Miss North Carolina USA, Chelsea Cooley, was chosen as as Miss USA 2005.

She participated in the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand at the end of May.

Ms. Cooley is a 21 year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina who is currently studying fashion marketing at the Art Institute of Charlotte.

Access Hollywood co-hosts Nancy O'Dell and Billy Bush, hosted the live telecast from the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland. Celebrity Judges for the Pageant included: CoverGirl supermodel and star of NBC's Las Vegas Molly Sims, Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer Michael Phelps, world-renowned beauty expert and style guru Frederic Fekkai, famed fashion designer Pamela Dennis, legendary boxer and host of NBC's The Contender, Sugar Ray Leonard, notorious ladies man Raj Bhakta from Season Two of The Apprentice, Model Nicola Breytenbach, Brody Hutzler from NBC's Days of Our Lives, President of Trump Model Management Jon Tutolo and Robin Himmler, Executive Assistant to Mr. Donald Trump.

Throughout the two-hour event, the contestants competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. During these competitions the Top Five finalists were selected before the crowning. Shandi Finnessey, Miss USA 2004, crowned her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast, before an estimated worldwide viewing audience of more than 250 million.

First Runner Up: Miss California USA, Brittany Hogan, will assume the duties of Miss USA 2005 if the titleholder is named Miss UNIVERSE 2005, or for some reason cannot fulfill her responsibilities.

Second Runner Up: Miss Kentucky USA, Kristen Lynn Johnson.

Rest of Top Five: Miss Florida USA, Melissa Witek and Miss Illinois USA, Jill Gulseth.

Rest of Top Ten: Miss Maryland USA, Marina Harrison; Miss Mississippi USA, Jennifer Adcock; Miss New York USA, Meaghan Jarensky; Miss Oklahoma USA, Laci Scott; Miss Pennsylvania USA, Brenda K. Brabham.

Miss Photogenic Award: Miss Texas USA, Tyler Willis. The delegate who exemplifies beauty through the lens of a camera.

Congeniality Award: Miss Wisconsin USA, Melissa Young. The award reflects the respect and admiration of the delegate's peers, who voted for her as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant.

Sponsors of Miss USA 2005 include: CoverGirl Cosmetics, Official Cosmetics sponsor; The School for Film and Television; Preciosa Crystal, Official Crystal Award; Tadashi Fashions, Official Fashion sponsor; Mikimoto, Official Jewelry sponsor; American Airlines; Steve Madden, Official Fashion Footwear; Suzuki, Official Automobile sponsor; and Farouk Systems, Official Haircare sponsor and Mystic Tan.