Nia Temple Booko (née Sanchez; born in 1990) is an American beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2014. Sanchez represented the United States at Miss Universe 2014, where finished as first runner-up.
Nia Sanchez | |
|---|---|
 Sanchez in 2010 | |
| Born | Nia Temple Sanchez 1990 Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | |
| Major competition(s) |
|
Early life
editNia Temple Sanchez was born in Sacramento, California in 1990 or 1991 (age 33–34), to David Sanchez,[1] and Nicole Sanford.[2][3] Her paternal grandfather, Wilbur Sanchez, is an American of Mexican descent and her paternal grandmother is German, while her mother is of Spanish, English, and other European heritage.[3][4] Her parents divorced when she was six.[5][6] When she was eight she and her brother, moved to Menifee, California with their father, and she went on to graduate from Paloma Valley High School in 2008.[1]
Career
edit2003–2017: Pageantry
editHer first beauty pageant was the Miss San Jacinto Valley, which she entered when she was 13; at 19, she won Miss Citrus Valley USA, which qualified her to take part in the Miss Turismo Latino competition in Ecuador in 2009.[3]
Miss California USA
editSanchez first competed in Miss California USA 2010 (as Miss Citrus Valley USA), and was second runner-up out of 133 contestants.[1][7] Sanchez has also competed in and won Miss Riverside County USA 2011 and Miss Hollywood USA 2012.[1]
Miss Nevada USA
editAs Miss South Las Vegas USA, Sanchez was crowned as Miss Nevada USA by Chelsea Caswell on January 12, 2014, at Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.[3]
Miss USA 2014
editSanchez won Miss USA 2014 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on June 8, 2014, representing Nevada. She was crowned by the outgoing titleholder Erin Brady of Connecticut. During the final question portion of the competition, she was asked by judge Rumer Willis about the high rate of sexual assault among undergraduate women to which she replied that it is important to be able to defend yourself.[8]
Miss Universe 2014
editSanchez represented the United States at Miss Universe 2014 which was held January 25, 2015, at the U.S. Century Bank Arena at Florida International University in Doral, Miami, Florida and finished as first runner-up to Paulina Vega of Colombia.[9]
2018–present: Media roles
editShe hosted the documentary film Budget or Baller (2018) and co-hosted Miss Teen USA 2019 with Tim Tialdo.[10]
In January 2024, she launched a podcast called Hold My Crown with Nia Sanchez.[11] On March 19, 2024, she began appearing in Bravo's reality television series The Valley (2024), a spin-off of Vanderpump Rules.[12] The series follows the lives of five couples as they navigate parenthood, family, businesses and relationships.[13] In May 2024, The Valley was renewed for a second season, with the entire cast returning.[14]
Personal life
editSanchez is a fifth-degree[15] black belt in taekwondo,[16] which she began practicing when she was 8 years old.[17] She was the first Miss USA ever featured on the cover of Tae Kwon Do Times.[18] She also studied jazz and ballet for five years.[3] After her high school graduation she spent time working as a nanny in Europe,[1][17] and spent three months serving on a mission in Mexico.[3] She acted in the roles of various Disney princess characters at Hong Kong Disneyland where she worked for seven months in 2012.[3][19]
Sanchez married actor Daniel Booko on October 17, 2015, in Temecula, California.[20] Together they have three children.[21][22]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Miss USA | Herself | Contestant as Miss Nevada 2014
Winner as Miss USA 2014 |
| 2015 | Miss Universe 2014 | Contestant as Miss USA 2014; 1st runner-up | |
| 2018 | Budget or Baller | Documentary; Host[23] | |
| 2019 | Miss Teen USA 2019 | Television special; Co-host | |
| 2024–present | The Valley | Main cast; 12 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–present | Hold My Crown with Nia Sanchez | Host |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Menifee Home Town Beauty to compete in Miss USA Contest". Menifeebuzz.com. May 27, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ Miss USA (July 17, 2014). "10 Things That You Didn't Know About Nia Sanchez, Miss USA 2014" – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d e f g Leach, Robin (January 14, 2014). "2014 Miss Nevada USA photos: From women's shelter to Hong Kong Disneyland to title for Nia Sanchez". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ Sway's Universe (June 16, 2014). "Miss USA Nia Sanchez On Being Homeless, Pageants Benefiting Young Girls & Her Boyfriend's Support" – via YouTube.
- ^ STACEY PLAISANCE (April 20, 2011). "Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez crowned as 63rd Miss USA - Yahoo Celebrity". Celebrity.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ "Members". Missuniverse.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ "No "Inappropriate" Moments During Miss California USA® 2010" (Press release). i-Newswire.com. November 24, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
- ^ Plaisance, Stacey (June 8, 2014). "Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez Crowned as 63rd Miss USA". ABC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 16, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ "Nevada's Sanchez a runner-up at Miss Universe".
- ^ Hicks, Jordan (April 26, 2019). "Miss Teen USA pageant takes place this weekend in Reno; Fox 11 to have exclusive coverage". KRNV. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ "Hold My Crown with Nia Sanchez on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ "Bravo's 'The Valley' Takes a Real Look at Intimacy After Babies—and It's Worth Watching". Parents. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ "The Valley". Bravo TV Official Site. January 17, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ Aurthur, Kate (May 9, 2024). "Jax Is Back! (Again): Bravo Renews 'The Valley' for Season 2". Variety. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ Reiss, Aaron (June 20, 2015). "Miss USA cites sport for success". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
- ^ "Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez Is Crowned Miss USA 2014". People. Associated Press. June 8, 2014. Archived from the original on June 9, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ a b Kaur, Jaskiran (June 10, 2014). "Miss USA 2014 Winner: Find Out Who is Nia Sanchez; Everything to Know About the Winning Beauty [Photo]". International Business Times. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
- ^ Zirogiannis, Marc (September 2014). "Miss USA Nia Sanchez". Tae KwonDo Times Magazine (September 2014): 31–35.
- ^ Blum, Jeremy (June 10, 2014). "Life's a fairytale: Former Hong Kong Disneyland princess wins Miss USA title". South China Morning Post.
- ^ "Miss USA Nia Sanchez Nevada weekend wedding". lasvegassun.com. October 14, 2015. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "Daniel Booko on Instagram: "We have a son! Asher Daniel Booko was born 11/10/2021 at 2:54am. Thank you God for this precious gift! My heart has instantly doubled. @realniasanchez you are the most amazing woman on the planet. We are both so in love and overwhelmed with joy 🥰. Asher means "happy and blessed" and that is sure how we feel. Mommy and Daddy love you. #myson #imadad #asher #asherdaniel #asherdanielbooko #firsttimedad #thebookos #familyof3 #babybooko"".
- ^ "Former Miss USA Nia Sanchez Welcomes Twins on Father's Day: 'Soaking Up Every Magical Moment'".
- ^ "Budget or Baller (2018)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
