List of Miss America titleholders

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Miss America is an annual competition open to women from the United States between the ages of 18 and 28. Originating in 1921 as a beauty pageant, the competition now judges competitors' talent performances and interviews in addition to their physical appearance.

In January 2018, the new board of directors increased the maximum age of titleholders to 25 years old, from 24.[1] Therefore, contestants could not be older than 25 years old on December 31 in the calendar year of her state competition.[1]

In January 2023, the new board of directors increased the maximum age of delegates to 28 years old, from 27. Thus, participants must be at least 18 by the date of competition, and no older than 28 in the year of her national competition.

Winners

More information Year, Crowned ...
Year Crowned Winner State/District City Age [2] Awards Talent Notes
1921 Sept. 8, 1921 Margaret Gorman[3] Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Washington 16 Inter-City Beauty, Amateur Earned title of "The Most Beautiful Bathing Girl in America" (pageant renamed "Miss America" in 1922)
1922 Sept. 7, 1922 Mary Katherine Campbell[4][5] Ohio Ohio Columbus 16 Only person to win twice; also was 1st runner-up at the 1924 pageant
1923 Sept. 7, 1923 17
1924 Sept. 6, 1924 Ruth Malcomson[6] Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Philadelphia 18
1925 Sept. 11, 1925 Fay Lanphier[7] California California Oakland 19
1926 Sept. 10, 1926 Norma Smallwood[8] Oklahoma Oklahoma Tulsa 18 Bather's Revue Winner

Evening Gown Award
1927 Sept. 9, 1927 Lois Delander[9] Illinois Illinois Joliet 17
1928
No national pageants were held[10]
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933 Sept. 9, 1933 Marian Bergeron[11] Connecticut Connecticut West Haven 15 Youngest winner in history at the age of 15½

Held title for two years since no competition was held in 1934
1934 No national pageant was held[10]
1935 Sept. 7, 1935 Henrietta Leaver[12] Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Pittsburgh 17 Vocal / Tap dance,
"Living In a Great Big Way"
1936 Sept. 12, 1936 Rose Coyle[13] Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Philadelphia 22 Preliminary Talent Vocal / Tap dance,
"I Can't Escape From You" & "Truckin'"
1937 Sept. 11, 1937 Bette Cooper[14] New Jersey New Jersey Bertrand Island 17 Evening Gown Award Vocal,
"When the Poppies Bloom Again"
1938 Sept. 10, 1938 Marilyn Meseke Ohio Ohio Marion 21 Tap dance,
"The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise"
Held the title of Miss Ohio twice (1931 & 1938)
1939 Sept. 9, 1939 Patricia Donnelly[15] Michigan Michigan Detroit 19 Vocal / Bass Fiddle,
"To You" & "Ol' Man Mose"
1940 Sept. 7, 1940 Frances Marie Burke Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Philadelphia 19 Preliminary Swimsuit Vocal / Dance,
"I Can't Love You Anymore"
1941 Sept. 6, 1941 Rosemary LaPlanche California California Los Angeles 18 Preliminary Swimsuit Dance Also placed 1st runner-up at Miss America 1940 pageant
1942 Sept. 12, 1942 Jo-Carroll Dennison Texas Texas Tyler 18 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent
Vocal / Dance,
"Deep in the Heart of Texas"
1943 Sept. 11, 1943 Jean Bartel California California Los Angeles 19 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent
Vocal,
"Night and Day"
1944 Sept. 9, 1944 Venus Ramey Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Washington 19 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent
Vocal / Dance,
"Take It Easy"
1945 Sept. 8, 1945 Bess Myerson New York (state) New York New York City 21 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent
Piano & flute,
"Piano Concerto In A Minor" by Edvard Grieg & "Summertime"
First Jewish-American Miss America

First Miss New York crowned
1946 Sept. 7, 1946 Marilyn Buferd California California Los Angeles 21 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent (tie)
Dramatic monologue,
Accent on Youth
1947 Sept. 6, 1947 Barbara Jo Walker Tennessee Tennessee Memphis 21 Preliminary Talent Art display & vocal medley,
"One Kiss" & "Un Bel Di" from Madama Butterfly
1948 Sept. 11, 1948 BeBe Shopp Minnesota Minnesota Hopkins 18 Preliminary Swimsuit Vibraharp,
"Caprice Viennois" by Fritz Kreisler
1949 Sept. 10, 1949 Jacque Mercer Arizona Arizona Litchfield Park 18 Preliminary Swimsuit (tie)

Preliminary Talent
Dramatic reading,
Romeo and Juliet
1951 [a] Sept. 9, 1950 Yolande Betbeze Alabama Alabama Mobile 21 Preliminary Swimsuit Classical vocal,
"Caro Nome" from Rigoletto
Sparked the creation of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants[citation needed]
1952 Sept. 8, 1951 Colleen Kay Hutchins Utah Utah Salt Lake City 25 Preliminary Talent Dramatic monologue,
"Elizabeth the Queen" by Maxwell Anderson
1953 Sept. 6, 1952 Neva Jane Langley Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia Macon 19 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent
Classical piano,
"Toccata"
1954 Sept. 12, 1953 Evelyn Ay Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Ephrata 20 Preliminary Swimsuit Poetry recitation,
"Footsteps" from Leaves from a Grass-House by Don Blanding
1955 Sept. 11, 1954 Lee Meriwether[16] California California San Francisco 19 Preliminary Swimsuit Dramatic monologue,
Riders to the Sea
First winner crowned on television. Television broadcast moved to ABC[16]

Became an actress, starring in Batman and Barnaby Jones[16]
1956 Sept. 10, 1955 Sharon Ritchie[17] Colorado Colorado Denver 18 Recitation,
"The Murder of Lidice" by Edna St. Vincent Millay
1957 Sept. 8, 1956 Marian McKnight[18] South Carolina South Carolina Manning 19 Comedy sketch,
"The Monroe Doctrine"
1958 Sept. 7, 1957 Marilyn Van Derbur[19] Colorado Colorado Denver 20 Organ,
"Tea for Two" & "Tenderly"
Television broadcast moved to CBS
1959 Sept. 6, 1958 Mary Ann Mobley[20] Mississippi Mississippi Brandon 21 Preliminary Talent Vocal medley & dance,
"Un Bel Di" & "There'll Be Some Changes Made"
Became a television actress (seen on Diff'rent Strokes) and hostess
1960 Sept. 12, 1959 Lynda Lee Mead[21] Natchez 20 Original dramatic act,
"Schizophrenia"
1961 Sept. 10, 1960 Nancy Fleming[22] Michigan Michigan Montague 18 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent (tie)
Presentation of dress design
1962 Sept. 9, 1961 Maria Fletcher[23] North Carolina North Carolina Asheville 19 Preliminary Swimsuit Vocal/tap dance, "Somebody Loves Me" First Miss North Carolina crowned
1963 Sept. 8, 1962 Jacquelyn Mayer[24] Ohio Ohio Sandusky 20 Broadway medley,
"Wishing Upon a Star," "My Favorite Things" & The White Cliffs of Dover
1964 Sept. 7, 1963 Donna Axum[25] Arkansas Arkansas El Dorado 21 Preliminary Swimsuit Vocal medley,
"Quando me'n vo'" & "I Love Paris"
1965 Sept. 12, 1964 Vonda Kay Van Dyke[26] Arizona Arizona Phoenix 21 Miss Congeniality Ventriloquism,
"Together (Wherever We Go)"
Only Miss Congeniality winner to be also crowned Miss America[26]
1966 Sept. 11, 1965 Deborah Bryant[27] Kansas Kansas Overland Park 19 Preliminary Swimsuit Dramatic interpretation,
"The Miserable Miserliness of Midas Moneybags"
1967 Sept. 10, 1966 Jane Anne Jayroe[28] Oklahoma Oklahoma Laverne 19 Preliminary Talent Vocal / Orchestral conducting,
"1-2-3"
Television broadcast moved to NBC
1968 Sept. 9, 1967 Debra Dene Barnes[29] Kansas Kansas Moran 20 Preliminary Swimsuit Piano,
"Born Free"
1969 Sept. 7, 1968 Judith Ford[30] Illinois Illinois Belvidere 18 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent
Acrobatic dance & trampoline,
"The Blue Danube"
1970 Sept. 6, 1969 Pamela Eldred[31] Michigan Michigan West Bloomfield 21 Preliminary Swimsuit Ballet,
"Love Theme" from Romeo & Juliet
1971 Sept. 12, 1970 Phyllis George[32] Texas Texas Denton 21 Preliminary Swimsuit Piano medley,
Promises, Promises & "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
Former sportscaster on CBS in 1970s and 1980s[32][33]

Former First Lady of Kentucky (1979–83)[32]
1972 Sept. 11, 1971 Laurie Lea Schaefer[34] Ohio Ohio Bexley 22 Preliminary Swimsuit Semi-classical vocal,
"And This Is My Beloved"
1973 Sept. 9, 1972 Terry Meeuwsen[35] Wisconsin Wisconsin De Pere 23 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent
Vocal,
"He Touched Me" from Drat! The Cat!
First Miss Wisconsin crowned[35]

Co-host of The 700 Club[36]
1974 Sept. 8, 1973 Rebecca King[37] Colorado Colorado Denver 23 Vocal,
"If I Ruled the World"
Mother of Miss Colorado 2011, Diana Dremen[citation needed]
1975 Sept. 7, 1974 Shirley Cothran[38] Texas Texas Denton 21 Preliminary Swimsuit Flute medley,
"Bumble Boogie" & "Swingin' Shepherd Blues"
1976 Sept. 6, 1975 Tawny Godin[39] New York (state) New York Yonkers 18 Original piano composition,
"Images in Pastels"
1977 Sept. 11, 1976 Dorothy Benham[40] Minnesota Minnesota Edina 20 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent
Classical vocal,
"Adele's Laughing Song" from Die Fledermaus
Appeared in Jerome Robbins' Broadway[41]
1978 Sept. 10, 1977 Susan Perkins[42] Ohio Ohio Middletown 23 Preliminary Talent Vocal,
"Good Morning Heartache"
Television broadcast moved to CBS
1979 Sept. 9, 1978 Kylene Barker[43] Virginia Virginia Galax 22 Gymnastics routine,
"Gonna Fly Now" & "Feels So Good"
Television broadcast moved to NBC
1980 Sept. 8, 1979 Cheryl Prewitt[44] Mississippi Mississippi Ackerman 22 Preliminary Swimsuit Vocal / Piano,
"Don't Cry Out Loud"
1981 Sept. 6, 1980 Susan Powell[45] Oklahoma Oklahoma Elk City 21 Preliminary Talent (tie) Classical vocal,
"The Telephone Aria"
1982 Sept. 12, 1981 Elizabeth Ward[46] Arkansas Arkansas Russellville 20 Preliminary Swimsuit Vocal,
"After You've Gone"
Previously National Sweetheart 1981[46]

Infamously claimed to have had short-lived affair with President Bill Clinton while he was Governor of Arkansas[47][48][49]
1983 Sept. 11, 1982 Debra Maffett[50] California California Anaheim 25 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent
Popular Vocal,
"[[Come in From the Rain]]"
1984 Sept. 17, 1983 Vanessa Lynn Williams[51] New York (state) New York Millwood 20 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent
Popular vocal,
"Happy Days Are Here Again"
First African American Miss America[51]

Resigned on July 23, 1984, due to backlash from unauthorized nude photos of her being published in Penthouse magazine[52][53]
July 23, 1984 Suzette Charles[54] New Jersey New Jersey Mays Landing 21 Preliminary Talent Popular vocal,
"Kiss Me In the Rain"
Served the shortest term by any Miss America, lasting only seven weeks[55]
1985 Sept. 15, 1984 Sharlene Wells[56] Utah Utah Salt Lake City 20 Preliminary Swimsuit Spanish vocal & Paraguayan harp,
"Mis Noches Sin Ti"
The first foreign-born, bilingual Miss America (born in Asunción, Paraguay)[57]
1986 Sept. 14, 1985 Susan Akin[58] Mississippi Mississippi Meridian 21 Preliminary Swimsuit Vocal,
"You're My World"
1987 Sept. 13, 1986 Kellye Cash[59] Tennessee Tennessee Memphis 21 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent
Piano / Vocal,
"I'll Be Home"
Grandniece of singer, Johnny Cash[60]
1988 Sept. 19, 1987 Kaye Lani Rae Rafko[61] Michigan Michigan Monroe 24 Preliminary Swimsuit Hawaiian-Tahitian dance
1989 Sept. 10, 1988 Gretchen Carlson[62] Minnesota Minnesota Anoka 22 Preliminary Talent Classical violin,
"Zigeunerweisen"
Former news anchor of Fox & Friends

Later served as chairwoman of the board of directors of the Miss America Organization[63]
1990 Sept. 16, 1989 Debbye Turner[64] Missouri Missouri Mexico 23 Preliminary Swimsuit Marimba medley,
"Flight of the Bumblebee," "Csárdás" & "Can-Can"
Medical Reporter and Anchor for CBS's The Early Show

First Miss Missouri crowned
1991 Sept. 8, 1990 Marjorie Vincent[65] Illinois Illinois Oak Park 25 Preliminary Talent Classical piano,
"Fantaisie-Impromptu"
First Miss America winner of Haitian descent

Later served as chair of the board of trustees for the Miss America Organization (served for 3 months)[66]
1992 Sept. 14, 1991 Carolyn Suzanne Sapp[67] Hawaii Hawaii Kona 24 Preliminary Swimsuit Vocal,
"Ain't Misbehavin'"
First Miss Hawaii crowned[67]
1993 Sept. 19, 1992 Leanza Cornett[68] Florida Florida Jacksonville 21 Vocal,
"A New Life" from Jekyll & Hyde
Married (and later divorced) Mark Steines[69]
1994 Sept. 18, 1993 Kimberly Clarice Aiken[70][71] South Carolina South Carolina Columbia 18 Vocal,
"Summertime"
1995 Sept. 17, 1994 Heather Whitestone[72] Alabama Alabama Birmingham 21 Preliminary Swimsuit

Preliminary Talent
Ballet en Pointe,
"Via Dolorosa"
First deaf Miss America[72]
1996 Sept. 16, 1995 Shawntel Smith[73] Oklahoma Oklahoma Muldrow 24 Vocal,
"The Woman in the Moon" from A Star Is Born
1997 Sept. 14, 1996 Tara Dawn Holland[74] Kansas Kansas Overland Park 23 Preliminary Swimsuit Classical vocal,
"Où Va la Jeune Hindoue" from Lakmé
Her crowning was featured at beginning of the 2006 film, Little Miss Sunshine
1998 Sept. 13, 1997 Katherine Shindle[75] Illinois Illinois Evanston 20 Preliminary Talent Vocal,
"Don't Rain on My Parade"
Performed in Legally Blonde on Broadway

President of the Actors' Equity Association[76]

Briefly on the board of directors for the Miss America Organization in 2018[77]

Television broadcast moved to ABC
1999 Sept. 19, 1998 Nicole Johnson[78] Virginia Virginia Roanoke 24 Vocal,
"That's Life"
Diabetes awareness advocate
2000 Sept. 18, 1999 Heather Renee French[79] Kentucky Kentucky Maysville 24 Preliminary Swimsuit Vocal,
"As If We Never Said Goodbye" from Sunset Boulevard
First Miss Kentucky crowned
2001 Oct. 14, 2000 Angela Perez Baraquio[80] Hawaii Hawaii Honolulu 24 Preliminary Swimsuit Hula,
"Theme" from Mutiny on the Bounty
First Filipino American and Asian American Miss America[80]
2002 Sept. 22, 2001 Katie Harman[81] Oregon Oregon Gresham 21 Preliminary Talent Classical vocal,
"O mio babbino caro"
First Miss Oregon crowned[81]
2003 Sept. 21, 2002 Erika Harold[82] Illinois Illinois Urbana 22 Classical vocal,
"Habanera"
2004 Sept. 20, 2003 Ericka Dunlap[83] Florida Florida Orlando 21 Vocal,
"If I Could"
Finished in third place on The Amazing Race 15 with her then-husband, Brian Kleinschmidt
2005 Sept. 18, 2004 Deidre Downs[84] Alabama Alabama Birmingham 24 Vocal,
"I'm Afraid This Must Be Love"
First former Miss America titleholder to enter a same-sex marriage.[85]
2006 Jan. 21, 2006 Jennifer Berry[86] Oklahoma Oklahoma Tulsa 22 Preliminary Talent Ballet en Pointe,
"Within"
Television broadcast moved to CMT
2007 Jan. 29, 2007 Lauren Nelson[87] Lawton 20 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Vocal,
"You'll Be in My Heart"
2008 Jan. 26, 2008 Kirsten Haglund[88][89] Michigan Michigan Farmington Hills 19 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Vocal,
"Over the Rainbow"
Haglund's grandmother, Iora Hunt, represented Detroit, Michigan at the Miss America 1944 pageant[90]

Television broadcast moved to TLC
2009 Jan. 24, 2009 Katie Stam[91][92] Indiana Indiana Seymour 22 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Vocal,
"Via Dolorosa"
First Miss Indiana crowned[92]
2010 Jan. 30, 2010 Caressa Cameron[93] Virginia Virginia Fredericksburg 22 Preliminary Talent Vocal,
"Listen" from Dreamgirls
2011 Jan. 15, 2011 Teresa Scanlan[94] Nebraska Nebraska Gering 17 Preliminary Talent Piano,
"White Water Chopped Sticks" by Calvin Jones
Youngest Miss America winner since 1933[94]

First Miss Nebraska crowned[94]

Television broadcast moved back to ABC
2012 Jan. 14, 2012 Laura Kaeppeler[95] Wisconsin Wisconsin Kenosha 23 Preliminary Talent Operatic vocal,
"Il Bacio" by Luigi Arditi
Briefly on the Board of Directors for the Miss America Organization in 2018[77]
2013 Jan. 12, 2013 Mallory Hagan[96] New York (state) New York Brooklyn 24 Tap dance,
"Get Up Offa That Thing" by James Brown
Served the second shortest term by any Miss America, lasting only nine months
2014 Sept. 15, 2013 Nina Davuluri[97][98] Fayetteville 24 Bollywood fusion dance,
"Dhoom Tana" from Om Shanti Om
First Indian American winner[97]

First to perform a Bollywood dance at a Miss America pageant
2015 Sept. 14, 2014 Kira Kazantsev[99] Manhattan 23 Vocal with plastic cup percussion,
"Happy" by Pharrell Williams
2016 Sept. 13, 2015 Betty Cantrell[100] Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia Warner Robins 21 Preliminary Talent Classical vocal,
"Tu? Tu? Piccolo Iddio!" from Madama Butterfly
2017 Sept. 11, 2016 Savvy Shields[101] Arkansas Arkansas Fayetteville 21 Preliminary Talent Jazz dance,
"They Just Keep Moving the Line" from the NBC show Smash
Previously Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen 2009

Previously Miss Collegiate America 2013

2018 Sept. 10, 2017 Cara Mund[102] North Dakota North Dakota Bismarck 23 Jazz dance,
"The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson
First Miss North Dakota crowned[102]
2019 Sept. 9, 2018 Nia Franklin[103] New York (state) New York Brooklyn 25 Operatic vocal,
"Quando m'en vò" from La bohème
2020 Dec. 19, 2019 Camille Schrier[104] Virginia Virginia Richmond 24 Preliminary Talent Chemistry demonstration First contestant to perform scientific demonstration and win Miss America[citation needed]

Television broadcast moved back to NBC

Held title for two years since no competition was held in 2020
2021 No national pageant was held due to the COVID-19 pandemic[105]
2022 Dec. 16, 2021[106] Emma Broyles Alaska Alaska Anchorage 20 Preliminary Social Impact Pitch Award Vocal, "Let Me Be Your Star" from TV show Smash First Miss Alaska crowned[106]

First Korean-American Miss America

Previously Miss Alaska’s Outstanding Teen 2017

2023 December 15, 2022 Grace Stanke Wisconsin Wisconsin Wausau 20 Preliminary Talent Award Classical Violin, "The Storm" by Antonio Vivaldi Previously Miss Wisconsin's Outstanding Teen 2017
2024 January 14, 2024 Madison Marsh Colorado Colorado Colorado Springs 22 HERstory Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy
First active-duty officer and graduate of a military service academy to compete at Miss America
2025 January 5, 2025 Abbie Stockard Alabama Alabama Vestavia Hills 22 Contemporary Dance, "You Say"
2026 September 7, 2025 Cassie Donegan New York (state) New York Queens 28 Preliminary Talent Award Vocal "Darker Shade of Blue" from the musical Some Like It Hot Previously Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen 2013, Placed 4th runner up at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen

Previously Miss New York Volunteer 2024, Placed 2nd runner up nationally.

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Winners by state

Debut wins
More information States/Federal District ...
Debut wins timeline
States/Federal District
1920s
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1930s
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1940s
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1950s
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1960s
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1970s
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1980s
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1990s
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2000s
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2010s
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2020s
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States that have yet to win Miss America

There have been no Miss America winners from the following seventeen states:

Entities that no longer participate in Miss America

Former Entities of the US that participated in the pageant when they were US entities

  • Panama Canal Zone (only participated once throughout its existence, in 1925, under a local title)

Notes

  1. No "Miss America 1950" was officially crowned. Since the majority of each titleholder's reign occurred during the following year, the organization began referring to titleholder using upcoming year.
  2. Competed at Miss New York City
  3. Competed at Miss Tulsa
  4. Competed at Miss Columbus
  5. Competed at Miss Columbus
  6. Competed at Miss Philadelphia
  7. Competed at Miss Pittsburgh
  8. Competed at Miss Philadelphia
  9. Competed at Miss Philadelphia
  10. Competed at Miss Memphis
  11. Competed at Miss Bertrand Island

References

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