Miss USA Contestant Causes a Stir During Prelims

In a moment that stunned viewers and spread rapidly across social media, the 22-year-old contestant vying for the Miss USA crown did something no woman had ever dared to do before on that stage.

Strutting in a silver gown fit for a queen, Mary Sickler pulled off her wig — revealing the reality of her battle with alopecia universalis — and instantly cemented her place in pageant history. This wasn't just a beauty pageant. It was a reckoning.

The Bold Wig Reveal That Electrified the Pageant World

The Miss Nevada USA titleholder didn't just compete in the 74th Miss USA preliminary competition on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 — she made unforgettable history in Reno, Nevada.

With the world watching, Sickler revealed a glistening, silver-bejeweled head wrap in place of hair. The daring move — accompanied by a shimmering gown with intricate beading and a sweeping train — was an instant showstopper. And the world took notice.

People magazine first broke the news on October 23, spotlighting her bravery in embracing every aspect of her appearance on one of the most scrutinized stages in America.

"I lost all my hair, and I definitely didn't think that I would be walking on the Miss USA stage without any hair, but I am," Sickler confessed. "It took me a long time to finally be able to see myself as beautiful, and I think that's the first step. I think if you see yourself as beautiful and you own it, then other people will too." Her message was heard loud and clear.

'She Deserves to Win 🏆': Fans Left Breathless by Powerful Walk

As footage of the walk went viral, fans flooded social media with praise and tears. One viewer gushed, "She deserves to win 🏆." Another commenter divulged, "This has got to be one of the most gorgeous women to ever compete in miss USA, my mouth is to the floor [sic]."

The tributes kept rolling in. One netizen quipped, "WOW what a statement!🥹💗 now she has to win Miss USA [sic]!" And perhaps the boldest prediction of all was, "@missnvusa will be Miss Universe! Her heart, mind, and soul are in the right place. There has never been anyone more perfect for the job."

From Secrets and Wigs to Strength and Spotlight

Sickler's road to that moment wasn't paved in rhinestones — it was layered with fear, silence, and painstaking prep. After revealing her diagnosis on social media in September 2025, she became the first publicly diagnosed woman with alopecia universalis to step onto the Miss USA stage.

But before she could shine in her truth, she had to hide in shadows. "I knew if I talked about it in the interview room, I would cry, and that wasn't the message that I wanted to send," she told People. "I wanted to send that I was strong, so I decided not to tell anyone."

Through three state-level pageants, she glued on lace wigs, wore bonnets to bed, and layered false lashes just to maintain the illusion. It was exhausting. And heartbreaking.

The emotional weight of secrecy was heavy, but her perspective shifted. "I finally felt like I was stepping up and stepping into the woman who I used to be, but an even better woman now," she revealed. "I was still that same girl, but I was better."

'My Confidence Is Not Defined by Hair'

As the national competition loomed, Sickler turned to social media to inspire others — not just with her looks, but with her words.

On September 12, a post from the Miss Nevada USA Instagram account featured a powerful caption from Sickler herself. "I am proud to be the first woman who embraces having alopecia universalis to walk the Miss USA stage. My confidence is not defined by hair, but by the woman I am and the values I stand for."

She added, "True beauty is never about what you lose; it's about the love, strength, and resilience you gain along the way."

On the eve of her final walk, she wrote again, "Tonight I will not only be praying for myself, but for all of my fellow Miss USA sisters, as we grace the stage tomorrow representing our states with confidence and radiance."

Another image showed her smiling alongside Miss Florida, Miss Texas, and Miss Maine, celebrating not just competition — but community.

The Pageant World Is Changing — And She's Leading the Charge

Sickler's defining moment comes amid a wave of reform within the Miss USA organization. Since 2024, the age cap has been lifted, welcoming women 18 and older — with no upper age limit. In 2023, bans were removed for married women and those with reality TV pasts. Yet, the pressures remain intense.

"You can't have visitors, and you aren't allowed to leave your room," Miss Ohio contestant Hannah Klein told People — revealing the isolating reality behind the glitz.

Her voice, once quieted by fear, is now amplified by purpose. As she prepares for the final round, Sickler continues to embody grace and grit. "[The] best is yet to come..." she penned — a simple phrase that now carries the weight of a life reclaimed, a dream reignited, and a new standard of beauty boldly redefined.