Miss USA 2006

Miss USA 2006
Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner
DateApril 21, 2006
Presenters
EntertainmentEast Village Opera Company
VenueBaltimore Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
BroadcasterNBC, WBAL-TV
Entrants51
Placements15
WinnerTara Conner
Kentucky
CongenialityDottie Cannon
Minnesota
PhotogenicCristin Duren
Florida
← 2005
2007 →

Miss USA 2006 was the 55th Miss USA pageant, held at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland on April 21, 2006. Fifty-one state titleholders competed for the title, which was won by Tara Conner of Kentucky.[1] Conner was crowned by outgoing titleholder Chelsea Cooley of North Carolina.[2]

This was the second consecutive year that the pageant was held in Baltimore, although the venue changed from the Hippodrome Theater to the larger 1st Mariner Arena.[3][4] Delegates arrived in the city on 2 April 2006, and were involved in three weeks of events, appearances and preliminary competitions before the final competition.[4] This included a trip to New York City to attend a book launch for The Miss Universe Guide to Beauty and make media appearances on Regis and Kathy, The Early Show and Total Request Live.[5][6]

The pageant hosts were Nancy O'Dell (who had hosted the pageant in 2004 and 2005) and Drew Lachey.[4] For the first time Queer Eye for the Straight Guy star Carson Kressley provided commentary.[7] Special guest performers were the East Village Opera Company.

The finals were broadcast by NBC, with 7.77 million viewers, the second-lowest viewership ever recorded.[8]

The winner represented the United States at Miss Universe 2006 on July 23, 2006, in Los Angeles where she placed 4th Runner-up.

  1. ^ "Miss Kentucky crowned Miss USA, will compete in Miss Universe". Associated Press. 2006-04-22.
  2. ^ White, Tanika (2007-04-22). "Pageant brings glamor to city - and a crown for Kentuckian". The Baltimore Sun.
  3. ^ "Baltimore to host 2006 Miss USA pageant". Associated Press. 2005-11-22.
  4. ^ a b c White, Tanika (2006-04-02). "Miss USA charms city, again: Contestants arrive today as pageant returns to Baltimore in a bigger venue". The Baltimore Sun.
  5. ^ Arterbery, Andrea (2006-04-21). "New book provides universal guide to beauty". Women's Wear Daily. p. 10.
  6. ^ White, Tanika (2006-04-17). "Taking their charm to the Big Apple: Miss USA hopefuls' star-studded trip includes meeting Trump". The Baltimore Sun.
  7. ^ "Lachey to co-host Miss USA pageant in Baltimore". Associated Press. 2006-03-24.
  8. ^ Burris, Joe (2006-04-25). "Fewer viewers, but young watch pageant". The Baltimore Sun.