Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE: Miss USA's first-ever MARRIED contestant gives fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse at what it's REALLY like to compete in the iconic pageant - as she reveals her joy at rule change that FINALLY allowed her to wed her long-time partner
Juliana Morehouse, 24, as the reigning Miss Maine USA 2023, became the first 'Mrs.' to compete in this year's Miss USA pageant after tying the knot with her longtime beau in April
[as originally published on dailymail.co.uk]
Juliana Morehouse, 23, took home the crown for Miss Maine USA 2023
Traditionally, Miss USA contenders weren't allowed to be married or divorced - but that changed thanks to an update to the rules last year
In May 2023, Juliana, as Miss Maine USA, wed her boyfriend, Taylor Locklear
By RACHEL SUMMER SMALL FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
The winner of Miss Maine USA 2023 made history this year as the first Miss USA pageant hopeful to have gotten married prior to the national competition.
Juliana Morehouse, 24, exclusively spoke to DailyMail.com about her experience of the competition, which took place last month in Reno, Nevada.
The reigning Miss Maine USA 2023, who won her crown in November 2022, chose to walk down the aisle in April, knowing that the decision would make her the first 'Mrs.' to compete at the national Miss USA competition in September.
Juliana met her now-husband Taylor, who owns a drywall-installation business out of South Carolina, during her senior year of high school at a Christmas party in 2017.
Not long after, the two began dating - but Juliana's pageant dreams meant putting commitment in the form of marriage on hold, even five years into the happy relationship.
That is, until the rule change.
'We love each other very much, and we did not want to wait any longer to come together in that supernatural union before God,' Juliana emphasized said of marrying her beau once the updated rules went into effect.
In pageant-logic, why does she believe such a long-held stigma was in place when it came to married or divorced contestants?
'I think at its conception, maybe women were not viewed as eligible “bachelorettes” if they were already married,' reasoned Juliana.
'However as the pageant has evolved, it took note from our culture. There is this idea that women must accomplish certain things before they get married… READ FULL ARTICLE HERE