BRENHAM NATIVE VYING FOR HONOR OF MISS USA

  

A Brenham native is competing this week for the crown of Miss USA 2026.

Natalie Bode, a 2017 graduate of Brenham High School, is representing Nevada at the Miss USA pageant in Miami after winning Miss Nevada 2026 earlier this year.  Bode is one of 51 women competing for the title.

Bode is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is now based in Las Vegas as a television host, reporter and content creator. 

Bode currently serves as a host and reporter for the Celebrity Poker Tour, covers the World Series of Poker on ESPN as a sideline reporter, hosts the National Heads-Up Poker Championship for NBC and Peacock, and covers the Indoor Football League for Yahoo Sports.  She also hosts the long-form interview podcast “Stories Untold” and creates original content as an official TikTok sports creator.  Additionally, she is involved in the community as a youth mentor and volunteer for several organizations like Step Up and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America.

In Brenham, Bode’s honors included graduating Magna Cum Laude, being named by the Texas High School Coaches Association as an Elite Athlete and Scholar and as Brenham High School Female Student Athlete of the Year, and serving as Student Government Vice President, Spanish Honors Club President and in the National Honor Society. 

Prior to being named Miss Nevada 2026, Bode was third runner-up in 2025.  She also was fourth runner-up for Miss Georgia 2023 and Top 10 Miss North Carolina in 2021. 

The Miss USA finals will be held tomorrow (Thursday) at 7 p.m. CT.  The finals will be streamed live on the Queen Beauty Network.