Miss USA Contestants Share Their Most Shocking Wardrobe Malfunctions, from Ripped Dresses to Fake Teeth Falling Out (Exclusive)

While pageant queens rehearse diligently to make sure they’re picture-perfect during a competition, everyone can fall victim to a wardrobe malfunction. Luckily for these Miss USA 2026 hopefuls, they’ve learned a few things from their snafus over the years.

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

Miss USA 2026 is back on Aug. 27 in Miami and, as they prepare to take the stage, contestants are recalling their “most memorable” wardrobe malfunctions

Some women list experiences with ripped dresses, mismatched earrings and makeup stains among the wardrobe malfunctions they’ve had

Many tell PEOPLE that avoiding a wardrobe malfunction isn’t entirely possible, but they emphasize the value of preparation, backup outfits and quick thinking to overcome them when they strike

Despite the countless hours of rehearsals and practice that go into a pageant, there is no amount of preparation that can stop a wardrobe malfunction from happening when you least expect it. Luckily for the contestants gearing up to walk the stage in the 2026 Miss USA competition in Miami, Fla., on Aug. 27, years of experience in the pageant world and other competitive arenas (dance, livestock competitions and more) have caused them to develop creative solutions to even the most devastating wardrobe malfunctions on the fly. Some contestants recall the usual, dreaded dress rip or getting a stain on their garments just before walking on stage, while others open up about the wildest malfunctions that prompted them to start incorporating new preventative methods into their pre-pageant rituals. Other contestants have been lucky to avoid malfunctions throughout their pageant career, but have experienced moments in other parts of their lives or witnessed their fellow pageant contestants step on stage in outfits held together by safety pins and string. Read on to hear some of the contestants’ tellings PEOPLE about their worst malfunctions, and what they learned along the way.

Vivica Lewandowski, Miss Illinois USA

Just days before this year’s Miss Illinois USA pageant competition, current titleholder Vivica Lewandowski was dealing with a wardrobe malfunction of epic proportions. Her dress for the evening gown portion of the pageant ripped all the way down the back while she was trying it on. However, she tells PEOPLE that her skills as a fashion designer helped her immediately solve the problem. “I pulled out my sewing kit, put my seamstress skills to work, added a few extra rhinestones for good measure, and gave my gown a second chance before it ever made it to the stage,” she says. She adds that she felt it was a testament to her personality that she remained “resourceful, creative, and calm under pressure.” “Sometimes confidence isn’t about wearing the perfect gown; it’s about knowing that if it falls apart, you can put it back together,” she says.

Rachel Betterly, Miss Minnesota USA

Rachel Betterley/Instagram

While Lewandowski’s sewing skills saved her during her moment of need, Miss Minnesota USA Rachel Betterley’s wardrobe malfunction taught her something else: “Always, ALWAYS have a backup.” This year, Betterley says she accidentally got makeup on her white swimsuit, a mere five minutes before competing in the preliminary swimsuit competition at state. “After a quick minute of panic, I threw on my backup one and strutted the stage,” she says.

Julia Hatoum, Miss Delaware USA

Julia Hatoum/Instagram

Julia Hatoum was thankfully crowned Miss Delaware USA wearing two matching earrings — but during the swimsuit portion of the pageant, the pageant queen was missing a key component of her outfit, she tells PEOPLE. “In a rush to change into my black evening gown, I stopped changing my earrings halfway through and walked onstage with a blue hoop in one ear and nothing in the other,” she says. “I thought there was no way I would win after such a noticeable and awkward wardrobe mistake, but I pulled myself together, put on my silver earrings, and returned to the stage with confidence for my final look.” “You will be glad to know I was crowned wearing two matching earrings!”

Kaitlyn Humphrey, Miss Arizona USA

Kaitlyn Humphrey/Instagram

Kaitlyn Humphrey recalls a moment from her “first ever pageant” when asked about a memorable malfunction. “My very first pageant, I didn’t place, so I was front row clapping for other contestants,” she remembers. While clapping during the awards ceremony, she got slightly carried away with her celebration. “I clapped with so much excitement my cheap earrings fell right out of my ears and broke on the stage!” she laughs.

Aileen Cerchiara, Miss Florida USA

Aileen Cerchiara/Instagram

“After the 2025 Miss Florida USA pageant, I was still on stage celebrating with my family when one extra-excited hug split the entire back of my gown open,” recalls Sunshine State pageant queen Aileen Cerchiara. “Thankfully, I was wearing a cape, so I wrapped it around myself, kept smiling, and no one seemed to notice. We all had a good laugh afterward, and luckily the dress was repaired!”

Madilynn Becker, Miss Kansas USA

Madilynn Becker/Instagram

Miss Kansas USA Madilynn Becker grew up showing livestock in the 4-H circuit, where youth can show animals like hogs, cows, and, in Becker’s case, lambs. She recalls a moment from her childhood at a 4-H competition. “I had been sitting on the gate of the arena when I jumped off and tore the entire backside of my jeans,” she remembers. “Thankfully we were only 20ish minutes from our house, but I had to rush home and change before the competition.” Used to last-minute quick changes, Becker recalls preliminaries from this year’s state pageant. Three hours before the swimsuit competition portion, Becker decided to change her suit, “I sent my mom out to the mall to find the suit and a few hours later I put it on for the first time to walk onto the stage,” she shares.

Jenna Dykstra, Miss New York USA

Miss New York USA/Instagram

Jenna Dykstra tells PEOPLE that her one necessity she carries in a pageant bag is super glue. As for why, she has this to say: “Remember that one item I always have in my backstage bag? Once I tried wearing fake teeth for a photo shoot and two of them fell out right before I went on set. So I superglued them back into my mouth.” She continues: “Anything to get the shot!” before adding, “Although I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that my dentist approved this solution before I proceeded.”

Jade Kircus, Miss Georgia USA

Jade Kircus/Instagram

Miss Georgia USA’s Jade Kircus was appointed by the Miss USA pageant president on June 30, following the pageant organization’s open casting call, which means that this year’s Miss USA pageant will be her first-ever pageant. While filming and completing her videos for the Miss USA pageant, Kircus recalls one segment that required her to wear a workout outfit. “The store I bought it from forgot to take off the security tag and I didn’t have an alternate outfit so I ended up wearing the tag on my pants the entire time I filmed,” she says. “It was not on the greatest location but we made it work by filming from the side profile and the front.” She echoes Betterly’s advice: “Note to self— always have an extra set of clothes.”

Katarina Lengyel, Miss Jersey USA

Katarina Lengyel/Instagram

While Katarina Lengyel has yet to experience a wardrobe malfunction while competing in a pageant, she used to be a competitive dancer, so she’s been around the block. “When I was a competitive dancer, the halter strap on my costume snapped midroutine,” she says. “I performed half the dance holding my top up with one hand (turns, leaps, and all). Years of training definitely prepared me to smile and keep going!”

Emily Lenser, Miss Nebraska USA

Emily Lenser/Instagram

Emily Lenser’s “most memorable” wardrobe malfunction occurred when the zipper on her evening gown got stuck and would not move one bit before she had to go out on stage. “My mom, backstage staff and other contestants were working together to safety pin me into my dress,” she says.

Holly Plank, Miss Maryland USA

Miss Maryland/Instagram

Holly Plank tells PEOPLE that her pageant wardrobe malfunction brought out one of the best examples of pageantry’s sisterhood that she had seen. “My competition evening gown had a zipper malfunction,” she says. “One of my fellow contestants took a piece of her own dress and made a strap to secure my gown.”

Entertainment

Awards Shows and Events

Beauty Pageants