In late 2005 , Almonte competed in the Miss New York USA 2006 pageant for the first time , placing in the Top 15 . The following year she won the 2007 title , becoming the fifth former Miss Teen USA delegate to win the pageant . Almonte succeeded Adriana Diaz , a fellow native of The Bronx , who also held the title Miss New York Teen USA and competed in Miss Teen USA 2003 . Almonte competed in the Miss USA 2007 pageant , broadcast live from the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles , California on March 23 , 2007 , but failed to place . The pageant was won by Miss Tennessee USA , Rachel Smith , who was also Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2002 and placed in the Top 10 of the Miss Teen USA 2002 pageant . Almonte was similar to Miss Georgia Teen USA 1991 , Meredith Young , who placed 1st Runner-Up at Miss Teen USA 1991 and later won the Miss Georgia USA 1999 crown but failed to placed at Miss USA 1999
Miss USA 1999
Miss USA 1999
Gloria Almonte