Your ultimate Miss USA state pageant resource
Take a trip back into the history of the Miss Delaware USA and Teen USA pageants, from the first winner, Sue Langton in 1952 to Noa Mills and Molly Lavelle in 2023. Get to know every single Miss and Teen titleholder with a full listing, hometown map and extensive photo archive, with state pageant photos, Miss USA and Teen USA competition photos and more.
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 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.
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.
Miss Delaware USA 2000 Jennifer Behm won the second season of Masterchef. Miss Delaware USA 2011 Katie Hanson appeared on Survivor: Philippines.
17 • Camden
27 • Middletown
25 • Odessa
23 • Newark
25 • Middletown
25 • Milton
Top 8/10/11/12*
Renee Bull (2015)
* Where the semi-finalists are cut in multiple stages before the top 5 or 6
Congeniality
Renee Bull (2015)
| IMAGE | YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2024 | Alysa Bainbridge | Milton | 25 | Previously Miss PA's OT 2016 & Miss PA 2022 | ||
 | 2023 | Noa Mills | Middletown | 25 | |||
 | 2022 | Grace Lange* | Greenville | 23 | Previously Miss DE Teen USA 2017 | ||
 | 2021 | Drew Sanclemente | Odessa | 25 | |||
 | 2020 | Katie Guevarra | Middletown | 27 | |||
 | 2019 | Jolisa Copeman | Middletown | 24 | |||
 | 2018 | Sierra Wright* | Wilmington | 20 | Previously Miss DE Teen USA 2015 | ||
 | 2017 | Mia Jones* | Bear | 20 | Previously Miss DE Teen USA 2014 | ||
 | 2016 | Alexandra Vorontsova | Newark | 21 | |||
 | 2015 | Renee Bull | Middletown | 22 | Top 10 | Congeniality (tie) | |
 | 2014 | Kelsey Miller* | Wilmington | 23 | Previously Miss DE Teen USA 2009 | ||
 | 2013 | Rachel Baiocco | Bear | 21 | |||
 | 2012 | Krista Clausen | Georgetown | 19 | |||
 | 2011 | Katie Hanson | Newark | 20 | |||
 | 2010 | Julie Citro | Wilmington | 26 | |||
 | 2009 | Kate Banaszak | Middletown | 24 | |||
 | 2008 | Vincenza Carrieri-Russo | Newark | 23 | |||
 | 2007 | Nicole Bosso | Newark | 20 | |||
 | 2006 | Ashlee Greenwell | Middletown | 18 | |||
 | 2005 | Sheena Benton | Milford | 23 | |||
 | 2004 | Courtney Purdy | Newark | 21 | |||
 | 2003 | Cheryl Crowe* | Felton | 24 | Previously Miss DE Teen USA 1997 | ||
 | 2002 | Deborah Hoffman | Ocean View | 24 | |||
 | 2001 | Stacey Smith | Ocean View | 25 | |||
 | 2000 | Jennifer Behm | Wilmington | 23 | |||
 | 1999 | Jackie Pilla | Wilmington | 26 | |||
 | 1998 | Sherri Davis | New Castle | 22 | |||
 | 1997 | Patricia Gauani | Dover | 24 | |||
 | 1996 | Star Behl | Wilmington | 21 | |||
 | 1995 | Nicole Garis | Wilmington | 24 | |||
 | 1994 | Teresa Kline | Wilmington | 22 | |||
 | 1993 | Annmarie Correll | Wilmington | 21 | |||
 | 1992 | Julie Griffith | Wilmington | 22 | |||
 | 1991 | Laurie Lucidonio | Wilmington | 26 | Assumed title | ||
| 1991 | Renee Smith | Newark | 25 | Dethroned prior to Miss USA after it was found she did not meet the residency requirement | |||
 | 1990 | Nicci Dent | Bear | 20 | |||
 | 1989 | Terri Spruill | Wilmington | ||||
 | 1988 | Christina Lee Angel | Millsboro | 19 | |||
 | 1987 | Shellie Haralson | Newark | 21 | |||
 | 1986 | Lynn Taylor | Bear | 20 | |||
 | 1985 | Sheila Saints | Wilmington | 21 | |||
 | 1984 | Denise Lennick | Wilmington | 18 | |||
 | 1983 | Shelley Perkins | Newark | 21 | |||
 | 1982 | Shawna Saints | Wilmington | 23 | |||
 | 1981 | Natalie Ramsey | Wilmington | 21 | |||
 | 1980 | Karen Giobbe | Hockessin | 21 | † 2022 | ||
 | 1979 | Lisa Toothman | Newark | 19 | |||
 | 1978 | Donna Lewis | New Castle | 19 | |||
 | 1977 | Debby Faulkner | Wilmington | 19 | |||
 | 1976 | Debbie Kucher | Newark | 19 | |||
 | 1975 | Sandy McClure | Wilmington | 18 | |||
 | 1974 | Cheryl Fetkenher | Newark | 18 | † 2004 | ||
 | 1973 | Linda Graves | Wilmington | 19 | |||
 | 1972 | Michele Voyer | Wilmington | 22 | |||
 | 1971 | Nanette Crist | Wilmington | 21 | |||
 | 1970 | Marilyn O'Neill | Newark | 23 | |||
 | 1969 | Marsha Stoppel | Wilmington | 19 | |||
 | 1968 | Diane Parker | Elsmere | 20 | |||
 | 1967 | Dianne Judefind | North Wilmington | 22 | |||
 | 1966 | Jacqueline Kelazinskas | Claymont | 18 | |||
 | 1965 | Shirl Chappell | Ogletown | 18 | Assumed title | ||
| 1965 | Patricia Szymanski | Wilmington | 22 | Dethroned prior to Miss USA when it was discovered she was a divorcee | |||
 | 1964 | Christina Klose | Wilmington | 20 | |||
 | 1963 | Susan Kowalski | Newport | 18 | |||
| 1962 | Did Not Compete | ||||||
 | 1961 | Nina Lou Ringler | Selbyville | 18 | |||
 | 1960 | Rose Ann Reed | Wilmington | 18 | † 2018 | ||
 | 1959 | Linda E. Humes | Harrington | 18 | |||
 | 1958 | Virginia Jefferson | Delmar | 18 | |||
 | 1957 | Patricia Ellingsworth | Millsboro | 18 | |||
 | 1956 | Sandra McCabe | Selbyville | 18 | |||
 | 1955 | Helen Blackwell^ | Wilmington | 21 | Previously Miss DE 1952; † 1966 | ||
| 1954 | Did Not Compete | ||||||
| 1953 | Did Not Compete | ||||||
 | 1952 | Sue J. Langton | Wilmington | 24 | † 2014 |
| YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Alysa Bainbridge | Milton | 25 | Previously Miss PA's OT 2016 & Miss PA 2022 | ||
| 2023 | Noa Mills | Middletown | 25 | |||
| 2022 | Grace Lange* | Greenville | 23 | Previously Miss DE Teen USA 2017 | ||
| 2021 | Drew Sanclemente | Odessa | 25 | |||
| 2020 | Katie Guevarra | Middletown | 27 | |||
| 2019 | Jolisa Copeman | Middletown | 24 | |||
| 2018 | Sierra Wright* | Wilmington | 20 | Previously Miss DE Teen USA 2015 | ||
| 2017 | Mia Jones* | Bear | 20 | Previously Miss DE Teen USA 2014 | ||
| 2016 | Alexandra Vorontsova | Newark | 21 | |||
| 2015 | Renee Bull | Middletown | 22 | Top 10 | Congeniality (tie) | |
| 2014 | Kelsey Miller* | Wilmington | 23 | Previously Miss DE Teen USA 2009 | ||
| 2013 | Rachel Baiocco | Bear | 21 | |||
| 2012 | Krista Clausen | Georgetown | 19 | |||
| 2011 | Katie Hanson | Newark | 20 | |||
| 2010 | Julie Citro | Wilmington | 26 | |||
| 2009 | Kate Banaszak | Middletown | 24 | |||
| 2008 | Vincenza Carrieri-Russo | Newark | 23 | |||
| 2007 | Nicole Bosso | Newark | 20 | |||
| 2006 | Ashlee Greenwell | Middletown | 18 | |||
| 2005 | Sheena Benton | Milford | 23 | |||
| 2004 | Courtney Purdy | Newark | 21 | |||
| 2003 | Cheryl Crowe* | Felton | 24 | Previously Miss DE Teen USA 1997 | ||
| 2002 | Deborah Hoffman | Ocean View | 24 | |||
| 2001 | Stacey Smith | Ocean View | 25 | |||
| 2000 | Jennifer Behm | Wilmington | 23 | |||
| 1999 | Jackie Pilla | Wilmington | 26 | |||
| 1998 | Sherri Davis | New Castle | 22 | |||
| 1997 | Patricia Gauani | Dover | 24 | |||
| 1996 | Star Behl | Wilmington | 21 | |||
| 1995 | Nicole Garis | Wilmington | 24 | |||
| 1994 | Teresa Kline | Wilmington | 22 | |||
| 1993 | Annmarie Correll | Wilmington | 21 | |||
| 1992 | Julie Griffith | Wilmington | 22 | |||
| 1991 | Laurie Lucidonio | Wilmington | 26 | Assumed title | ||
| 1991 | Renee Smith | Newark | 25 | Dethroned prior to Miss USA after it was found she did not meet the residency requirement | ||
| 1990 | Nicci Dent | Bear | 20 | |||
| 1989 | Terri Spruill | Wilmington | ||||
| 1988 | Christina Lee Angel | Millsboro | 19 | |||
| 1987 | Shellie Haralson | Newark | 21 | |||
| 1986 | Lynn Taylor | Bear | 20 | |||
| 1985 | Sheila Saints | Wilmington | 21 | |||
| 1984 | Denise Lennick | Wilmington | 18 | |||
| 1983 | Shelley Perkins | Newark | 21 | |||
| 1982 | Shawna Saints | Wilmington | 23 | |||
| 1981 | Natalie Ramsey | Wilmington | 21 | |||
| 1980 | Karen Giobbe | Hockessin | 21 | † 2022 | ||
| 1979 | Lisa Toothman | Newark | 19 | |||
| 1978 | Donna Lewis | New Castle | 19 | |||
| 1977 | Debby Faulkner | Wilmington | 19 | |||
| 1976 | Debbie Kucher | Newark | 19 | |||
| 1975 | Sandy McClure | Wilmington | 18 | |||
| 1974 | Cheryl Fetkenher | Newark | 18 | † 2004 | ||
| 1973 | Linda Graves | Wilmington | 19 | |||
| 1972 | Michele Voyer | Wilmington | 22 | |||
| 1971 | Nanette Crist | Wilmington | 21 | |||
| 1970 | Marilyn O'Neill | Newark | 23 | |||
| 1969 | Marsha Stoppel | Wilmington | 19 | |||
| 1968 | Diane Parker | Elsmere | 20 | |||
| 1967 | Dianne Judefind | North Wilmington | 22 | |||
| 1966 | Jacqueline Kelazinskas | Claymont | 18 | |||
| 1965 | Shirl Chappell | Ogletown | 18 | Assumed title | ||
| 1965 | Patricia Szymanski | Wilmington | 22 | Dethroned prior to Miss USA when it was discovered she was a divorcee | ||
| 1964 | Christina Klose | Wilmington | 20 | |||
| 1963 | Susan Kowalski | Newport | 18 | |||
| 1962 | Did Not Compete | |||||
| 1961 | Nina Lou Ringler | Selbyville | 18 | |||
| 1960 | Rose Ann Reed | Wilmington | 18 | † 2018 | ||
| 1959 | Linda E. Humes | Harrington | 18 | |||
| 1958 | Virginia Jefferson | Delmar | 18 | |||
| 1957 | Patricia Ellingsworth | Millsboro | 18 | |||
| 1956 | Sandra McCabe | Selbyville | 18 | |||
| 1955 | Helen Blackwell^ | Wilmington | 21 | Previously Miss DE 1952; † 1966 | ||
| 1954 | Did Not Compete | |||||
| 1953 | Did Not Compete | |||||
| 1952 | Sue J. Langton | Wilmington | 24 | † 2014 |
19 • Lewes
19 • Wilmington
18 • Hockessin
18 • Wilmington
18 • Middletown
Winner
Ashley Coleman (1999)
Top 5/6
Dawn Renee Huey (1995)
Semi-finalist
Mia Jones (2014), Emily Hutchison (2016)
| IMAGE | YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2024 | Kayla Kosmalski | Middletown | 17 | Congeniality | First Miss Teen USA state titleholder with Down syndrome | |
 | 2023 | Molly Lavelle | Wilmington | 18 | |||
 | 2022 | Ava MacMurray | Hockessin | 18 | |||
 | 2021 | Sky Knox° | Wilmington | 19 | Previously Miss DE's OT 2018 | ||
 | 2020 | Samantha Repass | Lewes | 19 | |||
 | 2019 | Myah Rosa-Scott | New Castle | 18 | |||
 | 2018 | Brynn Close | Middletown | 18 | |||
 | 2017 | Grace Lange* | Newark | 17 | Later Miss DE USA 2022 | ||
 | 2016 | Emily Hutchison | Wilmington | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 2015 | Sierra Wright* | Willmington | 18 | Later Miss DE USA 2018 | ||
 | 2014 | Mia Jones* | Bear | 18 | Semi-finalist | Later Miss DE USA 2017 | |
 | 2013 | Hailey Lawler | Newark | 18 | Assumed title | ||
 | 2013 | Melissa King | Bethany Beach | 18 | Resigned prior to Miss Teen USA | ||
 | 2012 | Angela Viscount | Newark | 19 | |||
 | 2011 | Amanda Debus°^ | Middletown | 18 | Previously Miss DE's OT 2008; later Miss DE 2016 | ||
 | 2010 | Ashley DiLiberto | Newark | 18 | |||
 | 2009 | Kelsey Miller* | Wilmington | 17 | |||
 | 2008 | Bethany Brindley | Wilmington | 17 | Later Miss DE USA 2014 | ||
 | 2007 | Holly Shively | Newark | 16 | |||
 | 2006 | Erika Savidge | Newark | 17 | |||
 | 2005 | Ashley Fletcher | Smyrna | 18 | |||
 | 2004 | Brittany Cichocki | Pike Creek | 17 | |||
 | 2003 | Ashley James | Bear | 18 | |||
 | 2002 | Kelly Horst | Hockessin | 18 | |||
 | 2001 | Christie Aiken | Wilmington | 18 | |||
 | 2000 | Carrie Aiken | Wilmington | 18 | |||
 | 1999 | ASHLEY COLEMAN | Camden | 18 | Miss Teen USA | ||
 | 1998 | Nicole Tomlin | Wilmington | 17 | |||
 | 1997 | Cheryl Crowe* | Felton | 18 | |||
 | 1996 | Ashley Anderson | Rehoboth Beach | 16 | Later Miss DE USA 2003 | ||
 | 1995 | Dawn Renee Huey | Greenwood | 18 | Finalist | ||
 | 1994 | Selena Del Grosso | Wilmington | 17 | |||
 | 1993 | Catherine Huang | Newark | 16 | |||
 | 1992 | Justine Jones | Dover | 17 | |||
 | 1991 | Michelle Dalton | Hockessin | 16 | |||
 | 1990 | Kristie Pontius | Wilmington | 17 | |||
 | 1989 | Alison Wilson | Milford | 17 | |||
 | 1988 | Edith Senter | Felton | 17 | |||
 | 1987 | Cristi Griffin | Newark | 16 | |||
 | 1986 | Laura Hawthorne | Wilmington | 17 | |||
 | 1985 | Julie Wheatley | Seaford | 18 | |||
 | 1984 | Heather Reed | Wilmington | 18 | |||
 | 1983 | Laura Michelle Enslen | Wilmington | 17 |
| YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kayla Kosmalski | Middletown | 17 | Congeniality | First Miss Teen USA state titleholder with Down syndrome | |
| 2023 | Molly Lavelle | Wilmington | ||||
| 2022 | Ava MacMurray | Hockessin | 18 | |||
| 2021 | Sky Knox° | Wilmington | 19 | Previously Miss DE's OT 2018 | ||
| 2020 | Samantha Repass | Lewes | 19 | |||
| 2019 | Myah Rosa-Scott | New Castle | 18 | |||
| 2018 | Brynn Close | Middletown | 18 | |||
| 2017 | Grace Lange* | Newark | 17 | Later Miss DE USA 2022 | ||
| 2016 | Emily Hutchison | Wilmington | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 2015 | Sierra Wright* | Willmington | 18 | Later Miss DE USA 2018 | ||
| 2014 | Mia Jones* | Bear | 18 | Semi-finalist | Later Miss DE USA 2017 | |
| 2013 | Hailey Lawler | Newark | 18 | Assumed title | ||
| 2013 | Melissa King | Bethany Beach | 18 | Resigned prior to Miss USA | ||
| 2012 | Angela Viscount | Newark | 19 | |||
| 2011 | Amanda Debus°^ | Middletown | 18 | Previously Miss DE's OT 2008; later Miss DE 2016 | ||
| 2010 | Ashley DiLiberto | Newark | 18 | |||
| 2009 | Kelsey Miller* | Wilmington | 17 | |||
| 2008 | Bethany Brindley | Wilmington | 17 | Later Miss DE USA 2014 | ||
| 2007 | Holly Shively | Newark | 16 | |||
| 2006 | Erika Savidge | Newark | 17 | |||
| 2005 | Ashley Fletcher | Smyrna | 18 | |||
| 2004 | Brittany Cichocki | Pike Creek | 17 | |||
| 2003 | Ashley James | Bear | 18 | |||
| 2002 | Kelly Horst | Hockessin | 18 | |||
| 2001 | Christie Aiken | Wilmington | 18 | |||
| 2000 | Carrie Aiken | Wilmington | 18 | |||
| 1999 | ASHLEY COLEMAN | Camden | 18 | Miss Teen USA | ||
| 1998 | Nicole Tomlin | Wilmington | 17 | |||
| 1997 | Cheryl Crowe* | Felton | 18 | |||
| 1996 | Ashley Anderson | Rehoboth Beach | 16 | Later Miss DE USA 2003 | ||
| 1995 | Dawn Renee Huey | Greenwood | 18 | Finalist | ||
| 1994 | Selena Del Grosso | Wilmington | 17 | |||
| 1993 | Catherine Huang | Newark | 16 | |||
| 1992 | Justine Jones | Dover | 17 | |||
| 1991 | Michelle Dalton | Hockessin | 16 | |||
| 1990 | Kristie Pontius | Wilmington | 17 | |||
| 1989 | Alison Wilson | Milford | 17 | |||
| 1988 | Edith Senter | Felton | 17 | |||
| 1987 | Cristi Griffin | Newark | 16 | |||
| 1986 | Laura Hawthorne | Wilmington | 17 | |||
| 1985 | Julie Wheatley | Seaford | 18 | |||
| 1984 | Heather Reed | Wilmington | 18 | |||
| 1983 | Laura Michelle Enslen | Wilmington | 17 |
