Miss Arizona USA

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss America, see Miss Arizona.

Miss Arizona USA
Formation1952
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersPhoenix
Location
MembershipMiss USA
Official language
English
Key people
Britt Powell Boyse
(Executive Director)
WebsiteOfficial website

Miss Arizona USA is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arizona in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by its winner. The pageant is directed by Casting Crown Productions.[1]

Arizona's most successful placements were in 1965 and 1980, when Jane Nelson and Jineane Ford, respectively, placed as the first runner-up. Ford later became Miss USA 1980 after the original winner Shawn Weatherly was crowned Miss Universe 1980. Arizona's most recent placement was in 2016, when Chelsea Myers placed in the Top 15.

The longest reigning titleholder was Yesenia Vidales in 2020 at 1 year, 6 months and 5 days, while Cassidy Jo Jacks was the shortest reigning titleholder in 2021 ended her reign at 10 months and 19 days.

The current Miss Arizona USA is K Johnson Phoenix and was crowned at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts in Gilbert on May 26, 2024. Johnson will represent Arizona at Miss USA 2024.

Results summary

Placements in Miss USA

  • 1st Runners-Up: Jane Nelson (1965), Jineane Ford (1980)[a]
  • 2nd Runners-Up: Susanne Pottenger (1971), Diane Martin (1987), Alicia-Monique Blanco (2009)
  • 3rd Runners-Up: Ruth Hayes (1969), Sherry Nix (1973)
  • Top 10/11/12: Carlys Peterson (1974), Toni Abranovic (1977), Ana Rupert (1979), Cassie Hill (1981), Michelle Ducote (1985), Lee Anne Locken (1989), Maricarroll Verlinde (1991), Dannis Shephard (1992), Stacey Kole (1998)
  • Top 15/16/20: Jerri Michaelson (1962), Diane McGarry (1963), Roxanne Neeley (1966), Judianne Magnusson (1967), Danielle Demski (2004), Brenna Sakas (2006), Brittany Brannon (2011), Jordan Wessel (2014), Maureen Montagne (2015), Chelsea Myers (2016)

Arizona holds a record of 26 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Congeniality: Cara Jackson (1999)
  • Miss Photogenic: Jineane Ford (1980), Brittany Brannon (2011)
  • Best State Costume: Daria Sparling (1984), Michelle Ducote (1985), Maricarroll Verlinde (1991)

Winners

Color key
  •   Winner
  •   Runner-Up
  •   Semifinalist
Year Name Hometown Age[b] Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes
2024 K Johnson Phoenix 41 Miss Uptown Phoenix
2023 Candace Kanavel Tempe 27 Miss Tempe
2022 Isabel Ticlo Phoenix 28 Miss Phoenix
2021 Cassidy Jo Jacks Mesa 26 Miss Usery Mountain
2020 Yesenia Vidales Phoenix 23 Miss Uptown Phoenix
2019 Savannah Wix Paradise Valley 22 Miss Saguaro Blossom
2018 Nicole Smith Phoenix 24 Miss Phoenix
2017 Tommy Lynn Calhoun[2] Tucson 26 Miss Sunset Canyon
2016 Chelsea Myers Chandler 20 Miss North Phoenix Top 15
2015 Maureen Montagne Chandler 21 Miss South Chandler Top 15
  • First Asian American Miss Arizona USA
  • Previously 1st runner-up at Mutya ng Pilipinas 2013
  • Later placed 1st Runner-Up at Miss World America 2017
  • Later joined Miss World Philippines 2018 and was crowned Miss Eco Philippines 2018
  • Later became 1st runner-up at Miss Eco International 2018 as Miss Philippines
  • Later joined Binibining Pilipinas 2021 and was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2021
  • Later crowned The Miss Globe 2021 as Miss Philippines
2014 Jordan Wessel Phoenix 20 Miss Tempe Top 20
2013 Rachel Massie Glendale 19 Miss Maricopa County
2012 Erika Lane Frantzve Scottsdale 23 Miss Phoenix
2011 Brittany Brannon Paradise Valley 22 Miss Grand Canyon Top 16 Miss Photogenic
2010 Brittany Bell Chandler 22 Miss Chandler
2009 Alicia-Monique Blanco[3] Phoenix 22 Miss Diamondback 2nd Runner-Up
2008 Kimberly Joiner[4][1] Gilbert[1] 22[1] Miss Gilbert
2007 Courtney Barnas Mesa 19 Miss Red Mountain
2006 Brenna Sakas Chandler 21 Top 15
2005 Mariana Loya Gilbert 26
2004 Danielle Demski[5] Chandler 22 Top 15
2003 Nafeesa DeFlorias Phoenix 26
2002 Jennifer Lenz Mesa 25
2001 Tasha Dixon Phoenix 19
2000 Heather Keckler Scottsdale 26
1999 Cara Jackson[6] Chandler[6] 25 Miss Congeniality[6]
1998 Stacey Kole Tempe 24 Top 10
1997 Jessica Nicely Gilbert
1996 Christina Novak Tempe
1995 Shara Riggs Oro Valley
1994 Jennifer Tisdale Mesa
1993 Apryl Hettich Scottsdale
1992 Dannis Shephard Mesa Top 11
1991 Maricarroll Verlinde Tempe Top 11 Best State Costume
1990 Lezlie Leonard Tempe
1989 LeeAnne Locken Apache Junction Top 10
1988 Kris Keim[8] Scottsdale 22
1987 Diane Martin Phoenix 24 2nd Runner-Up
1986 Jodi Armstrong Phoenix
1985 Michelle Ducote Tempe 20 Top 10 Best State Costume
1984 Daria Sparling[9] Tucson 19 Best State Costume[10]
1983 Sindy Hedden[11] Tucson[11] 23[11]
1982 Lori Hakola Tucson
1981 Cassie Hill Phoenix Top 12
1980 Jineane Ford Gilbert 20 1st Runner-Up Miss Photogenic
1979 Ana Rupert Scottsdale Top 12
1978 Jacque Crutchfield Phoenix
1977 Toni Abranovic Scottsdale Top 12
1976 Curvey Walters Phoenix
1975 Sanna Osgood Scottsdale
1974 Carlys Peterson Phoenix Top 12
1973 Sherry Nix Phoenix 3rd Runner-Up
1972 Marcia Banks Tempe
1971 Susanne Pottenger Tempe 2nd Runner-Up
1970 Alicia Lein Mesa
1969 Ruth Hayes Tempe Miss Tempe 3rd Runner-Up
1968 Shirley Sprague Avondale
1967 Judianne Magnusson Mesa Miss Phoenix Top 15
1966 Roxanne Neeley Oro Valley Miss Phoenix Top 15
1965 Jane Nelson Mesa 1st Runner-Up
1964 Diane Reutter Phoenix
1963 Diane McGarry Mesa Top 15
1962 Jerri Michaelson Paradise Valley Miss Yuma Top 15
1961 Shyrle Owens Ortiz Avondale
1960 Virginia Crook Mesa
1959 Patricia Varga Mesa
1958 Shirlee Fox Avondale
1956 Maija Bertulson Tucson
1955 Patti Marks Phoenix
1954 Bonnie Johnson Glendale
1953 Eleanor Ruth Cross Chandler
1952 Charlene Hendricks Tempe

Notes

  1. ^ Ford originally placed as the first runner-up at Miss USA 1980, but inherited the crown after the original winner Shawn Weatherly was crowned Miss Universe 1980. The two titles cannot be held simultaneously.
  2. ^ Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

References

  1. ^ a b c d Gersema, Emily (2008-03-31). "Miss Arizona USA confident – Gilbert beauty says she'll win Vegas pageant". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
  2. ^ Willett, Johanna (2016-11-20). "Think you know the typical beauty queen? Tucson's Miss Arizona USA will make you think again". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
  3. ^ Sparks, Colleen (2008-12-10). "2 pageant winners share bond". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
  4. ^ Guyette, Trevor (2007-11-04). "Gilbert teacher will compete for Miss USA". East Valley Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-06-24.
  5. ^ a b Carroll, Doug (2004-01-03). "Broadcast beauty goes for top". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
  6. ^ a b c d Beard, Betty (1999-08-28). "Beauty, talent radiate from city". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
  7. ^ "LeeAnne Locken exiting 'Actual Housewives of Dallas' to focus on philanthropy". 10 October 2020.
  8. ^ "It Wasn't All Hearts, Flowers being Miss Arizona-USA". Mohave Daily Miner. 1988-03-29.
  9. ^ "Tucsonan named Miss Arizona-USA". The Courier. 1984-03-19.
  10. ^ "Miss Arizona flies off with costume win". Lakeland Ledger. 1984-05-06.
  11. ^ a b c Williams, Steve (1983-04-04). "Miss USA seeker has no qualms". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
  12. ^ "Loses Title". The Bristol Daily Courier. 10 June 1965. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
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