The United States has a new beauty leader now and guess who is it? She is none other than Asya Branch, a Mississippian beauty, who mentioned that she wants to be the first Mississippian to win the Miss USA title. Branch, who currently resides in Booneville won the title during the 2020 competition at Elvis Presley's Graceland.
Asya Branch after winning Miss USA Title (©: thedailybeast.com)
It is the second time that Asya Branch made a record. Previously, she became the first African American woman to win the Miss Mississippi USA title back in 2018. The title of Miss USA came nearly after a year from her victory as Miss Mississippi as the beauty pageant got postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The pageant was previously scheduled for Spring 2020.
Asya Branch (©: HollywoodLife)
Speaking about her win, Branch mentioned:
"I told my mom if I win Miss USA, I would have made history twice. It's been 10 years since Mississippi made it to the top 15 at Miss USA. I'm hoping to revise that cycle and bring the crown back home to Mississippi."
During the finals, Branch explained her views on gun laws stating:
"As someone who grew up in a home with guns, I learned at an early age how to load, how to fire and gun safety," Branch said. "And I think that education should be available to everyone. I believe that we should require people to pass training and safety courses before they are allowed to purchase a gun and before receiving a permit. I think it’s important that we not ban guns because, obviously, people will find a way to get they want anyway. But, I think it’s our Second Amendment right and we just need more safety surrounding that."
Asya Branch got crowned by her predecessor, Miss USA 2019 Chelsie Kryst. Behind her, Miss Idaho USA Kim Layne became the first-runner up while Miss Oklahoma USA Mariah Jane Davis got crowned as the second-runner up.
Who Is Asya Branch?
Asya Branch, age 23, is the 69th Miss USA of the United States. She was born in 1998 in Michigan and her birthday is on 5 March. Branch is the daughter of A. T. Branch and Kristal Branch, who moved to Booneville, Mississippi from Michigan in 2003. Her dad is imprisoned back in 2010 and is set to get released in 2022.
Although Branch won Miss Mississippi back in 2018 on June 23 at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi, she got unplaced in Miss America 2019. However, she won the Quality of Life awards.
Currently, she is pursuing her senior academics at the University of Mississippi, where she is studying broadcast journalism.