{{short description|Miss USA 2020}} {{Infobox pageant titleholder | image = | caption = | name = Asya Branch | alma_mater = University of Mississippi (BA) | title = {{ubl|Miss Mississippi 2018|Miss Mississippi USA 2020|Miss USA 2020}} | nationalcompetition = {{ubl|Miss Mississippi 2018|(Winner)|Miss America 2019|(Unplaced)|Miss Mississippi USA 2020|(Winner)|Miss USA 2020|(Winner)|Miss Universe 2020|(Top 21)}} | birth_name = Asya Danielle Branch | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | occupation = Student | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|5|5}} | height = 5 feet 5 inches<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-11-10|title=Who is Asya Branch? Father, height and age of Miss USA 2020!|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/11/10/asya-branch-father/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-27|website=HITC|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123194136/https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/11/10/asya-branch-father/ |archive-date=2020-11-23 }}</ref> | eye_color = Brown<ref name="port">{{cite web |title=Asya Branch |url=https://www.nymmg.com/portfolios/asya-branch/digitals |website=MMG |access-date=13 November 2023 |archive-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114035702/https://www.nymmg.com/portfolios/asya-branch/digitals |url-status=live }}</ref> | hair_color = Brown<ref name="port"/> | years_active = 2018–present }}
'''Asya Danielle Branch''' (born May 5, 1998) is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2020 and represented her country at Miss Universe 2020 where she reached in the top 21.
== Early life == Asya Danielle Branch was born in Detroit, Michigan,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mississippi's Asya Branch Is the New Miss USA|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/mississippis-asya-branch-miss-usa-132006295.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-27|website=Yahoo|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111130517/https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/mississippis-asya-branch-miss-usa-132006295.html |archive-date=2020-11-11 }}</ref> to African American parents and is the sixth child of eight siblings.
Branch grew up as the child of an incarcerated parent, and now advocates for prison reform.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-10 |title=Miss USA 2020: 5 Things to Know About Miss Mississippi Asya Branch |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1206685/miss-usa-2020-5-things-to-know-about-miss-mississippi-asya-branch |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=E! Online |archive-date=2022-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127175648/https://www.eonline.com/news/1206685/miss-usa-2020-5-things-to-know-about-miss-mississippi-asya-branch |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, while she was Miss Mississippi, she was part of a criminal justice reform roundtable at the White House with Donald Trump and Jared Kushner.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Konstantinides |first=Anneta |title=New Miss USA Asya Branch said she was contractually obligated to sing at a Trump rally while she was Miss Mississippi |url=https://www.insider.com/miss-usa-asya-branch-sang-2018-trump-rally-under-contract-2020-11 |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216100254/https://www.insider.com/miss-usa-asya-branch-sang-2018-trump-rally-under-contract-2020-11 |url-status=live }}</ref> She also sang the national anthem at a rally for Donald Trump that same year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-10 |title=Miss USA Asya Branch: 'You Don't Have to Look Like the Person That Came Before You to Accomplish a Goal' |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/asya-branch-is-the-new-miss-usa |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=Glamour |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126161356/https://www.glamour.com/story/asya-branch-is-the-new-miss-usa |url-status=live}}</ref>
Drawing inspiration from her personal experiences, particularly the incarceration of her father, a devout man, when she was just 10 years old, she utilized her title to advocate for the children facing similar situations. Motivated by the absence of her father during a significant part of her formative years, she established the Finding Your Way initiative, aimed at empowering children with incarcerated parents.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leveridge |first=Brett |date=2019-03-06 |title=Asya Branch's Mission to Inspire Children of Incarcerated Parents |url=https://guideposts.org/inspiring-stories/people-helping-people/asya-branchs-mission-to-inspire-children-of-incarcerated-parents/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=Guideposts |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114193914/https://guideposts.org/inspiring-stories/people-helping-people/asya-branchs-mission-to-inspire-children-of-incarcerated-parents/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Education == Branch's family moved to Booneville, Mississippi the summer before she started kindergarten.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CROWN JEWEL Asya Branch |url=https://lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.comhttps//lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.com/article/CROWN+JEWEL+Asya+Branch/4196036/735072/article.html |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.comhttps |language=en-US}}</ref> After graduating from Booneville High School, Branch moved to Oxford, Mississippi, to attend the University of Mississippi. She graduated from the School of Journalism and New Media with a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications with an emphasis in Public relations and a minor in General Business.<ref>{{Cite web |title=School of Journalism and New Media {{!}} Asya Branch |url=https://jnm.olemiss.edu/tag/asya-branch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130041032/https://jnm.olemiss.edu/tag/asya-branch/ |archive-date=2020-11-30 |access-date=2021-03-05 |website=jnm.olemiss.edu}}</ref> She has said she that she hopes to work for a public relations firm or major corporation.<ref>{{cite web |title=IMC student Asya Branch crowned Miss USA {{!}} Journalism & New Media {{!}} Ole Miss |url=https://jnm.olemiss.edu/2020/11/09/university-of-mississippi-school-of-journalism-and-new-media-imc-student-asya-branch-crowned-miss-usa/ |website=School of Journalism and New Media |access-date=15 November 2023 |date=10 November 2020 |archive-date=15 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115091840/https://jnm.olemiss.edu/2020/11/09/university-of-mississippi-school-of-journalism-and-new-media-imc-student-asya-branch-crowned-miss-usa/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Pageantry== Branch won her first pageant, Miss Historic Crossroads, in 2016.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |last=Henderson |first=Sarah |date=2018-07-05 |title=Ole Miss student Asya Branch begins preparation for Miss America competition |url=https://thedmonline.com/ole-miss-student-asya-branch-begins-preparation-for-miss-america-competition/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=The Daily Mississippian |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114152123/https://thedmonline.com/ole-miss-student-asya-branch-begins-preparation-for-miss-america-competition/ |url-status=live }}</ref> That same year, she competed in Miss Mississippi reaching 11th place.<ref name="auto2"/> In 2017, she competed in Miss Mississippi as Miss All-America City,<ref name="auto2"/> where she was named fourth alternate.<ref name="auto2"/> Branch went on to win Miss Mississippi 2018, and then to Miss America 2019 where she was unplaced.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miss Tupelo Crowned Miss Mississippi 2018 |url=https://www.wtva.com/templates/AMP?contentID=486377101 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115222914/https://www.wtva.com/templates/AMP?contentID=486377101 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |access-date=10 November 2020 |newspaper=wtva.com}}</ref>
As Miss Mississippi USA, Branch represented Mississippi at Miss USA 2020, becoming the first Mississippi representative to win Miss USA,<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Rowe |first=Keisha |title=Mississippi's Asya Branch could make history again with win at Miss Universe competition |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2021/05/13/miss-usa-asya-branch-compete-miss-universe-pageant-how-to-watch/5021793001/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=The Clarion-Ledger |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216100254/https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2021/05/13/miss-usa-asya-branch-compete-miss-universe-pageant-how-to-watch/5021793001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss Mississippi USA.<ref name="auto1"/> Originally scheduled for the spring of 2020, the Miss USA 2020 competition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and later held on November 9, 2020, at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. She competed in finals and reached the semifinals in the state for the first time since 2010, where she was crowned winner by outgoing titleholder Cheslie Kryst.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://meaww.com/miss-usa-2020-winner-asya-branch-from-mississipi-how-she-overcame-childhood-struggles-black|title=Miss USA 2020 Winner: Who's Asya Branch from Mississippi? Here's how she overcame tough childhood to win pageants|website=meaww.com|access-date=10 November 2020|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116084652/https://meaww.com/miss-usa-2020-winner-asya-branch-from-mississipi-how-she-overcame-childhood-struggles-black|url-status=live}}</ref>
In May 2021, Branch represented the United States at Miss Universe 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-10 |title=Miss Mississippi Asya Branch Crowned Miss USA 2020 |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1206620/miss-mississippi-asya-branch-crowned-miss-usa-2020 |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=E! Online |archive-date=2020-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116022907/https://www.eonline.com/news/1206620/miss-mississippi-asya-branch-crowned-miss-usa-2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Florida. Her national costume was based on a northern mockingbird, a state symbol of her home state of Mississippi. Out of 74 competitors, Branch was placed in the top 21.<ref>{{Citation |title=Miss Universe 2020 - Top 21 (HD) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNgwL6c-Mqw |access-date=2023-11-14 |language=en |archive-date=2023-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114035704/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNgwL6c-Mqw |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 29, 2021, she crowned her successor Elle Smith of Kentucky as Miss USA 2021 at the Paradise Cove Theater of the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Colurso |first=Mary |date=2021-11-30 |title=Miss USA 2021: Miss Kentucky USA takes the crown |url=https://www.al.com/life/2021/11/miss-usa-2021-miss-kentucky-usa-takes-the-crown.html |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=al |language=en |archive-date=2023-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114035701/https://www.al.com/life/2021/11/miss-usa-2021-miss-kentucky-usa-takes-the-crown.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Life after pageantry == After competing in Miss Universe, Branch launched an initiative called “Finding Your Way: Empowering Children of Incarcerated Parents”,<ref>{{Cite web |last=West |first=Megan |date=2018-09-07 |title=Miss Mississippi's experience drives her to help children with a parent in prison |url=https://www.wapt.com/article/miss-mississippis-experience-drives-her-to-help-children-with-a-parent-in-prison/23030697 |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=WAPT |language=en |archive-date=2023-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110020354/https://www.wapt.com/article/miss-mississippis-experience-drives-her-to-help-children-with-a-parent-in-prison/23030697 |url-status=live }}</ref> which aims to help families of incarcerated individuals.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2020-11-13 |title=Miss USA Asya Branch wants to use her crown to fight for prison reform - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/miss-usa-asya-branch-prison-criminal-justice-reform/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110020356/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/miss-usa-asya-branch-prison-criminal-justice-reform/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Part of this was "Love letters",<ref name=":0" /> which aims to increase communications between incarcerated family members and their children by donating stationery to inmates so they can communicate with their family.<ref name=":0" /> Branch said the program enabled an inmate to reconnect with her estranged son and that these stories show the success of the program.<ref name=":0" /> She hopes to bring her "Love letters" initiative nationwide and continus advocating for the dissolution of mandatory sentencing.<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{reflist}}
<!-- WP:NOSOCIAL --> ==External links==
{{S-start}} {{S-ach}} {{succession box | before = Anne Elizabeth Buys | title = {{nowrap|Miss Mississippi}} | years = 2018 | after = Mary Margaret Hyer }} {{succession box | before = Madeleine Overby | title = {{nowrap|Miss Mississippi USA}} | years = 2020 | after = Bailey Anderson }} {{succession box | before =Cheslie Kryst, North Carolina | title = Miss USA | years = 2020 | after = Elle Smith, Kentucky }}
{{S-end}}
{{Miss USA titleholders}} {{Miss USA 2020 delegates}} {{Miss Universe Organization titleholders |Year = 2020 |Miss Universe= {{flagicon|MEX}} Andrea Meza |Miss USA='''Asya Branch''', Mississippi |Miss Teen USA=Kiʻilani Arruda, Hawaii }} {{Mississippi pageant winners}} {{Miss Universe 2020 delegates}}{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Branch, Asya}} Category:Living people Category:1998 births Category:American beauty pageant winners Category:Miss USA winners Category:Miss Universe 2020 contestants Category:People from Detroit Category:People from Booneville, Mississippi Category:African-American beauty pageant winners