Elle Smith’s two identities—journalist and Miss USA titleholder—don’t easily fit the same search result, yet she is both. This profile separates verified records from the speculation that drives most queries about her relationships, height, and ethnicity.
Key Facts
- May 2021: Crowned Miss Kentucky USA (University of Kentucky)
- November 2021: Wins Miss USA title (NPR)
- December 2021: Competes in Miss Universe (AFRO)
- Known for: News reporting, pageant advocacy, and media appearances (Wikipedia)
- Representation: One of the few journalists to win a major national pageant (NPR)
- Agency: Represented by Wilhelmina Models (LinkedIn profile) (Wikipedia)
Full name: Ellen Elizabeth “Elle” Smith · Born: June 19, 1998 · Hometown: Springfield, Ohio · Claim to fame: Miss USA 2021
| Attribute | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full legal name | Ellen Elizabeth Smith | Wikipedia |
| Professional name | Elle Smith | Wikipedia |
| Birth date | June 19, 1998 | Wikipedia |
| Birthplace | Springfield, Ohio | Wikipedia |
| Education | University of Kentucky, broadcast journalism & political science (2020) | NPR |
| Title | Miss USA 2021 | NPR |
Elle Smith’s career trajectory blends hard news and high glamour. As a working journalist, she pursued stories before she pursued a crown; as a pageant winner, she leveraged her platform to discuss representation in media. Let’s break down what the official record confirms and what remains unverified.
What Is Elle Smith Famous For?
Elle Smith is an American journalist and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2021. Her win marked the first time in recent memory that an active reporter held the national crown, drawing coverage from outlets including NPR and AFRO. Her LinkedIn profile lists her as a public speaker and model with Wilhelmina, and her IMDb credits include Jack Harlow Feat. Drake: Churchill Downs and the Miss USA 2022 telecast.
“Her win was celebrated as a milestone for journalists, as she was the first active reporter to hold the Miss USA title in recent memory.”
NPR
“I think that every woman should pursue her passions, whatever they may be.”
Elle Smith, interview remarks
The coverage emphasized her dual career. Smith graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2020 with a degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in political science, then joined WHAS11 in Louisville as a multimedia journalist in October 2020. She won Miss Kentucky USA in May 2021 and took the national title that November.
What Is Elle Smith’s Real Name?
Elle Smith’s full name is Ellen Elizabeth Smith, according to Wikipedia. She uses “Elle” professionally. The spelling “Ella” appears in search queries but is not used in any official profile or news article. The pattern points to search-engine autocorrect, not a documented alternate name.
The “Elle” vs. “Ella” variation is a case of algorithmic suggestion, not an official records discrepancy. No authoritative source uses “Ella.”
How Old Is Elle Smith?
Elle Smith was born in 1998. Wikipedia lists June 19, 1998; IMDb lists June 20, 1998. Both sources agree she was 23 years old when she won Miss USA in November 2021. The exact date discrepancy is minor—both fall within the same birth year and month.
How Tall Is Elle Smith?
No authoritative source in the provided research lists an official height for Elle Smith. Wikipedia does not include a height field. Unverified celebrity height databases circulate figures without primary-source confirmation. Do not treat those as reliable.
Is Elle Smith Half White?
The provided sources contain no authoritative statement about Elle Smith’s ethnicity or racial background. The phrase “half white” appears in search queries (People Also Ask), but no official profile—Wikipedia, LinkedIn, IMDb, or Instagram—describes her racial identity. Parent details are also absent from all provided sources.
Is Leah Williamson in a Relationship With Elle Smith?
The most persistent rumor involves a romantic relationship with English footballer Leah Williamson. No source in the provided research confirms this connection. The link appears only in related search queries, not in any verified news report, interview, or official personal statement from either party.
Who Are Elle Smith’s Girlfriends?
No confirmed list of partners exists in the provided sources. The absence of such data in credible records suggests these details are private.
The Leah Williamson connection is an example of algorithmic association—two public figures linked by search queries, not by evidence. Until either party addresses it, it remains speculation.
When Did Elle Smith Win Miss USA?
Elle Smith won Miss USA 2021 on November 29, 2021, at the River Spirit Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as reported by USA Today. She had won Miss Kentucky USA earlier in May 2021, then represented the United States at the 70th Miss Universe pageant in December 2021.
| Event | Date | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Won Miss Kentucky USA | May 2021 | Kentucky | University of Kentucky |
| Won Miss USA 2021 | November 29, 2021 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | USA Today |
| Competed at Miss Universe | December 2021 | Eilat, Israel | AFRO |
The timeline shows a compressed pageant run: Smith moved from state winner to national titleholder to international competitor within seven months.
Speculation vs. Verified Claims
Several claims circulating online lack support from the provided research. Below are the confirmed facts and the unverified assertions.
- Confirmed: Full name is Ellen Elizabeth “Elle” Smith (Wikipedia).
- Confirmed: Won Miss USA 2021 (NPR).
- Confirmed: Born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1998 (Wikipedia).
- Confirmed: University of Kentucky graduate, journalism degree (NPR).
- Unconfirmed: A relationship with Leah Williamson—no source confirms this.
- Unconfirmed: Height and ethnicity—not listed in any authoritative profile.
- Unconfirmed: Parent details—no source provides this information.
The verified record is professional and clear; personal details remain outside public documentation. This boundary is not unusual for figures who choose not to share private information.
Public Profile and Media Representation
Smith’s media presence extends beyond pageantry. Her Instagram and TikTok accounts (@officialellesmith) blend pageant content with reporting work and New York lifestyle posts. Her win was covered by outlets including AFRO, which framed it as a milestone for representation in journalism.
Miss USA 2021 marked the first time in recent years that an active journalist held the title, per NPR. Smith was also the second woman from Kentucky to win Miss USA.
The Verified Elle Smith
Elle Smith is what her record shows: a journalist, a Miss USA titleholder, and a public figure whose professional milestones are well-documented. What remains unconfirmed—height, ethnicity, relationships, family—is a matter of record, not rumor. The catch: when a search result suggests otherwise, the correct response is to check the source. If it is not in the official profile, it is likely invented.
uky.edu, pageantupdate.info, es.wikipedia.org, hollywoodlife.com, imdb.com, courier-journal.com, krnlmagazine.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Elle Smith?
Elle Smith is an American journalist and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2021.
When was Elle Smith born?
She was born on June 19, 1998, in Springfield, Ohio, per Wikipedia.
What is Elle Smith’s height?
No authoritative source lists an official height for Elle Smith.
Is Elle Smith dating Leah Williamson?
No verified source confirms a relationship between Elle Smith and Leah Williamson.
What is Elle Smith’s ethnicity?
Ethnicity and racial background are not documented in the provided sources.
Why is Elle Smith sometimes called “Ella”?
The spelling “Ella” appears in search queries but is not used in any official source; her name is spelled “Elle.”
What did Elle Smith study?
She earned a broadcast journalism degree with a minor in political science from the University of Kentucky in 2020.
How did Elle Smith become Miss USA?
She won Miss Kentucky USA in May 2021 before winning Miss USA 2021 in November of the same year.
Arthur Oliver Howard Fletcher is a staff writer for NationalReport.uk, covering UK national news, politics, the economy and public services. He works under Editor-in-Chief Andreas Christodoulou and UK Managing Editor Rebecca Morgan, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.