The New Miss USA is Pro-Gun, Pro-Trump, And The First Black Woman to Represent Mississippi At The Pageant

Miss USA, Asya Branch is not only drop dead gorgeous, but she is also highly intelligent and a confident young lady. She has competed both in Miss USA and Miss America pageants. 

Branch, whose father is in jail, has been able to embrace her past and has a platform fighting for children of incarcerated parents. Her passion for criminal justice reform gave her the opportunity to take part in a roundtable with President Trump on the subject. In the competition, she made it clear that she is a supporter of the Second Amendment and encourages gun education and safety.  She also sang the national anthem at a Trump rally. She received backlash for performing at the rally, but she responded to those critics saying that she was “under contractual obligation” to sing at the event and that “…regardless of political beliefs, I find it an honor to be able to sing the national anthem anywhere and it just so happened to be at a Trump rally.” 

Not only is she a Trump supporter and someone who holds conservative values, but she also was the first black woman to represent the state of Mississippi at the Miss USA pageant.   

“As someone who grew up in a home with guns, I learned at an early age how to load, how to fire, and gun safety and I think that [gun] education should be available to everyone.  I think it’s our Second Amendment right. We just need more safety surrounding that,” Branch said in response to a question about gun control. 

Branch also responded to a question about political polarization, stating:

 “We’ve lost trust in the systems that seem to keep our country running, from the media to business to our government. It’s all about restoring that trust and coming together and working together, to heal.”

Miss USA 2017, Kára McCullough, who represented Washington, D.C. received backlash in response to a question on whether healthcare is a privilege or a right.  She responded:

“I’m definitely going to say it’s a privilege.  As a government employee, I’m granted healthcare and I see first hand that for one to have healthcare, you need to have jobs.  We need to continue to cultivate this environment that we’re given the opportunity to have healthcare as well as jobs to all American citizens worldwide.”

Congratulations, Asya for becoming Miss USA. We hope you continue to be an inspiration to young women and the rest of the nation!