All four runners-up have returned in the Miss division. Iowa has a long history of returning runners-up, with many contestants who would return year after year - check out their state results for the full list.
2015 first runner-up Alissa Morrison and third runner-up Nikki Sikkema have been competing since 2012 and 2011 respectively. Alissa made the top five in 2014 in addition to last year, while Nikki was a runner-up in 2012. Another runner-up from 2012, Jenny Valliere, who has since been a semi-finalist and non-finalist, is also competing again this year; as you can see below one of the other semi-finalists in 2012 was outgoing Miss Iowa USA Taylor Even! The other two runners-up from 2015 are Kelsey Weier, 2RU and Lindsay Trappen, 4RU. Elizabeth Davison is competing in the USA system for the first time but is a former runner-up for Miss Iowa (America). Just want to give a shout-out to former Miss Iowa Teen USA Dakota Crosswhite, first runner-up in that 2012 top five and a runner-up many other years as well, whose son will be born very soon. Congratulations!
There are also an experienced runner-up competing in the Teen division - Annie Moore placed 3RU last year & 2RU in 2014. The past two Miss Iowa Teen USAs had been runners-up twice and three times respectively, will Annie continue that trend? 2015's second runner-up Hannah Bockhaus and fourth runner-up Bailee Drezek are also back, but I'm disappointed not to see last year's 1RU and former Miss IA's Outstanding Teen Savannah Necker on the roster! Returning semi-finalists are Brina Bily, Jarika Eisentrager, Martina Hoogland and Mariah Kooyman.
2016 contestant marked with asterisks:
Contestants
Elizabeth Augustine (NF 15)
Miah Berka (NF & Congeniality IA TUSA 15)
Amanda Bush
Elizabeth Davidson
Shelby Doehrmann
Karen Fish (NF 15)
Ashley Hoff (NF 15, SF 14, SF IL TUSA 13, NF IL TUSA 12)
Taylor Hohensee
Lani Kuklok (NF 14, NF 13, SF 12)
Alissa Morrison (1RU 15, 2RU 14, SF 13, SF 12)
Miranda Sauve
Abbey Sheer
Nicole Sikkema (3RU 15, SF 14, NF 13, 4RU 12, SF 11)
Brooke Stahlberg
Kirstie Stallman (SF 15, NF 14)
Kirstie Sturgeon
Lindsay Trappen (4RU 15, SF MN TUSA 12)
Jennifer Valliere (NF 15, NF 14, SF 13, 3RU 12, 2RU 11; Photogenic 2013 & 2015)
Autumn Weaver (NF 14, NF 13)
Kelsey Weier (2RU 15)
Courtney Whitlock
MISS IOWA TEEN USA (30)
Payton Bailey
Brina Bily (SF 15, NF 14)
Hannah Bockhaus (2RU & Photogenic 15)
Karlie Bown
Avery Boyles
Kasandra Brooks
Rebekah Christianson
Samantha Crouse
Aysha De Groot
Baylee Drezek (4RU 15)
Ellissa Eichinger (NF 15, NF 14)
Jarika Eisentrager (SF 15, NF 14)
Madison Helvie
Martina Hoogland (SF 15)
Elliana Huffman
Kaylee Keefer
Madeline Kelley
Ellie Klaassen
Mariah Kooyman (SF 15)
Victoria Monson
Annie Moore (3RU 15, 2RU 14)
Dana Popejoy
Paris Schnell
Margaret Seiler
Ellie Tindall
Katie Van Sloun
Tori VanVelzen
Autumn Welsh
Vanessa Worrell
McKenna Yordy