39 incredible women from all over Georgia competed for the title of Miss South Carolina USA 2022 on March 4-5th. Congratulations to all of the contestants on such a fantastic showing. We can’t wait to see what the incoming queens do with their new titles!
Preliminary Standouts
The Onstage Preliminary competition consists of the Swimsuit and Evening Gown competitions. Together, they make up a combined total of 2/3 of each contestant’s overall score. These contestants stood out to me in Swimsuit and/or Evening Gown.
Mattie Sloan
Riley Copans
Iliriana Lekani
Laney Quickel
Davia Bunch
Liza Walker
Brooklyn Brewster
Meera Bhonsle
Personal Favorites
But there are even contestants who stood out from the Standouts. The following five are my Personal Favorites. Honestly, my jaw literally dropped when these contestants stepped onto the stage.
Miss North Augusta USA 2022
Katie Mode
I loved her wardrobe! With a green swimsuit, a hot pink gown, and a fabulous walk to match, she was one to remember.
Miss Greenville USA 2022
Davia Bunch
She was a standout from the moment she stepped onstage. That walk is killer!
Miss Clemson USA 2022
Riley Copans
Her walk had the perfect balance of sassy and sweet. She was a doll onstage!
Miss Tigertown USA 2022
Brooklyn Brewster
My favorite thing about her performance was how comfortable she was. Her turns were super smooth.
Miss Upstate USA 2022
Meera Bhonsle
From her comfort onstage to her fierce walk and poses, she was, as Davonna would say, technically perfect.
Top 16 Semifinalists
After the contestants compete in Interview, Swimsuit, and Evening Gown, the top semifinalists advance to the next round. Next, the semifinalists recompete in Swimsuit and Evening Gown before the field is narrowed down to five contestants.
- Upstate
- Charleston
- Lake Wylie
- North Augusta
- Sumter
- Anderson
- Greenville County
- Bluffton
- Fort Mill
- Carolina
- Golden Corner
- Greenville
- Clemson
- North Myrtle Beach
- Tigertown
- Florence County
Top 5 Onstage Question
After the Top 5 is announced, they immediately compete in the final area of competition. The Onstage Question tests public speaking skills and quick-thinking ability. Because of this, Onstage Question can make or break a contestant. It doesn’t help that the unpredictable question is accompanied by other stressful aspects like a live audience and a 30-second time limit.
All Top 5 contestants were asked the same question:
Tuesday, March 8 is International Women’s Day, celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. If you were to recommend one woman outside of your family for all of us to look up to and strive to be more like, who would it be and why?
Miss Greenville USA 2022
Davia Bunch
Miss Clemson USA 2022
Riley Copans
Miss Upstate USA 2022
Meera Bhonsle
Miss North Augusta USA 2022
Katie Mode
Miss Lake Wylie USA 2022
Liza Walker
Asking every contestant the same question allows the judges and audience to see the similarities and differences between the young women. The Top 5 was very genuine, conversational, and present in their answers. Their faces lit up when they spoke about and thanked the women they look up to.
My favorite part about their responses was how each contestant already had a woman in mind for this answer. Although you can’t guess the exact question you’ll be asked, you can still prepare for this competition. If these ladies can crush their question, you can too!
Miss Upstate, Meera Bhonsle is going to Miss USA!
Finally, it was time for the emcee to announce the final placements of our top five contestants. The new Miss South Carolina USA will represent her state at the next Miss USA competition. Together, her and her Miss South Carolina Teen USA sister, Katie Ward, will utilize the help of sponsors and the RPM Productions team to make the most of their year.
Winner, Miss South Carolina USA 2022: Meera Bhonsle, Upstate
1st Runner-Up: Clemson
2nd Runner-Up: Lake Wylie
3rd Runner-Up: North Augusta
4th Runner-Up: Greenville
Miss Congeniality: Edisto Beach
Miss Photogenic: North Myrtle Beach
People’s Choice: Charleston