Candiace Dillard Bassett and Nia Sanchez Booko Gear Up for Related Career Moves
The Miss Universe Organization has enlisted not one, but two Bravolebrities for their next pageant competitions.
The Real Housewives of Potomac alum Candiace Dillard Bassett has been tapped to judge Miss Teen USA 2025. Candiace confirmed her involvement in an October 21 Instagram post in which she described the opportunity as a “full-circle moment.”
“Once a contestant, always a believer,” she wrote. “The Miss USA organization helped mold the woman I am today — and now I have the honor of helping shape the next generation as a Miss Teen USA judge. There’s something truly special about this new era of leadership — it feels like a renaissance, and the future is bright.”
Candiace’s fellow judges will be former Miss Georgia Teen USA Jena Sims, 2013 Miss Teen USA Cassidy Wolf, actress/singer Madisyn Shipman, and actor Josh Randall.
Candiace Dillard Bassett reveals what she's looking for in a pageant winner
Candiace is no stranger to the pageant realm. The mother of one has not only provided consulting services for contestants, but she's also competed for numerous titles, including Miss Maryland USA, Miss District of Columbia USA, and Miss United States, which she won in 2013 while representing Washington, D.C.
Candiace spoke about her judging role in a recent interview with Us Weekly, explaining what she was looking for in the next Miss Teen USA.
“Authenticity. Confidence that’s quiet and steady — not performative,” she said. “I want to see a woman who knows exactly who she is and walks in that truth, whether she’s in a swimsuit or speaking from the heart. As someone who’s lived the pageant experience, I know how much pressure comes with those lights, that stage, and the place. The women who can rise above the nerves and connect — really connect — are the ones who leave a lasting impression.”
Nia Sanchez Booko to judge Miss USA: "It's an honor to come back"
DWTS to bring in big changes next season including all-new ‘modern’ fan voting process
DANCING With the Stars plans on bringing some big shakeups to the ballroom next season – including a change that will give the show a more ‘modern’ spin, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
The big shift comes off of season 34’s historic year, which included a record-high number of over 50 million fans voting from home.
With the increase in voting, which was up 11% from the previous week, ABC executives have been weighing the options of how they can lean even more into the process.
Currently, the main way to vote for DWTS contestants and the pros is by texting the celebrity’s name to the code 21523.
However, production is looking into how they can implement more modern technology, such as social media, into the process.
“While this season has seen an increase in ratings and votes, execs are looking into how they can modernize their voting process.
READ MORE ON DWTS
“As of right now, they do it old school with texting a number to vote for a celeb.
“The execs have been adamant about integrating things like social media into the voting process, specifically TikTok.
“It hasn’t been ironed out yet, but they’re trying to make voting more accessible and want it to reach a wider audience for season 35,” the source claimed.
In addition to texting, viewers can also go to dwtsvote.abc.com; however, the majority of the votes still come from texting.
Currently, voting is limited to 10 votes per person and per method of voting.
Voting is also only allowed during the window the show airs live on the East Coast and varies by time zone, which is regularly encouraged by show hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro.
While voting has always been done primarily by text messaging, the time window is a more recent change to the show.
In 2019, DWTS implemented the current protocol of voting only being allowed during the live East Coast feed – meaning those in other time zones wouldn’t get to vote when their show aired.
DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba slammed by two furious pros for ‘unfair’ critiques after fans call for her to be fired
While the move was labeled as “unfair” by many, the show has continued with the method.
BALLROOM BUST?
The current season of DWTS has been a huge success for ABC and Disney – but it has not been met without its fair share of drama.
Throughout the season, the judging panel has been called out by both the pros and by viewers at home for low scores and harsh comments towards select contestants.
Fans have also accused judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough of “overscoring” their “favorite” contestants, including The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Whitney Leavitt.
Things have apparently gotten to the point where members of the show felt the need to confront production over the direction it’s heading.
“There are a handful of pros, both some who are still on the show and some who have already been eliminated, who are fed up with how they are being treated.
“Some feel the judges have been harsher than they needed to be to them, which not only impacts scores, but it also impacts how the at-home viewers see the season.
“It impacts who they vote for and who they want to watch week by week.
“Other pros like Alan and Pasha feel extra protective of their partners and feel the judges have been too harsh on them.
“Multiple pros have stepped up to meet with production over the judges’ bias and are demanding some kind of change and more fairness moving forward.
“What that change looks like is still to be determined, but they at least got the conversation rolling,” a source claimed.
Dancing With the Stars season 34 airs on Tuesdays at 8pm EST on ABC and is available to stream the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.
