The last three Ohio winners had all been previous runners-up, and both Madison and Megan had also been Teen runners-up at the start of their pageant careers. Last year all the Miss top five finalists had competed previously, as had four of the 2015 top five.
The only other runner-up back is 2016 first runner-up Britain Bennett. Other returning semi-finalists are Kristen Nguyen, Angel Bagley and Marisa Matsanoff from 2016 and Nicole Sherb from 2015.
Contestant lists
- Kaamilah Wahid • Akron (NF 16)
- Jelisa Barringer • Argyle Park
- Maggie Turley • Baltimore
- Jessical Pol • Barberton
- Brittany Younkman • Bellefontaine (NF 16)
- Kristy Ressler • Buckeye State
- Joanee Church • Bucyrus
- Stephanie Miranda • Campbell (SF & Photogenic 15)
- Madeleine Smith • Canal Winchester
- Jessica Simmons • Canton
- Caity Jackson • Capital City (3RU 16, NF 13, 3RU OH TUSA 11, 2RU OH TUSA 10)
- Courtney Rea • Central Ohio (2RU 16, 3RU 15, SF 14, SF 13, SF 12)
- Slavica Radakovic • Cincinnati
- Kristen Jezek • Cleveland (NF NY USA 16, NF 15)
- Jenna Vucelich • Columbus
- Summer Jacobs • Coshocton
- Shannon Novin • Curtice
- Teyana Adams • Dayton
- Michelle McKenzie • Delaware
- Asia Dawson • Elyria (NF 15)
- Brittany Neal • Franklin County (NF 12)
- Maddie Siders • Gallipolis
- Mariah Payne • Great Lake
- Sarah Bell • Heart of Ohio (SF 16, SF 15, SF OH TUSA 14)
- Mariah Mostardi • Hudson
- Katie Curtis • Jackson
- Charlene Westfall • Lake Erie
- Sarah Burgett • Liberty Township
- Denice Harris • Loveland
- Mahtub Mochanloo • Mason
- Emily Peterson • Medina
- Ergerta Deda • Metro Columbus
- Laura Padro • Milford
- Kayelin Tiggs • North Central Ohio
- Michela Thomas • North Lima
- Argisa Deda • Ohio Buckeye (NF 16)
- Kellie Hall • Ohio Navy District
- Natasha Powers • Olmstead Township
- Ramata Dumbuya • Oxford
- Jenna Jacobs • Poland (SF OH TUSA 14)
- Marina Neuman • Sandusky
- Amanda Giroux • South Central Ohio (1RU OH TUSA 15, 1RU 14, SF 13)
- Mackenzie Rachlow • Springboro (SF OH TUSA 15, NF 14)
- Madison Haskell • Stow
- Taylor Diazmercado • Teays Valley (1RU 16, SF OH TUSA 12)
- Andréa Hunter • Toledo
- Astrid Guay • Tri Village
- Bianca Maier • University Heights
- Monnett Hamilton • Upper Arlington
- Katelyn Kendrick • West Chester
- Becca Laule • Westlake
- Dinaleigh Baxter • Winchester (4RU 16, 4RU 15)
- Christina Porter • Youngstown
TEEN CONTESTANTS (57)
- Vivienne Cornett • Ashville (NF 15)
- Nicole Sherb • Austintown (SF 15)
- Ana Rofkar • Buckeye State (2RU 16)
- Diamond Woodson • Butler County (NF 15)
- Sydney Copeland • Capital City (NF 16)
- Jealynn Holtz • Carnation State
- Rachel Martin • Central Troy
- Ava Denegar • Cincinnati
- Anya Cockerell • Cleveland
- Paige Hutchison • Columbus
- Alexis Detrick • Dayton
- Au'Lauren Million • Discovery City
- Madeline Dodson • Dublin
- Elizabeth Nartker • Evendale (NF 16)
- Kassandra Tatum • Fairfield County
- Aleksandria Spargo • Findlay
- Katie Carpenter • Gallipolis
- Victoria Kabungulu • Galloway
- Julie Horvath • Geneva
- Macy Hudson • Great Lake
- Hailey Minges • Hamilton
- Britain Bennett • Heart of Ohio
- Lillian Kish • Hubbard
- Alessandra Gesiotto • Hyde Park (SF 16, 3RU 15)
- Makayla Newman • Liberty Twp
- Jelisa Austin • Lima
- Ashley Blevins • Mansfield (NF 16)
- Shreya Samadder • Midwest (NF 16)
- Emily Blum • New Albany
- Emi Reindle • North Central Ohio (NF 16)
- Peyton Britt • Norwood
- Kristen Nguyen • Ohio Buckeye (SF 16)
- Rakiah Beckley • Ohio River
- Madison McGee • Ontario (NF 16)
- Angel Bagley • Pickaway County (SF 16)
- Marisa Matsanoff • Pickerington (SF 16, NF 15)
- Madelyn Nemcik • Powell
- Sirena Cunningham • Queen City (NF 16, NF 15)
- Payton Szymczak • Rocky River
- Skyla Coleman • Rutland
- Emily Picker • Shelby County (NF 16, NF 15)
- Leah Parker • South Central Ohio (NF 16, NF 14)
- Julie Myers • South Charleston
- Danielle Fitzgerald • Springboro
- Breanah Reid • Springfield (SF 16)
- Emma Karle • Springfield Township
- Kamley Alawan • Strongsville
- Tyler Mathis • Sylvania
- Paige Young • Tiffin
- Mindy Sperry • Toledo
- Regan Spoltman • Troy
- Emily Marks • Wadsworth
- Bailey Uhler • Wakeman
- Hannah Nation • Warren County
- Nicole Berger • Wauseon
- Shelby Stock • Wayne
- Madison Minshall • West Chester