Bianca Nero Gets Miss America Clean Sweep

Los Angeles designer Maria Bianca Nero nearly swept the red-carpet dress competition at the recent Miss America Reality Check, which debuted its new reality-show format earlier this month on cable channel TLC.

Bianca Nero was one of several Los Angeles labels worn by the contestants during the red-carpet section, including Sheri Bodell, House of Cassette, Lotta, Kelly Nishimoto and XIN boutique.

Miss Indiana, Nicole Rash, and Miss Washington, Elyse Umemoto, both wore—and credited—Bianca Nero in the competition, which was judged by a panel that included stylist Jeanie May, US Weekly writer Dina Sansing and photographer Mark Lidell. A third contestant, Miss Rhode Island, Ashley Bickford, was also wearing a Bianca Nero but forgot the name when asked what designer she was wearing. Umemoto went on to win the red-carpet competition but was cut in a subsequent competition. —Alison A. Nieder