Key Takeaways
- The CW will not air Miss USA or Miss Teen USA in Miami for the first time since 1965.
- The pageants will now stream on Queen Beauty Network, moving from The CW’s lineup.
- A contractual dispute between The CW and the Miss USA Organization prevented the live broadcast.
- The Miss USA Organization plans to continue its partnership with Queen Beauty Network and remains open to future collaborations.
Network Decision
The CW announced that it will no longer broadcast the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants scheduled for August 26‑27, 2026. Both events, originally set to air on the network in Miami, will instead be streamed exclusively on Queen Beauty Network from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET on their respective nights. The abrupt shift came just days before the competitions were due to begin, leaving fans and contestants without the planned television coverage.
Contractual Conflict
In an official statement shared with USA TODAY, The CW said it had “after careful consideration and conversations with the Miss USA Organization… decided to forego next week’s broadcasts.” While the statement expressed goodwill toward the organization and its contestants, it offered no detailed rationale for pulling the pageants. Earlier in the year, The CW had secured a three‑year deal to air the pageants in 2023 and 2024, but an unresolved contractual issue emerged just months before the 2025 events were slated to air.
Pageant Turmoil
The tension behind the scenes intensified after the May 2024 resignations of Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava. Their mothers publicly accused pageant organizers of abuse and bullying, which prompted a halt to televised coverage for the first time since 1965. The resignations placed additional scrutiny on the Miss USA Organization’s handling of participant welfare and raised questions about its production agreements with broadcasters.
Previous Broadcast Agreements
According to Deadline, The CW entered a multi‑year agreement with BDE Miss USA, the licensing entity for the pageants, in June 2025. At that time, Heather Olander, The CW’s head of entertainment programming, praised the competitions as “the spectacle, heart, and aspiration that resonates with viewers across the country,” emphasizing that Miss USA would mark its historic 75th anniversary on the network. Despite this enthusiasm, the partnership dissolved when the parties could not reconcile differences over production terms and scheduling.
Future Partnerships
Both The CW and the Miss USA Organization signaled a willingness to collaborate again in the future. The Miss USA Organization told USA TODAY it is “so excited” for its ongoing partnership with Queen Beauty Network and remains open to new opportunities with The CW. The organization’s Instagram Stories highlighted a focus on resolving the contractual issue and exploring options that would allow a live broadcast in subsequent years, while The CW’s statement affirmed its continued respect for the pageants’ legacy.
Industry Implications
The sudden loss of a high‑profile event like Miss USA underscores the fragility of network‑pageant relationships in an increasingly fragmented media environment. With streaming platforms like Queen Beauty Network gaining prominence, traditional broadcast agreements may be more susceptible to renegotiations and disputes. Industry analysts note that the shift could also reflect a broader trend of advertisers and viewers migrating toward on‑demand content, compelling networks to reassess the value proposition of live event programming.
Public Reaction
Fans of the pageants have expressed disappointment on social media, lamenting the absence of a televised ceremony that traditionally draws millions of viewers each year. Meanwhile, advocacy groups focused on pageant participant welfare have used the controversy to spotlight the need for stronger safeguards and transparency within beauty‑pageant organizations. The episode has sparked renewed calls for independent oversight and better contractual protections for contestants.
Conclusion
The CW’s decision to drop the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants from its schedule marks a watershed moment in broadcast television history. While the network cited an unresolved contractual issue as the primary cause, the underlying tensions—rooted in organizational resignations, allegations of abuse, and shifting media dynamics—reveal a complex landscape. As both parties navigate the fallout, the industry watches closely to see whether a renewed partnership can emerge, and how future pageant broadcasts will be structured in an era dominated by streaming platforms.