In 2003 , just a year after passing on her Teen crown , Stewart returned to the Louisiana pageant stage , placing first runner-up to Melissa McConnell in the Miss Louisiana USA 2004 pageant . She won the pageant the following year , on her second attempt , and was the first African American woman to win this title . In April 2005 , Stewart competed in the Miss USA 2005 pageant televised live from Baltimore , Maryland . The pageant was won by Chelsea Cooley of North Carolina , who had been Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2000 . Stewart was a speech pathology major at Xavier University and was once a dancer for the New Orleans Saints . She was due to give up her crown in November 2005 , but the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in her state meant the pageant was postponed until January 2006 . Her successor was Christina Cuenca of Arabi , who had placed in both years Stewart had competed
Miss USA 2005
Miss USA 2005
Candice Stewart