Candice Bennatt talks Miss USA

Candice Bennatt, pictured here winning the Miss Louisiana crown last year, tells 225 she can’t wait for the Miss USA pageant in Baton Rouge. Photo courtesy Ryan Miles

This time last year, Miss Louisiana Candice Bennatt wasn’t even sure she would be competing on the state level—let alone for Miss USA.

In her last year of eligibility, the 26-year-old went for the state title last October thanks to the encouragement of friends.

“[Winning Miss Louisiana] was a huge shock,” she says. “I had worked hard, but I had to pinch myself over and over.”

The New Orleans resident had to balance the duties of being Miss Louisiana with her personal life, which currently includes attending Loyola College of Law. There, she is interested in studying patent and trademark law.

“I utilized all the seconds of all the days,” she says.

She is hopeful the work will be worth it. All eyes will be on her and the Capital City this month as the Miss USA pageant returns to the River Center Sunday, July 12.

With the pageant being held in her state, Bennatt is confident in her chances of bringing home the crown. She says the journey so far has been uplifting.

“I’ve never been so supported in my whole life,” she says. “To have random strangers support me with everything from phone calls to text and Facebook messages—it’s so positive. We are definitely going to bring a lot of people to the pageant. Those two weeks when we are all competing will be an incredible experience—one I’ll never forget.” missuniverse.com/missusa