Shelby Ann Howell of Bangor is the new Miss Maine USA in the two-day competition, which concluded Sunday at the Holiday Inn By The Bay in Portland.
The pageant drew outsize attention because of two noteworthy contestants.
Jordan Hudson, the girlfriend of former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, finished third after coming in second last year.
Isabelle Saint Cyr made the top 10 finalists before being eliminated as the first-ever transgender contestant to compete at Miss Maine USA.
Belichick was in Portland and attended both days of the competition.
The Press Herald reports that national media coverage was unprecedented for the pageant, with about 200 reporters from outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, People Magazine and New York Magazine.
