Fear Factor Episode 429 Original Airdate: April 12, 2004

This special edition of Fear Factor pit six Miss USA contestants against each other for the coveted title of Miss Fear Factor. The six women traded the catwalk for a dock and all strutted down near the water wearing swimsuits, sashes and tiaras. For their first stunt, each woman would have to transfer flags on a platform from one end to the other while the platform tilted vertically. Once the angle of the platform became too steep, the player would slide off into the cold water below, stopping the clock. The four women who transferred the most flags in the least amount of time would move on. The other two would be eliminated. Kyla, Miss Utah, went first. She moved timidly and ended up with just five flags in 49 seconds before plunging into the water. Tara, Miss Alabama, moved more quickly than Kyla and got six flags in 49.6 seconds. Miss Michigan, Stacey, said that she was very competitive and she did not disappoint. She transferred six flags in 47.4 seconds, guaranteeing her spot in the next stunt. Jaclyn, Miss New York and a true Brooklyn girl, started well, but had some trouble on the fourth flag. She finished with six flags in 52.1, leaving herself open to elimination. Miss West Virginia, Carolyn, got six flags in 55.6 seconds, sending Kyla home. All of the women hugged Kyla before she left. Finally, it was Vanessa's turn. The Miss New Hampshire contestant moved too quickly and didn't secure her flags well. In fact, one of the flags she transferred was blown away and didn't count. She ended with a disappointing four flags and was eliminated.

The next night, the four remaining players met at a dark and creepy miniature golf course for some golfing Fear Factor style. Each woman would have to sink one ball. The more strokes she took, the larger the slimy sea cucumber she'd have to eat. Five or more strokes would get the player the biggest sea cucumber while a hole-in-one would mean no cucumber at all! Tara hit her first ball so hard that it flew off of the course and almost nailed Joe. That cost her one stroke. Unfortunately, she took more than five strokes and had to eat the largest sea cucumber. She took every second of the twenty minutes she had, but she did finish it. Jaclyn sank the ball in four strokes, so only had to eat the second-largest sea cucumber. Still, she suffered through it. Then, she dropped the last bite and had to dust it off before she downed it! She too was successful and moved on to the finals. Stacey was next and got the ball in the hole in just three strokes and ate her "treat". Carolyn was last. She prepared and then sank a hole in one! Everyone erupted in cheers. And best of all, Carolyn didn't have to eat anything.

All four women moved on to the finals and met Joe back at the docks. For their last stunt, players would be whisked out onto the water on a water bike and have to grab onto a bar that dangled from a moving helicopter like a trapeze. The woman who held onto the bar the longest as they whizzed along above the lake would win. Each Miss USA contestant was competing fiercely for the coveted Miss Fear Factor title, but each woman was also fighting for the $50,000 prize, which she would split with the charity of her choice. First up was Tara, whose charity was the National Breast Cancer Coalition. She grabbed the bar from the moving helicopter and hung on for a solid 1:15.6. Carolyn, who was also competing for the National Breast Cancer Coalition, was next. She had a false start when she grabbed onto the bar but then quickly let go in order to dry her hands. Once up in the air, she lasted only 57 seconds and was eliminated. Stacey, who was competing for the Karmanos Cancer Institute, looked strong all the way, but then dropped at 1:00.7 and was eliminated. Finally, Jaclyn, whose charity was the Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, went last. Could she beat Tara's time? Jaclyn struggled at 30 seconds, but held tight for a while longer. Eventually, she couldn't hold on and dropped at 1:00.2, making Tara the winner! Joe dubbed Tara "Miss Fear Factor", so she and her charity split the $50,000!