The 75th annual Miss USA pageant is just around the corner, taking place in Miami on August 27. As we count down the days until these stunning ladies strut their stuff on stage, let's take a trip down memory lane and look at which states have dominated this iconic competition.
First off, Texas has got to be mentioned - they've won the Miss USA crown an impressive 10 times! Two of those winners even went on to win Miss Universe: Chelsi Smith and R'Bonney Gabriel. Crystle Stewart, another Miss Texas winner, served as CEO and president of the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants from 2020 to 2023.
But what about that five-year winning streak they had from 1985 to 1989? That's some serious reign supreme - dubbed the "Texas Aces." The list of Miss Texas titleholders who won Miss USA is as long as it is impressive: Kimberly Tomes in 1977, Laura Martinez Herring and Christy Fichtner in 1985-86, Michelle Royer and Courtney Gibbs in 1987-88, Gretchen Polhemus in 1989, Chelsi Smith in 1995, Kandace Krueger in 2001, Crystle Stewart in 2008, and R'Bonney Gabriel in 2022.
California's got a thing or two to say about that, though - they've won six Miss USA titles. Their most recent winner was Alyssa Campanella in 2011. The list of Miss California titleholders who won Miss USA is just as impressive: Terry Huntingdon in 1959, Maria Remenyi in 1966, Summer Bartholomew in 1975, Julie Hayek in 1983, Shannon Marketic in 1992, and Alyssa Campanella in 2011.
But what about those other states that have had their share of success? Like Hawaii, who assumed its fifth Miss USA title after Noelia Voigt resigned. That's right - this is the first time a state has held onto the crown for so long. The list of Miss Hawaii titleholders who won Miss USA includes Macel Wilson in 1962, Tanya Wilson in 1972, Judi Andersen in 1978, Brook Lee in 1997, and Savannah Gankiewicz in 2023.
Michigan's got its own story to tell - they've had four winners, including Carole Gist, the first African American woman to win Miss USA. Rima Fakih made history as the first Arab American woman to take the title in 2010. Kenya Moore, another Michigan winner, went on to star in "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" from 2012 to 2025. Alma Cooper, their most recent winner, took the crown in 2024.
And then there's the District of Columbia - they've had a run of success too, with Deshauna Barber winning Miss USA in 2016 and Kára McCullough taking the title in 2017. This was the first time a state has won back-to-back titles since the Texas Aces' reign.
Illinois has also had its share of wins - four to be exact, all before 1975. And New York? Well, they've got bragging rights as the original Miss USA winners - Jackie Loughery took home that first crown in 1952.
Last but not least, North Carolina's got a winning streak too - all four of their titles have come since the year 2000. Morgan Romano took home the title in 2022 after R'Bonney Gabriel won America's ninth Miss Universe title.
So there you have it - the history of the most successful states in the Miss USA pageant. Who do you think will take home the crown this year?
Written by: Spleenis and Buttfed | The Citizen Edition
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