Miss USA 2018 will be the 67th Miss USA pageant. It will be held on May 21, 2018 at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport, Louisiana, and will be hosted by Vanessa and Nick Lachey. Kára McCullough of District of Columbia will crown her successor at the end of the event. The winner will represent the United States at the Miss Universe 2018 pageant.

The pageant will be held at the same venue as was used for Miss USA 1997.

For the first time, Miss Teen USA 2018 pageant will be held concurrently, with the finals of the Teen competition being held just prior to the Miss USA competition

"It doesn't matter how many times you fall as long as you get back up" - The gorgeous Allie Gonzalez will compete for the crown of Miss Texas USA 2018 later this year. This will be her 7th time. She was a semi-finalist in 2013, made the Top 17 in 2016 and went on to be the first and 4th runner-up in 2015 and 2014.

Allie believes that being a pageant title holder is a job that requires hard work, dedication and determination, because you’re no longer representing yourself but a group of people and a country. The pageant world gives opportunity like no other. You gain poise, self-confidence, new talents and valuable communication skills. You feel good about yourself and gain the competitive edge to succeed later in whatever field you may choose.

So, what can a "pageant girl" do to ensure they put on a successful event, get noticed, and grow from the experience? Discover Allie's story below!

Miss Teen USA 2018 will be the the 36th Miss Teen USA pageant. Sophia Dominguez-Heithoff of Missouri will crown her successor at the end of the event.

In a pageant confidence is the key. Anyone who has ever pursued their dreams knows that they are never as simple as you set out expecting them to be. Don’t let that deter you. Confident winners do not let setbacks deter them from their goals or allow others’ opinions to deter them from their full potential.

Perseverance in pageantry is a valuable lesson that applies in every other area of life. The best things in life are challenging. Know that whatever setbacks you may have, they don’t define you. 

The beautiful Michelle Laino will compete for the crown of Miss New York Teen USA 2018. This will be her 5th time. She believes that you don't need a crown to be a queen - "Every year I competed I got to know myself more and more. That was the most important thing I have done to prepare, is to know myself inside and out. I think the most important part of preparation in pageants is getting to know who you are and why you are competing." she explained.

Michelle, 18, graduated high school and she is currently enrolled in a personal training certification program. After she obtains her certification she plans to continue her education in nutrition. She works as a sales associate at Club Pilates - "I just really love fitness, exercise, and the human body. As for extracurricular work, I have a health blog and I also volunteer at Gilda's Club, which is an organization to help families, friends, and patients affected by cancer." she said

Michelle's dedication towards her goals, and her success which has been a result of her ambitions and efforts, will surely take her long on the road of victory! Discover more about her story below

This year we will see many familiar faces returning to compete for Miss USA 2018. With a record number of former Miss Teen USA competitors vying for the Miss USA crown in 2014, the number has reached 10 girls this year. To many pageant followers, the former Teen titleholders are the said “frontrunners” competing at the greatest pageant in America. This can be very questionable to some people, including myself.

"Sport has the power to help develop the potential of individuals, communities and nations. It encourages personal growth, is a major force in eliminating gender barriers and can build bridges across lines that might otherwise divide.” Ban ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General

The beautiful Gracie Hunt was born into a sports-loving family. From age four to seventeen, soccer was a huge part of her world, and it has impacted her life in innumerable ways - "Sports afforded me the opportunity to learn to work as a team towards a common goal, and to never let a setback or obstacle hinder my achievement" - she explained.

Over her career she played high school and D1 club soccer and hoped to continue into college, but god has opened another door "When I received my 4th concussion, my neurologist suggested that I should no longer play the game I loved which was devestating. I hoped and prayed for direction and another dream to capture my heart and imagination, and the door was opened to pageantry."

She won the crown of Miss Teen Texas Intl 2016 and will compete in Miss Texas Teen USA this november. She competed last year for the first time and was named fourth runner-up - "This is my last year of eligibility, so I’m giving it my best shot! I always looked up to anyone wearing a crown, as I believe most people do, and when I realized the platform and impact I could make through holding a title, I was hooked. I am passionate about volunteerism and making a difference, and leaving the world better than I found it."

I had the opportunity to interview the beauty queen a few days before the Miss Texas Teen USA Pageant. Her dedication and hard work towards her goals will surely take her long on the road of victory!