Placements ∞ Lee won Miss Universe 1997. Due to protocol, Lee resigns her title as Miss USA 1997. 1st runner-up, Brandi Sherwood, replaces her as Miss USA. Special awards Miss Congeniality - Napiera Groves (District of Columbia) Miss Photogenic - Audra Wilks (Virginia) Best in Swimsuit - Angelia Savage (Florida) Historical significance Hawaii wins competition for the fourth time. Idaho earns the 1st runner-up position for the first time and surpasses its previous highest placement in 1964. Also it became the 25th state who wins the Miss USA title for the first time. She finished as 1st runner-up, but succeeded as Miss USA 1997 after Brook Lee became Miss Universe. Tennessee earns the 2nd runner-up position for the fourth time and repeats the same position as the last year 1996. Florida finishes as Top 6 for the second time. The last time it placed this was in 1995. Texas finishes as Top 6 for the second time. The last time it placed this was in 1994. Also it reached its highest placement since Chelsi Smith won in 1995. Ironically, Smith went on to win the Miss Universe title in 1995. Utah finishes as Top 6 for the first time and reaches its highest placement since 1982. States that placed in semifinals the previous year were Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. Texas placed for the sixth consecutive year. Oklahoma placed for the third consecutive year. Tennessee and Utah made their second consecutive placement. Florida and Rhode Island last placed in 1995. Hawaii last placed in 1994. New Jersey last placed in 1993. Alabama last placed in 1992. Idaho last placed in 1964. Illinois and Louisiana break an ongoing streak of placements since 1994. Scores Preliminary competition The following are the contestants' scores in the preliminary competition. Winner First runner-up Second runner-up Top 6 Finalist Top 10 Semifinalist Final competition Winner First runner-up Second runner-up Top 6 Finalist Delegates The Miss USA 1997 delegates were: Alabama – Autumn Smith Alaska – Rea Bavilla Arizona – Jessica Shahriari Arkansas – Tamara Henry California – Alisa Kimble Colorado – Damien Muñoz Connecticut – Christine Pavone Delaware – Patricia Gauani District of Columbia – Napiera Groves Florida – Angelia Savage Georgia – Denesha Reid Hawaii – Brook Lee Idaho – Brandi Sherwood Illinois – Jennifer Celenas Indiana – Tricia Nosko Iowa – Shawn Marie Brogan Kansas – Kathryn Taylor Kentucky – Rachyl Hoskins Louisiana –