Conner represented Kentucky during the nationally televised Miss USA 2006 pageant in Baltimore , Maryland on April 21 , 2006 . Making the semi-finals , she became the 18th woman to place at both Miss Teen USA and Miss USA . She competed in the official BSC Swimwear Thailand for the swimsuit competition and made the top ten , where she competed in the evening gown competition , wearing a specially designed gown by Sherri Hill . Conner then made the top five and completed the final interview round . Prior to the announcement of the winner , Conner and her eventual first runner-up Tamiko Nash shared a long embrace , whilst Conner whispered to Nash . An E! special later revealed that Conner , believing Nash had won , was wishing her luck for her reign as Miss USA and her participation at Miss Universe . The traditional statement read before the announcement of the new titleholder , which declares that " if , for any reason the new titleholder can not fulfill her reign , the 1st Runner-up will take over " , later become pertinent following the scandal surrounding Conner in December . Conner eventually won the Miss USA title , the first woman from Kentucky to do so . She was crowned by previous titleholder Chelsea Cooley , from North Carolina . Conner was the fourth former Miss Teen USA state titleholder to win the Miss USA crown since 2000 , one of whom was Cooley , who was Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2000
Miss USA 2006
Miss USA 2006
Tara Conner