Jun 07, 2016 06:50 AM EDT By Vinay Patel, UniversityHerald Reporter

Despite being considered one among the most "overall consistent" contestants, Hampton University professor Desiree Williams did not bring home the much-coveted title of Miss USA during the pageant Sunday, June 12.

After making the first cut from 52 to 15 contestants, Miss Virginia and interim director of the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute, Desiree Williams grabbed a spot among the top 10 contestants that took the stage.

Top 10 included: Miss Hawaii, Miss South Dakota, Miss Arkansas, Miss Missouri, Miss District of Columbia, Miss Connecticut, Miss Georgia, Miss California, Miss Alabama and last but not least, Miss Virginia, Desiree Williams, Us Magazine reported.

A doctorate of physical therapy and a bachelor of science in health and physical education from Hampton University, 26-year-old Williams is a perfect blend of beauty and brain. During her introduction video, she noted that competing to be Miss USA while teaching in a doctoral program at HU, is nothing short of a dream come true for her.

Williams said she felt very fortunate to have had the chance to represent Virginia on national TV. In a text message to Daily Press, Williams expressed her gratitude for the support system and noted that she is nervous about what's in store for her now.

Williams is also a certified yoga instructor and her platform encompassed reducing obesity in children while promoting healthy activities. Several video clips displayed at the pageant, held at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena, showed Williams in a classroom at Hampton University.

During the evening's swimsuit round, a host announced that Williams had been one the most overall consistent contestants at the time of rehearsals. The rest of the competitors stopped to watch her every time she took the stage.

After been crowned as Miss Virginia 2013, Williams competed in that organization's 2014 Miss America pageant.

During her introduction video, Williams noted that her grandmother was her No. 1 fan, in fact she entered her first pageant to keep a half-serious promise she made to her grandmother when she was just in high school. While competing at another national pageant, she received a call that her grandmother had passed away.

Noting that everything she does is bigger than her, Williams said she represents these women and her ancestors that have toiled and been through a lot. She said, her ambition is to make them all proud of her.

Miss District of Columbia, Deshauna Barber, won the crown.

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