After Donald Trump's making declarations against Mexican immigrants during his announcement to be President of the United States, a big controversy resulted in Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza announcing she was not going to participate due to her offense at the comments. Likewise Colombian reggaeton singer J Balvin, Chilean actor Cristián de la Fuente and Puerto Rican actress Roselyn Sanchez resigned as performers and presenters of the show.
Delaware placed for the first time in the pageant's history. As the last state to officially earn a Miss USA placement, what is known in pageant circles as the "Delaware Curse" finally ends.
Miss Congeniality award results in a tie for the third time in pageant's history, following Miss USA 1965 and Miss USA 1976. In the pageant final; however, Todd Newton mistakenly referred this year's results as the first time to have a tie for the Miss Congeniality award.
Oklahoma won this year's competition for the first time.