• Taylor Hale went on to win "Big Brother" after competing at the Miss USA 2021 pageant. • She came forward with sexual harassment allegations against Max Sebrechts, Miss USA's former vice president. • Hale spoke to Business Insider about why she returned to host Miss Teen USA and how the pageant should evolve.

My interview with Taylor Hale keeps getting interrupted.

It's not because we're blocking cupcakes mostly left untouched by pageant queens rehearsing on the eve of the Miss USA 2025 competition. Instead, Gen Zers are flocking over to meet Hale, who went from Miss Michigan to the first Black woman to win "Big Brother" in the span of a year.

"I literally sobbed when they said you were going to be at our hotel," one pageant queen tells her. "You were my inspo for so many years,"

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