Melissa McConnell
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Melissa McConnell (born 1978) is a beauty queen who has held the title Miss Louisiana USA and has competed at Miss USA.
McConnell, who hails from Ruston, Louisiana, is an experience pageant contestant. She had placed in the semi-finals in the 2001 pageant, increased her position to third runner-up in the 2002 pageant and came close to winning the title in 2003 when she placed first runner up to Brittney Rogers of Shreveport. Rogers would later go on to compete in The Amazing Race 9.
The 2004 pageant, held at Lafayette's Heymann Performing Arts Theater in October 2003, was McConnell's last possible attempt because of the age restriction imposed by the Miss Universe Organization. On her fourth attempt, she finally won the Miss Louisiana USA title.
McConnell represented Louisiana in the nationally televised Miss USA 2004 pageant broadcast live from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California on 12 April 2004, but failed to place. The pageant was won by Shandi Finnessey of Missouri.
McConnell graduated from Ruston High School in 1995 and went on to complete a Bachelors degree in journalism from Texas A&M University in 1999. She then returned to Louisiana, where she attended Louisiana State University and completed her Juris Doctorate and Civil Law degree, passing her bar exam on her first attempt. She is currently working as an attorney. Her favourite movie is Legally Blonde, a film staring Reese Witherspoon about a ditzy Californian who earned a law degree from Harvard University.
In 1994 McConnell established the Hope Empowers and Renews Others award to recognize and encourage ordinary people who reach out in love and service in an extraordinary manner. During her reign as Miss Louisiana USA, she awarded this honour to one special Louisianian every month.
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| Preceded by: Brittney Rogers |
Miss Louisiana USA 2004 |
Succeeded by: Candice Stewart |
| Miss USA 2004 | State Delegates |
|---|
| KS: Lisa Forbes | LA: Melissa McConnell | MA: Maria Lekkakos | MO: Shandi Finnessey | NE: Guerin Austin | NJ: Janaye Ingram | NY: Jaclyn Nesheiwat | OR: Jennifer Murphy | SC: Amanda Pennekamp | TN: Stephanie Culberson | VA: Kristi Glakas |
