Asya Branch
Asya Branch | |
|---|---|
| Born | Asya Danielle Branch May 5, 1998 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.[1] |
| Alma mater | University of Mississippi (BA) |
| Occupation | Student and beauty pageant titleholder |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[2] |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Miss Mississippi 2018 Miss Mississippi USA 2020 Miss USA 2020 |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Major competition(s) | Miss America 2019 (Unplaced) Miss USA 2020 (Winner) Miss Universe 2020 (Top 21) |
Asya Danielle Branch (born May 5, 1998) is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was Miss USA 2020 and represented her country at Miss Universe 2020 where she placed Top 21.
Early life and education
Branch was born on May 5, 1998, in Detroit, Michigan to African American parents. She is the sixth child of eight siblings. Branch grew up in Booneville, Mississippi where she attended Booneville High School.[3]
After graduating from high school, Branch moved to Oxford, Mississippi to attend the University of Mississippi. She graduated from the School of Journalism and New Media with a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications with an emphasis in Public relations and a minor in General Business.[4]
In May 2021, Asya represented United States at Miss Universe 2020, held in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Out of 74 representatives, Asya placed in the Top 21.
Pageantry
As Miss Mississippi USA, Branch was awarded the opportunity to represent Mississippi at Miss USA 2020, becoming the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss Mississippi USA. Originally scheduled for the spring of 2020, the Miss USA 2020 competition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and later held on November 9, 2020, at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. She competed in finals and reaching the semifinals in the state for the first time since 2010, where she was crowned by outgoing titleholder Cheslie Kryst.[5] Following her win, Branch became the first woman from Mississippi to be crowned Miss USA and the last Miss USA titleholder ever owned by the Miss Universe Organization.[6] She represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant.[7][8]
Previously, Branch was crowned Miss Mississippi 2018 and went on to compete in Miss America 2019 where she was unplaced.[9] She did place second-runner up in the Quality of Life awards at the pageant.
On November 29, 2021, she ended her reign and crowned her successor Elle Smith of Kentucky as Miss USA 2021 at the Paradise Cove Theater of River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
On October 18, 2022, Branch was crowned Miss World America 2022 and she will represent the United States at the Miss World 2022 pageant.
References
- ^ "Mississippi's Asya Branch Is the New Miss USA". Yahoo. Archived from the original on 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ^ "Who is Asya Branch? Father, height and age of Miss USA 2020!". HITC. 2020-11-10. Archived from the original on 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ^ "Asya Danielle Branch on Instagram: "Every end is a new beginning💙🎓💛 05.19.16"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
- ^ "School of Journalism and New Media | Asya Branch". jnm.olemiss.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
- ^ "Miss USA 2020 Winner: Who's Asya Branch from Mississippi? Here's how she overcame tough childhood to win pageants". meaww.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ "Mississippi's Asya Branch Wins Miss USA 2020". PEOPLE.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ Miss Mississippi Asya Branch crowned Miss USA 2020 Archived 2020-11-16 at the Wayback Machine eonline.com Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ "Asya Danielle Branch". Miss America. 2018-08-10. Archived from the original on 2020-11-15. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ "Miss Tupelo Crowned Miss Mississippi 2018". wtva.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
External links
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Miss World 2022 national titleholders | |
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- Pages with short description
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- Living people
- 1998 births
- American beauty pageant winners
- Miss USA winners
- Miss Universe 2020 contestants
- Miss World 2022 delegates
- People from Detroit
- People from Booneville, Mississippi
- African-American beauty pageant winners