Miss Teen USA is a national beauty pageant established in 1983 by the Miss Universe Organization to crown young women aged 14 to 19 from across the United States. It serves as a platform to celebrate the power, ambition, and leadership of teenage girls, providing them opportunities such as academic scholarships, modeling contracts, brand ambassadorships, and national media exposure[1][4]. The pageant was created 31 years after the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, and it originally included three competitive rounds: swimwear, evening gown, and interview. In 2016, the swimwear segment was replaced with athletic wear to reflect a cultural shift toward empowering active, purposeful lifestyles among young women[1]. Historically, Miss Teen USA has been part of the Miss Universe Organization’s portfolio, which also produces Miss USA and Miss Universe. The organization emphasizes the development of confident, goal-oriented women who pursue personal, career, and humanitarian goals while serving as role models[3]. The pageant has evolved over the decades, showcasing diverse winners and adapting its criteria to reflect modern values. For example, in 2019, Kaliegh Garris's win marked a historic moment as she was part of the first time the reigning Miss America, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA were all Black women, illustrating progress in representation within pageantry[2]. In 2020, the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA franchises were transferred from the Miss Universe Organization to Crystle Stewart, Miss USA 2008 winner. However, Stewart was suspended in 2022 amid rigging allegations and later parted ways with the organization in 2023 after a cleared investigation[1]. Currently, Laylah Rose serves as president and CEO of both pageants[1]. In 2025, BDE MISS USA, LLC, led by Thom Brodeur, acquired exclusive license rights to Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, signaling a new chapter for the brand with the 2025 pageant