By Brett Campbell

The Daily Leader

Miss Mississippi Teen USA Addie Carver made the Top 5 in the finals for Miss Teen USA. The field of 51 candidates was first narrowed during the live broadcast Thursday night to the Top 20 — Nebraska, Illinois, District of Columbia, Maryland, Texas, South Dakota, Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Utah, Arizona, Montana, and New York. The Top 20 were selected primarily due to scores from preliminary competitions in which all 51 contestants participated.

After the Top 20 were named live near the beginning of the televised event, each contestant walked across the stage in active wear consisting of a sports tank top, black exercise pants and white athletic shoes. Contestants were judged based on criteria such as fitness and stage presence. The contestants participated in a state-pride costume contest, recorded earlier. Clips from the event showed Carver’s costume was black and featured wings and a crown.

Next, the hosts announced the judges’ picks for Top 10, who move on to the evening gown portion. They were, in order announced: Arizona, Alabama, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kansas, Maryland, Arkansas, Georgia, and Illinois. Carver wore a white gown with gold accents in the evening gown competition, after which judges narrowed the field down to the Top 5. The top five were: West Virginia’s Olivia Travis, Tennessee’s Townsend Blackwell, Georgia’s Ava Colindres, Arizona’s Rachael Mclaen, and Mississippi’s Addie Carver.