Ole Miss senior Courtney Byrd will compete for the title of Miss USA 2015 in the Miss USA Pageant on July 12 at the Baton Rouge River Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The pageant will air live at 7 p.m. on NBC.
Once arriving in Baton Rouge, Byrd and 50 other state and District of Columbia representatives will take part in a series of rehearsals, interviews and gown fittings.
The semi-finalists will compete live on NBC in the categories of swimwear and formal wear. The top five contestants will participate in a question and answer competition. The winner of the Miss USA Pageant will go on to compete in the Miss Universe Pageant.
Byrd, 23, studies marketing. According to her biography, Byrd grew up with a passion for fine arts, including singing, dance, playing percussion, acting and art. She is also interested in fitness, nutrition and Ole Miss sports. She would like to one day backpack Europe and open her own health and wellness store.
Byrd is the daughter of Joe and Anita Jo Byrd of Tennessee.
Beth Harmon is managing editor for HottyToddy.com. Email her at beth.harmon@hottytoddy.com
