Miss Texas USA
Beauty pageant edition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Miss Texas USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Texas in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. This pageant is part of the Miss USA Organization, owned by Texas native Crystle Stewart, herself a Miss USA for 2008.
| Formation | 1952 |
|---|---|
| Type | Beauty pageant |
| Headquarters | Dallas |
| Location | |
| Members | Miss USA |
Official language | English |
| Website | Official website |
The pageant is currently held in Houston. It has previously been hosted by El Paso, San Antonio, South Padre Island, Lubbock and Laredo.[1][2][3][4][5][6] It was televised from 1971 to 2009.[7][3][8]
The current titleholder is Alexis Fuetsch of San Antonio, was appointed Miss Texas USA 2026 on June 30th, 2026 after the open casting call from Thomas Brodeur, the new owner of the national pageant. She will represent Texas at Miss USA 2026.
Background
Unlike the rest of Miss and Teen state pageants in the Miss USA system have annually scheduled at the same time, this Miss and Teen pageants in Texas are held separately in different months, the Miss pageant goes first and is held on first Sunday of September every year. Those events have affected from the regular September schedule such as the 2018 pageant was held in January 2018 due to Hurricane Harvey devastated the pageant's host city, Houston; and the 2021 pageant was held in September 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, exactly a year originally planned for September 2020.[9][10]
Ten Miss Texas USA titleholders have won the Miss USA title, including Chelsi Smith, has been crowned Miss Universe. In the 1980s Texas won the Miss USA title five consecutive years from 1985 to 1989, a streak known as the "Texas Aces".[11] Prior to this no state had ever won the Miss USA pageant more than two times in succession.[12] Past state directors have included Richard Guy and Rex Holt, "GuyRex" and Al and Gail Clark of "The Crystal Group".[13][7][1][14]
Contestants enter by winning local pageants or may choose to compete "at large" with an assigned title.[3][15] In 2001 a record number of former Miss Texas Teen USA winners, six, competed for the Miss Texas USA 2002 title.[8]
Texas Aces
Prior to the 1980s, no other state had won more than two Miss USA pageants in succession (the only two states to win twice in succession were Virginia in 1969-1970 and Illinois in 1973–1974). The five Texan Miss USA winners were all coached by "GuyRex", Richard Guy and Rex Holt, who held the Texas franchise from 1975. The term was first used in 1988 after Gibbs became their fourth consecutive titleholder, with Guy referring to the four queens as "four aces in a deck of cards", with their fifth titleholder, Kimberly "Kim" Tomes (1977) as the "wildcard".[16] The following year Gretchen Polhemus became the fifth and final "ace". The term is still in use.
As well as directing the Texas pageant, GuyRex also acquired the Miss California USA franchise in 1986. In 1988, Diana Magaña of California placed first runner-up to Gibbs, the fourth ace. The two had both undergone extensive preparation by GuyRex, and even lived together prior to the pageant.[17][18]
The five Aces were:
- 1985 - Laura Martinez-Herring (Miss USA, Top 10 at Miss Universe 1985)
- 1986 - Christy Fichtner (Miss USA, 1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1986)
- 1987 - Michelle Royer (Miss USA, 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1987)
- 1988 - Courtney Gibbs (Miss USA, Top 10 at Miss Universe 1988)
- 1989 - Gretchen Polhemus (Miss USA, 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1989)
Gallery
Logan Lester, Miss Texas USA 2018
Lauren Guzman, Miss Texas Teen USA 2008 and Miss Texas USA 2014
Crystle Stewart, Miss Texas USA 2008 and Miss USA 2008 (pictured in 2014)
Stephanie Guerrero, Miss Texas USA 2004
Nicole O'Brian, Miss Texas Teen USA 2000 and Miss Texas USA 2003
Kandace "Kandy" Krueger, Miss Texas USA 2001 and Miss USA 2001
Michelle Royer, Miss Texas USA 1987 and Miss USA 1987
Christy Fichtner, Miss Texas USA 1986 and Miss USA 1986
Laura Martinez Harring, Miss Texas USA 1985 and Miss USA 1985 (pictured in 2011)
Lisa Allred, Miss Texas USA 1983
Results summary
Placements
- Miss USAs: Kimberly Tomes (1977), Laura Martinez Herring (1985), Christy Fichtner (1986), Michelle Royer (1987), Courtney Gibbs (1988), Gretchen Polhemus (1989), Chelsi Smith (1995), Kandace Krueger (2001), Crystle Stewart (2008), R'Bonney Gabriel (2022)
- 1st runners-up: Carelgean Douglas (1959), Diane Balloun (1964), Brenda Box (1971), Luann Caughey (1982), Lisa Allred (1983), Ylianna Guerra (2015)
- 2nd runners-up: Barbara Horan (1978), Nicole O'Brian (2003)
- 3rd runners-up: Betty Lee (1954), Ana Rodriguez (2011), Taylor Lauren Davis (2025)
- 4th runners-up: Jo Dodson (1956), Aundie Evers (1975), Alexandria Nugent (2013), Lluvia Alzate (2023)
- Top 5/6/8: Christine Friedel (1994), Amanda Little (1997), Holly Mills (1998), Victoria Hinojosa (2021)
- Top 10/11/12: Lavonne McConnell (1973), Candace Gray (1976), Anne Hinnant (1979), Barbara Buckley (1980), Diana Durnford (1981), Laura Shaw (1984), Stephanie Kuehne (1990), Katie Young (1992), Angie Sisk (1993), Kara Williams (1996), Kasi Kelly (2002), Lauren Lanning (2006), Magen Ellis (2007), Brooke Daniels (2009), Brittany Booker (2012), Aareianna Ware (2024)
- Top 15: Joan Bradshaw (1953), Mary Daughters (1955), Gloria Hunt (1957), Linda Daugherty (1958), Jackie Williams (1962), Phillis Johnson (1965), Dorothy Pickens (1966), Bonnie Robinson (1967), Sandy Drewes (1969), Diane Swendeman (1970), Stephanie Guerrero (2004), Tyler Willis (2005), Logan Lester (2018)
Texas holds a record of 58 placements at Miss USA, being placed first overall.
Awards
- Miss Congeniality: Diane Swendeman (1970), Chelsi Smith (1995)
- Miss Photogenic: Susan Peters (1972), Lisa Allred (1983), Laura Shaw (1984), Tyler Willis (2005)
- Best State Costume: Lavonne McConnell (1973), Kimberly Tomes (1977), Barbara Horan (1978), R'Bonney Gabriel (2022)
- Best in Swimsuit: Chelsi Smith (1995), Lluvia Alzate (2023)
Winners
- Color key
- Declared as Winner
- Ended as runner-up
- Ended as finalist or semifinalist
| Year | Name | Hometown | Local Title | Age[a] | Placement at Miss USA | Special awards at Miss USA | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Alexis Maxine Fuetsch[19] | San Antonio | Miss San Antonio | 20 | TBA | ||
| 2025 | Taylor Lauren Davis | Dallas | Miss Dallas | 26 | 3rd runner-up |
| |
| 2024 | Taia Aarieanna Ware | Dallas | Miss Dallas | 26 | Top 10 | ||
| 2023 | Lluvia Camila Alzate[20] | Houston | Miss Houston | 26 | 4th runner-up | Best in Swimsuit |
|
| 2022 | Allison "Allie" Drake | Dallas | Miss Dallas | 26 | Originally second runner-up, assumed title when Gabriel won Miss Universe (Sydni Leonard, the first runner-up, declined the offer) | ||
| R'Bonney Nola Gabriel[21] | Houston | Miss Friendswood | 28 | Miss USA 2022 | Best State Costume |
| |
| 2021 | Victoria Alejandra Hinojosa[22] | McAllen | Miss South Texas | 22 | Top 8 |
| |
| 2020 | Taylor Leigh Kessler | Houston | Miss Lone Star | 24 |
| ||
| 2019 | Alayah Nicole Benavidez[23] | San Antonio | Miss San Antonio | 23 |
Later a contestant on season 24 of The Bachelor | ||
| 2018 | Logan Makenzie Lester[24] | Houston | Miss Harris County | 23 | Top 15 |
| |
| 2017 | Nancy Gonzalez | Freeport | Miss Kemah | 27 |
| ||
| 2016 | Daniella Rodriguez[25] | Laredo[25] | Miss Central Webb County | 19 |
| ||
| 2015 | Ylianna Lucia Marie Guerra[26] | McAllen | Miss Tropics of Texas | 22 | 1st runner-up |
| |
| 2014 | Lauren Nicole Guzman[27] | Laredo[27] | Miss Central Laredo | 24 |
| ||
| 2013 | Alexandria Nichole "Ali" Nugent | Dallas | Miss North Texas | 20 | 4th runner-up | Fan Vote Winner |
|
| 2012 | Brittany Lynn Booker | Friendswood | Miss Houston | 21 | Top 10 | ||
| 2011 | Ana Christina Rodriguez[28] | Laredo | Miss Central Laredo | 24 | 3rd runner-up |
| |
| 2010 | Kelsey Elizabeth Moore | El Paso | Miss El Paso | 19 | |||
| 2009 | Brooke Nicole Daniels[6] | Tomball | Miss Harris County | 22 | Top 10 |
| |
| 2008 | Crystle Danae Stewart[29] | Missouri City | Miss Fort Bend County | 26 | Miss USA 2008 |
| |
| 2007 | Magen Leigh Ellis[30] | Tyler | Miss Houston[30] | 19 | Top 10 |
| |
| 2006 | Lauren Lanning | Friendswood | Miss Houston | 22 | Top 10 |
| |
| 2005 | Tyler Colie Willis | Lubbock | Miss Central Plains | 25 | Top 15 | Miss Photogenic |
|
| 2004 | Stephanie Guerrero | Lake Jackson | Miss Houston | 23 | Top 15 |
| |
| 2003 | Claudia Nicole O'Brian | Friendswood | Miss Bay Area | 20 | 2nd runner-up |
| |
| 2002 | Kasi Laine Kelly[31] | Bridgeport | Miss DFW | 20 | Top 12 |
| |
| 2001 | Kandace Gayle "Kandy" Krueger | Austin | Miss Austin | 24 | Miss USA 2001 |
| |
| 2000 | Heather Ogilvie[32] | Houston | Miss Southeast Texas | 22 |
| ||
| 1999 | Carissa Nicole Blair | Houston | Miss Southeast Texas | 25 |
| ||
| 1998 | Holly Christine Mills | San Antonio | Miss San Antonio | 22 | Top 5 |
| |
| 1997 | Amanda Elizabeth Little | Wylie | Miss Metroplex | 21 | Top 6 |
| |
| 1996 | Kara Williams | Houston | Miss Harris County | 23 | Top 10 |
| |
| Title vacant | |||||||
| 1995 | Chelsi Mariam-Pearl Smith[15] | Deer Park | Miss Galveston County | 21 | Miss USA 1995 | Miss Congeniality and Best in Swimsuit |
|
| 1994 | Christine Louise Friedel[33] | El Paso | Miss El Paso | 22 | Top 6 | ||
| 1993 | Angie Sisk | Houston | Miss Fort Bend County | 25 | Top 12 |
| |
| 1992 | Katie Nicole Young | Fort Worth | Miss Fort Worth | 19 | Top 11[34] |
| |
| 1991 | Christy Lea "Chris" Bogard | Tomball | Miss North Harris County | 22 |
| ||
| 1990 | Sue Stephanie Kuehne[36] | Missouri City | Miss Houston | 22 | Top 12 |
| |
| 1989 | Gretchen Lynn Polhemus[37] | Fort Worth[37] | Miss Fort Worth | 23 | Miss USA 1989 |
| |
| 1988 | Courtney Ann Gibbs[2] | Fort Worth | Miss Metroplex | 21 | Miss USA 1988[39] |
| |
| 1987 | Michelle Renee Royer[41] | Keller[41] | Miss Keller[41] | 21 | Miss USA 1987 |
| |
| 1986 | Christiane Crane "Christy" Fichtner | Dallas | Miss Dallas County | 23 | Miss USA 1986 |
| |
| 1985 | Laura Elena Martinez-Herring[42] | El Paso[42] | Miss El Paso County | 21 | Miss USA 1985[43] |
| |
| 1984 | Laura Shaw[44] | Burleson | Miss Burleson | 19 | Top 10 | Miss Photogenic | |
| 1983 | Lisa Gayle Allred[45] | Fort Worth[45] | Miss Fort Worth | 21 | 1st runner-up | Miss Photogenic |
|
| 1982 | Elizabeth LuAnn Caughey[46] | Abilene[46] | Miss Abilene[46] | 22[46] | 1st runner-up |
| |
| 1981 | Diana Louise Durnford[47] | El Paso[47] | Miss Sun City[47] | 22 | Top 12 |
| |
| 1980 | Barbara Anne Buckley[48] | Midland | Miss West Texas[49] | 22 | Top 12 | ||
| 1979 | Winifred Anne Hinnant[50] | Houston | Miss Harris County[50] | 19 | Top 12 | ||
| 1978 | Barbara Jo Horan[51] | Dallas | Miss Dallas | 21 | 2nd runner-up | Best State Costume[52] | |
| 1977 | Kimberly Louise "Kim" Tomes[53] | Houston | Miss Spring Branch/Memorial | 21 | Miss USA 1977[54] | Best State Costume |
|
| 1976 | Mary Candace "Candy" Gray[55] | El Paso | Miss El Paso | 20 | Top 12 |
| |
| 1975 | Aundie Evers | El Paso | Miss El Paso | 19 | 4th runner-up[56] |
| |
| 1974 | Debra Kay Cronin | McDade | 18 | ||||
| 1973 | Marion LaVon McConnell[57] | Haltom City | Miss Haltom-Richland | 19 | Top 12 | Best State Costume |
|
| 1972 | Susan Lynette Peters[58] | Austin | Miss Stephen F. Austin State University | 21 | Miss Photogenic[59] | ||
| 1971 | Brenda Lynn Box[60] | Amarillo | Miss Amarillo | 19 | 1st runner-up | ||
| 1970 | Diane Farrar Swendeman[61] | Fort Worth | Miss Highland Lakes | 21 | Top 15 | Miss Congeniality | |
| 1969 | Sande Drewes | Dallas | Miss Dallas | 23 | Top 15 | ||
| 1968 | Jeannie Wilson | Dallas | Miss Dallas | 21 |
| ||
| 1967 | Bonnie Sue Robinson | Houston | Miss Houston | 19 | Top 15 | ||
| 1966 | Dorothy Lou Pickens[64] | Edinburg | Miss Edinburg | 19 | Top 15 | ||
| 1965 | Phyllis Johnson | Galveston | 20 | Top 15 | |||
| 1964 | Diane Elaine Balloun[65] | Houston | Miss Houston | 19 | 1st runner-up | ||
| 1963 | Cheryl Rene Wilburn | Houston | Miss Bayshore | 18 | |||
| 1962 | Jackie Faye Williams[66] | Waxahachie | Miss Lake Whitney | 20 | Top 15 | ||
| 1961 | Sheila Louise Wade | Dallas | Miss Lake Whitney | 18 | |||
| 1960 | Patricia June "Pat" Cloud | Houston | Miss Lake Whitney | 20 | |||
| 1959 | Carelgean Douglas | Corpus Christi | Miss Lake Texoma | 20 | 1st runner-up[67] | ||
| 1958 | Linda Ann Daugherty | Abilene | Miss Abilene | 18 | Top 15 | ||
| 1957 | Gloria Lee Hunt | Corpus Christi | Miss Buccaneer Days | 20 | Top 15 | ||
| 1956 | Jo Dodson | Cleburne | Miss Lake Whitney | 18 | 4th runner-up | ||
| 1955 | Mary Miles Daughters | Kingsville | 19 | Top 15 | |||
| 1954 | Betty Virginia Lee[68] | Austin | 19 | 3rd runner-up | |||
| 1953 | Joan Gail Bradshaw | Houston | 18 | Top 15 |
| ||
| 1952 | Charlene Frances McClary | Houston | 25 | ||||
- Age at the time of the pageant
