Tonight, 51 Beauty Queens Will Battle

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Beauty queens from every U.S. state and the District of Columbia are vying for the crown, each hoping to be named Miss USA.

Participants parade onstage during the 2014 Miss USA preliminary competition in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Reigning queen Erin Brady, of South Glastonbury, Connecticut, is to relinquish her crown Sunday evening when her successor is chosen in a competition in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Miss USA 2013 Erin Brady walks onstage to participate in the 2014 Miss USA preliminary competition in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Contestants will be cut from 51 to 15 after the three-hour broadcast opens at 8 p.m. EDT, based on competitions and interviews conducted in recent days. Remaining contestants will be judged in swimsuit, evening gown and interview competitions.

Contestants participate in the bathing suit competition during the 2014 Miss USA preliminary competition in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, June 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

The winner of the 63rd Miss USA title will represent the U.S. at the Miss Universe competition later this year. Brady has said she worked hard during her tenure to break stereotypes about pageants and the women who compete in them.

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