The only returning runner-up of the three left after last year's first runner-up Kelsey Schmidt assumed the Miss WA USA title is third runner-up Chael Stenchever. Geraldine Lirio was a semi-finalist last year and a runner-up in 2015. Three-time runner-up (four including Teen) Evelyn Clark is back competing in Washington after placing third runner-up in Oregon last year and past Idaho runner-up Christine Serb is competing in Washington for the first time, she most recently competed in California in 2015. Brenna Aguilar also has past experience in another state, she has competed a number of times in North Carolina.
In the Teen competition first runner-up Noelle Tapang, third runner-up Taylor Mann and fourth runner-up Sylvia Coulson are all back. Four of last year's semi-finalists, Carley Surina, Jesi Williams, Kathleen Crosby and Swarathmika Kakivaya and one from 2015, Kasey Hobson are competing again. Summer Keffeler is the sister of Stormy Keffeler who won last year's Miss WA USA title and was forced to resign in January.
Contestant lists
- Alex Carlson-Helo • Mill Creek (Miss WA Teen USA 2012)
- Aman Deol • West Seattle
- Angela Cruze • Kelso
- Ariel Deahl • Greater Seattle
- Ashlie Roedell • Skagit County
- Brenna Aguilar • Emerald Isle (T15 NC USA 16, NF 13, NF 12, NF NC TUSA 11)
- Casey Hammond • Downtown Olympia
- Chael Stenchever • King County (3RU 16, SF 15)
- Christine Serb • Greater Emerald City (NF CA USA 15, 2RU ID USA 11, NF ID TUSA 09, T10 ID TUSA 08)
- Courtney Prather (NF 14)
- Deborah Lawson • Bellingham
- Emily Logan • Redmond (NF 16)
- Erika Bruns Mendoza • South Seattle
- Evelyn Clark • Wahkiakum County (3RU OR USA 16, SF WA USA 15, 4RU 14, 4RU 13, 3RU 12, SF WA TUSA 10, 3RU 09)
- Gen Saechao • SoDo (SF 16, SF 15, NF 14)
- Geraldine Lirio • West Bellevue (SF 16, 4RU 15)
- Grace Olson • Spokane Valley
- Heather Bardin • Greater Spokane Valley
- Jocelyn Cowan • Westlake (NF 16)
- Julia Ko • Queen Anne (NF WA TUSA 08)
- Morgan Lucas • Kenmore (SF NY USA 16, NF MA USA 14, Miss NH Teen USA 2010, SF FL TUSA 09, NF 08)
- Nella Kwan • University of Washington
- Okneca Hamptonie • East Tacoma
- Rebecca DeLong • Greater Spokane (NF 15)
- Riley Elliott • Downtown Seattle (NF 14)
- Rosalind Sanders • University Place (NF 16)
- Sarah Laycock • Seattle Metropolitan
- Sarah Smith • Covington
- Savannah Morton • Bellevue (NF 16, NF WA TUSA 15)
- Tarin Brascher • Olympia (NF 16)
- Tatum Schroeder • Vancouver (SF WA TUSA 12, SF & Congeniality 11)
- Tawny Fajardo • Greater King County (NF 15)
- Trinity Shaffer • Greater Snohomish County (NF 15)
- Victoria YaoBarnes • Whatcom
- Whitney Mitchell • Tacoma
- Yvonne Carrick • Kennewick
TEEN CONTESTANTS (29)
- Alyssa Hagar • Marysville
- Alyssa Williams • Bonney Lake
- Arianna Torno • Spokane
- Carley Surina • Everett (SF 16)
- Francheska Castillo • Vancouver
- Gianna Pistoresi • Leavenworth
- Iris Martinez • Yakima County
- Jesi Williams • Mukilteo (SF 16)
- Karsyn Brinkley • Greater Vancouver
- Kasey Hobson • Sumner (SF 15)
- Kassidy Lynne • Maple Valley
- Katherine Hansen • Tacoma
- Kathleen Crosby • West Bellevue (SF 16)
- Kristen Green • Clark County
- Leslie Hernandez • Bellevue
- Makaylah Richardson • Thurston County
- Makenna Busenius • Auburn
- Makenna Marsh • Seattle (NF 13)
- Morgan Kinailuk • Kettle Falls
- Natasha Kacharia • Greater Seattle
- Noelle Tapang • Orting (1RU 16, 4RU 15)
- Piper Schirm • Tri-Cities
- Sofia Griffith • Issaquah
- Summer Keffeler • Sky Valley
- Swarathmika Kakivaya • Sammamish (SF 16)
- Sylvia Coulson • Skagit County (4RU 16)
- Taylor Mann • Edmonds (3RU 16, SF 15)
- Tiffany Abrams • Spokane Valley
- Tracy Anderson • King County