The 23-year-old Miss Kentucky won the coveted crown and sash at this year’s pageant. Here is everything you need to know about the crowned queen Elle Smith.
![Miss USA Winner Elle Smith (8)](https://thousif.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Miss-USA-Winner-Elle-Smith-8.jpg)
Elle Smith finished in the Top 10 of the 2021 Miss Universe pageant.
![Miss USA Winner Elle Smith (9)](https://thousif.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Miss-USA-Winner-Elle-Smith-9.jpg)
Miss USA Elle Smith grew up in Springfield, Ohio.
![Miss USA Winner Elle Smith (10)](https://thousif.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Miss-USA-Winner-Elle-Smith-10.jpg)
Elle participated in choir, orchestra, drama, and volleyball and was an honour student.
![Miss USA Winner Elle Smith (1)](https://thousif.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Miss-USA-Winner-Elle-Smith-1.jpg)
Elle Smith graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2020.
![Miss USA Winner Elle Smith (2)](https://thousif.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Miss-USA-Winner-Elle-Smith-2.jpg)
While at the University of Kentucky, she served as vice president of the school’s National Association of Black Journalists
![Miss USA Winner Elle Smith (3)](https://thousif.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Miss-USA-Winner-Elle-Smith-3.jpg)
She is a broadcast news reporter for WHAS11 in Louisville, Kentucky.
![Miss USA Winner Elle Smith](https://thousif.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Miss-USA-Winner-Elle-Smith-4.jpg)
She competed in her first pageant just six months ago.
![Miss USA Winner Elle Smith (5)](https://thousif.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Miss-USA-Winner-Elle-Smith-5.jpg)
She is the leader of her local National Cervical Cancer Coalition chapter.
![Miss USA Winner Elle Smith (6)](https://thousif.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Miss-USA-Winner-Elle-Smith-6.jpg)
She attributes her success in pageants to her journalism background.
![Miss USA Winner Elle Smith (7)](https://thousif.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Miss-USA-Winner-Elle-Smith-7.jpg)