Miss Delaware USA and Teen USA Titleholder History

The Delaware Curse

As far back as the 1970s and 1980s the theme of many news articles was of course that Delaware was the only state that had never placed at Miss USA.  By the time I started following in 2006 this had become known as “The Delaware Curse”.  If you haven’t watched Miss Delaware USA 2009 Kate Banaszak’s Miss USA comedy video, it’s must-see viewing.  After 63 years, Renee Bull finally broke the curse in 2015, not only making the top 15 but advancing to the top 11 and also winning Delaware’s first special award, sharing Miss Congeniality with Miss Alaska USA 2015 Kimberly Agron.  Delaware has yet to place a second time but hopefully it won’t be too much longer!

Delaware’s Teens lead the charge

Delaware got their first Miss Teen USA placement long before they placed in Miss, with Dawn Renee Huey making the top 6 at Miss Teen USA 1995.  Four years later Ashley Coleman made history as the First State’s first national titleholder, winning the Miss Teen USA 1999 title in Shreveport.  Delaware also made the semi-finals in 2014 and 2016 with Mia Jones and Emily Hutchison.

Delaware directors

Fred Wright directed the Delaware pageants from 1991 to 2008, when the pageant was taken over by D&D Investments.  Fred is responsible for the many quality headshots of the Delaware Teen titleholders in the 1990s and early 2000s in the photo galleries below – thank you! The 2019 & 2020 pageants were directed by the Christie sisters who held the franchise for only two years, and then Miss Delaware USA 2008 Vincenza Carrieri-Russo took over in 2021.  Here’s a great news interview with Vincenza (who is a presenter on Good Morning Wilmington) and 2022 titleholders Grace Lange and Ava MacMurray.

Reality TV

Miss Delaware USA 2000 Jennifer Behm won the second season of Masterchef.  Miss Delaware USA 2011 Katie Hanson appeared on Survivor: Philippines.