforms and making waves and breaking glass ceilings in the philanthropy world that we want to be in. I think that component has not been highlighted as much, and that is what I love to bring."
The final question won't involve politics
Past contestants have been asked their opinion on everything from feminism to gun control on the Miss USA stage. This year, that won't be the case — at least during the final question.
"The final question is going to be really catered to them as an individual. It won't be a political question," Rose said. "I want to highlight them as individuals, and I really want them to shine within themselves and who they are, because that's exactly how Miss USA is chosen. It's all about her, so have her shine in her own space, with her own voice and her own story, for that last 30 seconds that she gets onstage — let her have her moment."
The judges will use a new scoring system
Rose has brought in Tally Genie — which describes itself as the "premier tabulation and auditing software solution for the pageant industry" — to help modernize Miss USA's judging system.
"It comes with its own technology, its own tablet, its own accountant — it's bulletproof in four different ways," Rose said. "We're modernizing the way the selection committee inputs their scoring system, and with that comes so many safeguards and levels of security that I'm confident in, and then the delegates feel confident as well."
"Modernizing that type of judging system has really helped make sure there's no mistakes along the way," she added. "To me, hands down, that was the best way to move forward with the judging and selection committee."