Channing Pierce Dishes on Donald Trump, Miss USA

When Miss California Alyssa Campanella took the crown at the Miss USA pageant on June 19, Miss Michigan Channing Pierce a former White Lake resident figured she was 1 for 2 and was happy. 

The Miss USA competition in Las Vegas was only the second pageant in which 24-year-old Pierce had ever competed. She won the title of Miss Michigan USA 2011 in Ann Arbor on Sept. 11, 2010 – her first try in the pageant circuit.

"I worked really hard every minute I was in Vegas at Miss USA," she said, "but it was not in the cards for me to win." 

While many of the 51 young women competing had participated in multiple pageants, Pierce said she felt as if she was "still learning was Miss USA was about." She spent nearly two weeks with the other contestants preparing. There were fittings for swimsuits, shoes and the opening number dresses. She did high fashion shoots, on-camera interviews for the Internet, a magazine advertisement for one of the sponsors, a how-to video and went to multiple group appearances with the other contestants. Then there was the paperwork – tons of paperwork.

"Every minute I was in Vegas something was on my schedule. Not one night did I get more than five hours of sleep," Pierce said. 

Meeting Donald Trump

Through it all, Pierce stayed focused on who she was and tried to stand out from the other women when she could. She had her first opportunity to do so when the contestants where flown to New York City for media week and a chance to meet celebrity businessman Donald Trump, who co-owns the Miss USA organization.

Pierce said Trump was exactly what she expected. He "acted just like he does on TV."

"He looked normal. He was the height I imagined he would be and surprisingly his hair didn't look crazy to me," she said. "He seemed really happy, but then why wouldn't a man of that age be happy with 50 beautiful girls in his office all smiling at him and wanting to meet him."

A pageant director told contestants the meeting was their opportunity to make a good first impression on Trump. Pierce was told to think of it as a job interview. While she waited to meet the Celebrity Apprentice star, she worried she would "blow it."

"I watched the other girls. Some of them were cheesy. I wanted to stand out," she said. When it was her turn to meet Trump she blurted out "You kind of remind me of my dad."

Pierce said her remark drew an awkward silence from Trump. After a long pause, he finally posed for a picture with her. As she walked away he said "Tell your dad I said hello."

That one-on-one with Trump was the last contact Pierce had with him. She says she never met any of the celebrity judges.

"At the end of the pageant a lot of the girls went over to the judges and got their picture taken with them," she said. "I went and met with my family." 

Pierce was not disappointed in the loss. She said she was happy to go home and return to her role as Miss Michigan. "The Michigan fans were the loudest of all the fans in Vegas," she boasted.

Best Pageant Advice

Pierce and Rima Fakih of Dearborn, a former Miss Michigan and Miss USA 2010 are longtime friends, having modeled together at many auto shows. Fakih gave Pierce advice on what to wear at the Miss USA pageant.

"It sounds like a little thing, but Rima told me to wear what I feel good in," Pierce said. "All the girls had sparkly clothes and there were times I felt like I should, too, but I chose to wear what I felt comfortable in and stayed true to myself."

While the other girls were bedazzled, Pierce wore secondhand dresses she bought at in Royal Oak.

"One night all the girls looked alike, and I had on a vintage netted dress I bought in Royal Oak," she said. "I have my own style. I made a statement. I was proud."

Pierce has called Royal Oak home for more than three years, which is a long time for her to stay put in one place. She was born in California and her family moved to Alabama when she was 2 years old. After kindergarten, her family moved to White Lake, MI, and then she moved again to Nashville where she went to high school. After graduation she went to Central Michigan University and has lived in Metro Detroit since. She lived briefly in Hamtramck before moving to Royal Oak.