Miss USA 1998

{{Short description|47th Miss USA pageant}}

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{{Infobox beauty pageant

| photo = File:Miss_USA_1998_opening_titles.jpg

| winner = Shawnae Jebbia

| represented = Massachusetts

| date = March 10, 1998

| presenters = {{Hlist|J. Eddie Peck|Ali Landry|Julie Moran}}

| venue = Shreveport, Louisiana

| broadcaster = CBS, KSLA

| congeniality = Vera Morris (North Carolina)

| photogenic = Sonja Glenn (South Carolina)

| before = 1997

| next = 1999

}}

Miss USA 1998 was the 47th Miss USA pageant, held in Shreveport, Louisiana in March, 1998. The preliminary competition was held on March 6, 1998, and the final competition on March 10, 1998.{{cite news|title=Swimsuit and evening gown judging narrows field to 10 for Miss USA |publisher=Associated Press|date=1998-03-07}} The event was won by Shawnae Jebbia of Massachusetts, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Brandi Sherwood of Idaho.{{cite news |title= Miss Massachusetts wins Miss USA crown |agency= Associated Press |date=1998-03-11 |publisher= Lundington Daily News |url= https://news.google.co.nz/newspapers?id=vZEKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-UsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7104,5569287&dq=miss-usa+mary-foster&hl=en |first= Mary |last= Foster}}

The pageant was held in Shreveport, Louisiana for the second consecutive year; unusually Shreveport would also host the Miss Teen USA pageant later the same year. Owner Donald Trump had initially suggested that the event would be moved to New York City, however an agreement was reached in November 1997 for the pageant to stay in Louisiana.{{cite news|title=Pageant to Stay in Shreveport|newspaper=The New Orleans Times-Picayune|date=1997-11-28|last=Associated Press|page=A3}} During the two weeks that the delegates were in Shreveport the city and local companies benefitted from the extra business generated by the pageant and by the publicity offered by three minutes of promotion during the live broadcast.{{cite news|title=Miss USA delegates arrive by runway and highway |publisher=Associated Press|date=1998-02-22}}{{cite news|title=Miss USA brings glamour, tourists to La. |first=Mary|last=Foster|newspaper=The Baton Rouge Advocate|date=1998-03-10}} The expected worldwide audience for the pageant was 300 million people.{{cite news|title=Miss USA delegates began pageant preparations |publisher=Associated Press|date=1998-02-23}}

The pageant was hosted by The Young and the Restless star J. Eddie Peck for the only time, and Ali Landry, Miss USA 1996 and Julie Moran, co-host of Entertainment Tonight, offered colour commentary.{{cite news|title=Miss USA Pageant returns to Shreveport|newspaper=The Baton Rouge Advocate|first=Greg|last=Langley|date=1998-03-06}} She Moves provided entertainment during the competition. Executive producers Susan Winston and Dan Funk were chosen to produce the live telecast, broadcast on CBS.{{cite news|title=Miss Universe Pageants Crown Blanki & Bodi as Executive Producers|date=1998-03-02|publisher=Business Wire}}

During the competition, in a pre-taped segment, Halle Berry, Miss Ohio USA 1986 and first runner-up to Christy Fichtner at Miss USA 1986, was awarded a Distinguished Achievement Award for her achievements in acting.