| Miss USA 1998 |
On March 10, 1998, in Shreveport, La., Shawnae Jebbia became the first
contestant from Massachusetts ever to win the Miss USA title. Ms. Jebbia, host of a
nationally televised fitness program, edged Shauna Gambill of California,
a former Miss Teen USA.
The second runner-up was Melanie Breedlove of Missouri. Other finalists were Holly Mills of Texas and Melissa Leigh Anderson of Utah. The other semifinalists were Johnelle Ryan of Michigan, Debbie Delhomme of Louisiana, Natasha Vantramp of Washington state, Meredith Blankenship of Virginia and Stacey Kole of Arizona. Vera Morris of North Carolina was Miss Congeniality, and Sonja Glenn of South Carolina was chosen Miss Photogenic. Ms. Jebbia, previously known for her success in swimsuit contests, won the swimsuit category The pageant was held roughly a month later than normal to avoid television conflicts with the Winter Olympics,and unlike in the previous year, owner Donald Trump kept a generally low profile. The event, billed as totally revamped, was heavy on various types of question-and-answer sessions. This led to a post-pageant controversy. Ms. Gambill gained a strong following in the audience with her answers, and some of her admirers protested publicly that she had been "robbed." Some people in the business were quoted by name on the issue. But there was no discord between the contestants themselves.
Ms. Jebbia weathered the uproar well, and soon
became a popular queen. She finished in the Top
10 at the Miss Universe Pageant in Hawaii in
May. (Ms. Gambill, who later gained a separate
title, Miss World USA, made the Top 10 at the
Miss World Pageant in the Seychelles in
November.)
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