Kim Layne, 27, of Nampa, Idaho, United States was runner-up to Miss USA 2020 Asya Branch, 23, of Booneville, Mississippi, USA. The latter will crown her successor at the Paradise Cove Theater of the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA on November 29, 2021.

However, Miss Universe 2021 candidates are required to be in Eilat, Israel on or before November 28, 2021. This is why it is not unlikely for Miss USA to appoint Layne as Miss Universe USA 2021.

Miss USA 2021 marks the first time the national competition that selects the Miss Universe candidate of the U.S. is under the directorship of Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart, 40, of Houston, Texas, USA. She has yet to confirm the details about the Miss Universe USA 2021 title.

Still, it is possible for Miss Universe to adjust the arrival date of the candidates of the international beauty pageant’s 70th edition. It could be changed to November 30, 2021, which would give the newly crowned Miss USA 2021 just hours to leave Tulsa and travel to Eilat.

If it was up to me, appointing Layne as Miss Universe USA 2021 would be a wise choice. Doing so would make Miss USA 2021 the Miss Universe 2022 candidate of the U.S., giving her ample time to prepare.

A beauty pageant veteran, Layne is ready to compete for the Miss Universe 2021 crown in Eilat against 78 other candidates. Considering her age, she still has two years to win a title from the Big Four beauty pageants namely Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth so she would expectedly give it her all to win.

Otherwise, Layne could also move to the Philippines and compete for the Miss Universe Philippines 2022 title. Either way, she would be a threat to her rivals.

Layne is a dual citizen of the U.S. and the Philippines. She was born to an Irish father and a Filipino mother in Idaho, where she grew up surrounded by animals.

While Layne was a Skyview High School senior student, she was crowned Miss Idaho Teen USA 2012. From 2012 to 2016, she attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, USA where she earned her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences. 

On October 27, 2019, Layne was crowned Miss Idaho USA 2020 at the Special Events Center in Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. On November 9, 2020, she became Miss USA 2020 first runner-up.