Nine women hoping to take home this year’s Miss USA title tell PEOPLE about their most intense superstitions and rituals that get them through pageants

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Miss USA Hopefuls Break Down Their Wildest Pre-Pageant Rituals and Superstitions (Exclusive)

Nine women hoping to take home this year’s Miss USA title tell PEOPLE about their most intense superstitions and rituals that get them through pageants

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Tabitha Parent

Published on August 21, 2026 11:00AM EDT

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NEED TO KNOW

• In addition to practicing walks, preparing for interviews and selecting wardrobes, many pageant contestants have pre-show rituals they’ve kept up over the years
• For some, these traditions are grounded in superstitions; others set aside time and activities that help them stay mindful and present before showtime
• PEOPLE polled a number of this year’s Miss USA contestants from across the country to find out what types of pageant-day practices they observe

Those who compete in anything at a high level — sporting events, debates, pageants and beyond — know that sometimes it takes a little bit of the supernatural to get you through a particularly intense competition.

51 women will make their way to Miami next week to compete in the annual Miss USA pageant, with the finale set to take place at 8 p.m. ET on Aug. 27. This year is particularly big for the pageant as it marks its 75th anniversary celebration.

As they gear up for the big competition, delegates from all 50 states and the District of Columbia are taking PEOPLE through the biggest rituals and superstitions that they’ll be partaking in to hopefully eke out a little bit more good luck before the big pageant.

Some women have turned mindfulness practices into traditions on the big day