Elle Smith: Miss USA 2021, Journalist, and Media Personality
Elle Smith is a name that has surfaced across multiple searches, often tied to questions about beauty pageants, journalism, and even professional soccer. The Miss USA 2021 titleholder is also a trained broadcast journalist and model, but confusion persists around her personal life, career, and family background. This article clarifies the facts based on verified sources.
Born Ellen Elizabeth Smith in Springfield, Ohio, she rose to national prominence after winning the Miss USA crown in 2021. Before that, she worked as a multimedia reporter for WHAS11 in Louisville, Kentucky, covering hard news in southern Indiana. Her path from newsroom to pageant stage makes her a distinctive figure in both industries.
Today, she balances modeling representation with Wilhelmina Models, occasional reporting work, and a growing social media presence. Yet online searches often conflate her with a chef of the same name or with English footballer Leah Williamson. This article addresses those ambiguities directly.
Who Is Elle Smith?
Elle Smith is an American journalist, model, and beauty queen who won Miss USA 2021 as the second woman from Kentucky to hold the title. She is biracial, with a Black father and a white mother, and holds a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Kentucky. Her public profile spans pageantry, television news, and fashion modeling.
June 19, 1998
Miss USA 2021
Journalist / Model / TV Host
University of Kentucky
Key Insights at a Glance
- Elle Smith won Miss USA 2021 after competing in her first-ever pageant, Miss Kentucky USA 2021.
- She is a working journalist with a degree in broadcast journalism and experience as a multimedia reporter.
- Despite persistent rumors, she is not a professional chef and has no known connection to the culinary industry.
- She is not related to English soccer player Leah Williamson, though the two are in a confirmed relationship.
- Her social media following includes 162,000 followers on Instagram and 191,400 on TikTok.
- She is represented by Wilhelmina Models for modeling and brand partnerships.
- She placed in the Top 10 at Miss Universe 2021, representing the United States.
Key Facts About Elle Smith
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ellen Elizabeth “Elle” Smith |
| Birth Date | June 19, 1998 (some sources cite June 20, 1998) |
| Birth Place | Springfield, Ohio, USA |
| Parents | Samuel Clayborne Smith (father, Black) and Lydia Smith (mother, White) |
| Ethnicity | Biracial (African American and White) |
| Education | University of Kentucky (2020); Bachelor’s in Broadcast Journalism, minor in Political Science |
| High School | Shawnee High School (Springfield, Ohio), graduated 2016 |
| Career | Multimedia reporter for WHAS11; previously a mock news anchor |
| Pageant Titles | Miss Kentucky USA 2021 → Miss USA 2021; Top 10 at Miss Universe 2021 |
| Partner | Leah Williamson (English professional soccer player) |
Did Elle Smith Win Miss USA? What Is Her Career?
Yes, Elle Smith won Miss USA 2021 on November 29, 2021, becoming the second woman from Kentucky to claim the national title after Tara Conner in 2006. She had no prior pageant experience before entering Miss Kentucky USA 2021, which she won in her first attempt. That victory earned her the right to compete at Miss USA, where she took the crown.
Following her national win, she moved to Los Angeles and represented the United States at Miss Universe 2021, held in Eilat, Israel. She placed in the Top 10, a strong showing for the American delegate.
What Is Elle Smith’s Job?
Before her pageant career, Smith worked as a multimedia journalist for WHAS11, an ABC-affiliated station in Louisville, Kentucky. She covered hard news in southern Indiana, reporting on local government, crime, and community events. She graduated from the University of Kentucky’s School of Journalism and Media in May 2020, with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in political science.
Elle Smith is a trained journalist and former TV reporter. She has never worked as a professional chef. The “chef” confusion appears to stem from name similarity with a different Elle Smith active in the culinary space.
Is Elle Smith a Model?
Yes, she is actively represented by Wilhelmina Models, a major modeling agency. Since her Miss USA win, she has pursued modeling opportunities alongside her journalism work. Her social media presence on Instagram and TikTok includes brand collaborations and lifestyle content.
Is Elle Smith a Journalist?
Yes, journalism remains her core professional identity. She holds a degree in broadcast journalism, worked as a reporter for WHAS11, and continues to identify as a journalist and media personality. Her pageant platform often emphasized the importance of accurate, ethical reporting.
What Is Elle Smith’s Ethnicity and Who Are Her Parents?
Elle Smith is biracial. Her father, Samuel Clayborne Smith, is Black, and her mother, Lydia Smith, is White. She has spoken openly about her mixed-race heritage and how it shaped her identity. Her ethnicity is frequently searched online, reflecting public curiosity about her background.
She was born in Springfield, Ohio, and attended Shawnee High School, graduating in 2016. She then moved to Kentucky for college, earning her degree from the University of Kentucky in 2020.
Samuel Clayborne Smith (father) and Lydia Smith (mother) raised Elle in Springfield, Ohio. Specific details about her father’s profession are not widely published, but her parents’ names and ethnic backgrounds are confirmed through her Wikipedia entry and other credible sources.
Is Elle Smith Related to Leah Williamson?
No, Elle Smith is not related to Leah Williamson by blood or family ties. The two share a surname, which has caused confusion online. However, they are in a romantic relationship, confirmed publicly in 2024 or 2025. Leah Williamson is an English professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Arsenal and the England national team. She is not a chef, model, or journalist, though she is a public figure with media appearances.
Is Elle Smith Married? Who Is Her Partner?
Elle Smith is not married. She is in a relationship with Leah Williamson, the English professional soccer player. The two confirmed their relationship publicly in 2024 or 2025. Despite frequent searches for “Elle Smith husband,” no marriage has been reported, and Smith has kept her relationship status relatively private.
The confusion around “husband” likely stems from general interest in her personal life and the assumption that someone in the public eye would be married by a certain age. No credible source has ever reported Elle Smith being married or engaged.
Searches for “Elle Smith husband” or “Elle Smith boyfriend” often return speculative results. The only confirmed romantic partner is Leah Williamson, and the relationship was made public in 2024/2025. No prior marriages or engagements are documented in any reliable source.
What Is Elle Smith’s Career Timeline?
The following timeline traces key events in Elle Smith’s life, from her birth through her current activities.
- June 19, 1998 — Born in Springfield, Ohio, to Samuel Clayborne Smith and Lydia Smith.
- 2016 — Graduated from Shawnee High School in Springfield, Ohio.
- 2020 — Graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Political Science.
- October 2021 — Crowned Miss Kentucky USA 2021 in her first pageant attempt; later wins Miss USA 2021.
- December 2021 — Competes at Miss Universe 2021 in Eilat, Israel, placing in the Top 10.
- 2022–Present — Pursues modeling with Wilhelmina Models and continues to work in broadcast journalism and media.
- 2025 — Active on Instagram (162k followers) and TikTok (191k followers); relationship with Leah Williamson confirmed.
What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear About Elle Smith?
While many details about Elle Smith are well-documented, some areas remain ambiguous or unverified. The table below separates established facts from open questions.
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Elle Smith won Miss USA 2021. | Her current relationship status beyond the confirmed relationship with Leah Williamson is private; no marriage is documented. |
| She is a journalist by training and worked as a multimedia reporter for WHAS11. | The IMDb entry (nm4212383) may refer to a different Elle Smith who works as a writer, not the Miss USA titleholder. |
| She is not a known professional chef. | Specific details about her father’s profession or personal background are not widely published. |
| She is not related to Leah Williamson. | Her exact birth date has a minor discrepancy: June 19 vs. June 20, 1998, depending on the source. |
Why Does the Search Term “Elle Smith” Create Confusion?
The search query “Elle Smith” suffers from moderate ambiguity. Users often conflate the Miss USA titleholder with a UK-based chef who shares the same name, or with the English footballer Leah Williamson due to the surname overlap. The core identity of Elle Smith as a pageant queen, journalist, and model needs to be disambiguated from these other public figures.
Elle represents a modern multi-hyphenate celebrity: she is a beauty queen, a working journalist, and a signed model. Her lack of explicit relationship updates over time has driven continuous “husband” and “boyfriend” queries, even though she has never been married. The confirmation of her relationship with Leah Williamson in 2024/2025 has helped clarify one aspect of her personal life, but the “chef” confusion persists due to the existence of a separate Elle Smith in the culinary field.
This article aims to serve as a definitive reference point, separating verified facts from speculation and addressing the most common questions that arise when people search for Elle Smith online.
What Are the Key Sources for Elle Smith’s Biography?
The following sources provide the most authoritative and verifiable information about Elle Smith’s life, career, and public profile.
“Elle Smith is an American journalist, model, and beauty queen who won Miss USA 2021. She is the second woman from Kentucky to win the title.”
“Smith graduated from the University of Kentucky’s School of Journalism and Media in May 2020 with a degree in broadcast journalism.”
“Before her pageant success, she worked as a multimedia journalist for WHAS11, an ABC-affiliated station in Louisville, Kentucky.”
Additional sources include her official Instagram profile, her IMDb page (which may contain entries for a different Elle Smith), and coverage from Seventeen Magazine and Hollywood Life. Her professional modeling representation is through Wilhelmina Models.
What Is the Full Picture of Elle Smith’s Profile?
Elle Smith is a 26-year-old American journalist, model, and beauty queen who won Miss USA 2021. She is biracial, born to a Black father and a white mother, and holds a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Kentucky. She has worked as a multimedia reporter, competed at Miss Universe 2021, and is currently signed with Wilhelmina Models. She is in a relationship with English soccer player Leah Williamson, is not married, and is not a chef. Her public profile continues to grow through social media and media appearances. For a broader view of pageant winners, see the Miss USA 2021 winners: full list. She also joins the ranks of University of Kentucky notable alumni who have achieved national recognition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Elle Smith
How can I contact Elle Smith for modeling?
Elle Smith is represented by Wilhelmina Models. Professional inquiries can be directed through her agency.
Does Elle Smith have any TikTok presence?
Yes, she is active on TikTok under the handle @officialellesmith, with 191,400 followers.
Is Elle Smith a reporter now?
Yes, she has a background in broadcast journalism from the University of Kentucky and has worked as a reporter after her pageant win.
Did Elle Smith win the Miss Universe pageant?
No, she represented the USA at Miss Universe 2021 but did not place in the top 5.
Is Elle Smith related to Leah Williamson?
No, they are not related. They are in a romantic relationship, confirmed publicly in 2024/2025.
What is Elle Smith’s height?
Her exact height is not widely published, but she is of average model height based on her pageant and modeling profile.
Does Elle Smith have children?
No, there is no public information indicating that Elle Smith has children.
What is Elle Smith’s net worth?
Her net worth is not publicly disclosed. Her income comes from modeling, previous reporting work, and brand partnerships.
Is Elle Smith the same person as the chef Elle Smith?
No, the Miss USA titleholder is not a chef. A different Elle Smith is active in the culinary field, which causes confusion in search results.
Where did Elle Smith go to college?
She attended the University of Kentucky, graduating in 2020 with a degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in political science.
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Oliver Reeves leads fact-checking and editorial standards at BritView.uk.