Your ultimate Miss USA state pageant resource
Take a trip back into the history of the Miss Kentucky USA and Teen USA pageants, from the first winner to the most recent. 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.
This Miss Kentucky USA history archive starts with the very first representative Jean Tingle, who made the news as the first to marry one of the men she met when competing at Miss USA – less than two months after the pageant! Kentucky is home to two Miss USAs, both crowned in the last 20 years, Tara Conner of Russellville and Elle Smith of Louisville. Tara is one of two Kentucky women who placed in the top five at both Miss Teen USA and Miss USA, the other being Kristen Johnson. Kentucky pageant winners once hailed from all across the state, but in recent years there has been a trend towards Miss winners residing in Louisville. 2023 winner Madalyne Kinnett is the first to hail from Lexington since the aforementioned Jean Tingle in 1952 – and the first to come from outside Louisville since 2014! Miss Kentucky USA 1976 Connie Clark later directed the pageants for many decades. They are now under the direction of Miss Ohio USA 1990 Melissa Proctor Pitchford and Proctor Productions.
20 • Russell Springs
4th runner-up
at Miss Universe
23 • Louisville
Top 10
at Miss Universe
24 • Louisville
23 • Louisville
Winner of
Miss USA 2021
23 • Louisville
22 • Lexington
23 • Lexington
1st runner-up
at Miss USA
Winner
Tara Conner (2006), Elle Smith (2021)
1st runner-up
Connor Perry (2024)
2nd runner-up
Kristen Johnson (2005)
3rd runner-up
Julie Andrus (1965)
4th runner-up
Johanna Reid (1964), Patricia Barnstable (1971), Lisa Devillez (1980), Kristina Chapman (1982), Maria Montgomery (2009)
Top 5/6
Tiffany Tenfelde (1990), Angela Hines (1992)
Semi-finalist
Mary Stice (1953), Marcia Chumbler (1961), Sally Margaret Carter (1962), Carol June Wallace (1975), Mitzi Jones (1995)
Top 8/10/11/12*
Katie George (2015)
* Where the semi-finalists are cut in multiple stages before the top 5 or 6
Congeniality
Kay Pinkley (1968), Connie Clark (1976), Kia Hampton (2011)
Photogenic
Robin Overby (1985)
State Costume
Charlesy Gulick (1974)
Other Awards
Best in Swimsuit • Connor Perry (2024)
| IMAGE | YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2024 | Connor Perry | Lexington | 23 | 1st runner-up | Best in Swimsuit | |
 | 2023 | Madalyne Kinnett | Lexington | 22 | |||
 | 2022 | Lizzy Neutz | Louisville | 23 | |||
 | 2021 | ELLE SMITH | Louisville | 23 | Miss USA | ||
 | 2020 | Lexie Iles | Louisville | 24 | |||
 | 2019 | Jordan Weiter | Louisville | 22 | |||
 | 2018 | Braea Tilford | Louisville | 25 | |||
 | 2017 | Madelynne Myers | Louisville | 22 | |||
 | 2016 | Kyle Hornback | Louisville | 20 | |||
 | 2015 | Katie George | Louisville | 21 | Top 11 | ||
 | 2014 | Destin Kincer | Whitesburg | 21 | |||
 | 2013 | Allie Leggett | Whitley City | 19 | |||
 | 2012 | Amanda Mertz | Louisville | 25 | |||
 | 2011 | Kia Hampton | Louisville | 21 | Congeniality | ||
 | 2010 | Kindra Clark | Mt. Washington | 19 | |||
 | 2009 | Maria Montgomery | Danville | 19 | 4th runner-up | ||
 | 2008 | Alysha Harris | Carrollton | 20 | |||
 | 2007 | Michelle Banzer | Louisville | 24 | Previously Miss KY Teen USA 2002 (2RU Teen USA); 4RU Miss Universe | ||
 | 2006 | TARA CONNER* | Russell Springs | 20 | Miss USA | Previously Miss KY Teen USA 2000 (2RU Miss Teen USA) | |
 | 2005 | Kristen Johnson* | Slaughters | 23 | 2nd runner-up | ||
 | 2004 | Lauren Stengel | Louisville | 22 | |||
 | 2003 | Lori Mitchell | Scottsville | 21 | |||
 | 2002 | Elizabeth Arnold* | Columbia | 22 | Previously Miss KY Teen USA 1998 | ||
 | 2001 | Jo Pritchard | Hardin | 23 | |||
 | 2000 | Jolene Youngster | Glasgow | 23 | |||
 | 1999 | Lori Menshouse^ | Ashland | 26 | Previously Miss KY 1997 | ||
 | 1998 | Nancy Bradley | Franklin | 23 | |||
 | 1997 | Rachyl Hoskins | Liberty | 22 | |||
 | 1996 | Lorie West | Campbellsville | 22 | |||
 | 1995 | Mitzi Jones | White Plains | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1994 | Kim Buford | Paducah | 26 | |||
 | 1993 | Karen Gibson | Kevil | ||||
 | 1992 | Angela Hines | Maysville | Top 6 | |||
 | 1991 | Susan Farris | Benton | ||||
 | 1990 | Tiffany Tenfelde | Lakeside Park | Top 6 | |||
 | 1989 | Veronica Hensley | Danville | ||||
 | 1988 | Suzanne Pitman | Murray | ||||
 | 1987 | Beth Clark | Mayfield | ||||
 | 1986 | Jackie Taylor | Paducah | ||||
 | 1985 | Robin Overby | Calvert City | Photogenic | |||
 | 1984 | Tammy Melendez | Murray | ||||
 | 1983 | Lee Ann Austin | Benton | ||||
 | 1982 | Kristina Chapman | Owensboro | 4th runner-up | |||
 | 1981 | Denise Gibbs | Paducah | ||||
 | 1980 | Lisa Devillez | Owensboro | 4th runner-up | |||
 | 1979 | Linda Passmore | Hopkinsville | ||||
 | 1978 | Linda Woodruff | Louisville | ||||
 | 1977 | Sandy Smith | Princeton | 23 | Previously Miss WY 1976; mother of Miss KY 2002 | ||
 | 1976 | Connie Clark | Benton | Congeniality | Later the director of Miss KY USA for many decades | ||
 | 1975 | Carol June Wallace^ | Somerset | Semi-finalist | |||
 | 1974 | Charlesy Gulick | Williamstown | State Costume | |||
 | 1973 | Nancy Coplen | Mayfield | ||||
 | 1972 | Tamara Branstetter | Summer Shade | 18 | |||
 | 1971 | Patricia Barnstable | Louisville | 19 | 4th runner-up | ||
 | 1970 | Joanna Smith | Morgantown | 19 | |||
 | 1969 | Regina Pryor | Leitchfield | 20 | |||
 | 1968 | Kay Pinkley | Murray | 19 | Congeniality | ||
 | 1967 | Debbie Dibble | Murray | 18 | |||
 | 1966 | Jennifer Burcham | Hickman | 18 | |||
 | 1965 | Julie Andrus | Mayfield | 18 | 3rd runner-up | †2009 | |
 | 1964 | Johnna Reid | Paducah | 19 | 4th runner-up | ||
 | 1963 | Mary Ann Arnold | Calvert City | 20 | |||
 | 1962 | Sally Margaret Carter | Mayfield | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1961 | Marcia Chumbler | Mayfield | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1960 | Barbara Joan Lovins | Alexandria | 19 | |||
 | 1959 | Sherree Owens | Louisville | 22 | |||
 | 1958 | Shannon Beasley | Henderson | 22 | |||
| 1957 | Did Not Compete | ||||||
| 1956 | Did Not Compete | ||||||
| 1955 | Did Not Compete | ||||||
 | 1954 | Nikki Horner | Prospect | 28 | |||
 | 1953 | Mary Stice | Paducah | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1952 | Jean Tingle | Lexington | 20 |
| YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Connor Perry | Lexington | 23 | 1st runner-up | Best in Swimsuit | |
| 2023 | Madalyne Kinnett | Lexington | 22 | |||
| 2022 | Lizzy Neutz | Louisville | 23 | |||
| 2021 | ELLE SMITH | Louisville | 23 | Miss USA | ||
| 2020 | Lexie Iles | Louisville | 24 | |||
| 2019 | Jordan Weiter | Louisville | 22 | |||
| 2018 | Braea Tilford | Louisville | 25 | |||
| 2017 | Madelynne Myers | Louisville | 22 | |||
| 2016 | Kyle Hornback | Louisville | 20 | |||
| 2015 | Katie George | Louisville | 21 | Top 11 | ||
| 2014 | Destin Kincer | Whitesburg | 21 | |||
| 2013 | Allie Leggett | Whitley City | 19 | |||
| 2012 | Amanda Mertz | Louisville | 25 | |||
| 2011 | Kia Hampton | Louisville | 21 | Congeniality | ||
| 2010 | Kindra Clark | Mt. Washington | 19 | |||
| 2009 | Maria Montgomery | Danville | 19 | 4th runner-up | ||
| 2008 | Alysha Harris | Carrollton | 20 | |||
| 2007 | Michelle Banzer | Louisville | 24 | Previously Miss KY Teen USA 2002 (2RU Teen USA); 4RU Miss Universe | ||
| 2006 | TARA CONNER* | Russell Springs | 20 | Miss USA | Previously Miss KY Teen USA 2000 (2RU Miss Teen USA) | |
| 2005 | Kristen Johnson* | Slaughters | 23 | 2nd runner-up | ||
| 2004 | Lauren Stengel | Louisville | 22 | |||
| 2003 | Lori Mitchell | Scottsville | 21 | |||
| 2002 | Elizabeth Arnold* | Columbia | 22 | Previously Miss KY Teen USA 1998 | ||
| 2001 | Jo Pritchard | Hardin | 23 | |||
| 2000 | Jolene Youngster | Glasgow | 23 | |||
| 1999 | Lori Menshouse^ | Ashland | 26 | Previously Miss KY 1997 | ||
| 1998 | Nancy Bradley | Franklin | 23 | |||
| 1997 | Rachyl Hoskins | Liberty | 22 | |||
| 1996 | Lorie West | Campbellsville | 22 | |||
| 1995 | Mitzi Jones | White Plains | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1994 | Kim Buford | Paducah | 26 | |||
| 1993 | Karen Gibson | Kevil | ||||
| 1992 | Angela Hines | Maysville | Top 6 | |||
| 1991 | Susan Farris | Benton | ||||
| 1990 | Tiffany Tenfelde | Lakeside Park | Top 6 | |||
| 1989 | Veronica Hensley | Danville | ||||
| 1988 | Suzanne Pitman | Murray | ||||
| 1987 | Beth Clark | Mayfield | ||||
| 1986 | Jackie Taylor | Paducah | ||||
| 1985 | Robin Overby | Calvert City | Photogenic | |||
| 1984 | Tammy Melendez | Murray | ||||
| 1983 | Lee Ann Austin | Benton | ||||
| 1982 | Kristina Chapman | Owensboro | 4th runner-up | |||
| 1981 | Denise Gibbs | Paducah | ||||
| 1980 | Lisa Devillez | Owensboro | 4th runner-up | |||
| 1979 | Linda Passmore | Hopkinsville | ||||
| 1978 | Linda Woodruff | Louisville | ||||
| 1977 | Sandy Smith | Princeton | 23 | Previously Miss WY 1976; mother of Miss KY 2002 | ||
| 1976 | Connie Clark | Benton | Congeniality | Later the director of Miss KY USA for many decades | ||
| 1975 | Carol June Wallace^ | Somerset | Semi-finalist | |||
| 1974 | Charlesy Gulick | Williamstown | State Costume | |||
| 1973 | Nancy Coplen | Mayfield | ||||
| 1972 | Tamara Branstetter | Summer Shade | 18 | |||
| 1971 | Patricia Barnstable | Louisville | 19 | 4th runner-up | ||
| 1970 | Joanna Smith | Morgantown | 19 | |||
| 1969 | Regina Pryor | Leitchfield | 20 | |||
| 1968 | Kay Pinkley | Murray | 19 | Congeniality | ||
| 1967 | Debbie Dibble | Murray | 18 | |||
| 1966 | Jennifer Burcham | Hickman | 18 | |||
| 1965 | Julie Andrus | Mayfield | 18 | 3rd runner-up | †2009 | |
| 1964 | Johnna Reid | Paducah | 19 | 4th runner-up | ||
| 1963 | Mary Ann Arnold | Calvert City | 20 | |||
| 1962 | Sally Margaret Carter | Mayfield | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1961 | Marcia Chumbler | Mayfield | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1960 | Barbara Joan Lovins | Alexandria | 19 | |||
| 1959 | Sherree Owens | Louisville | 22 | |||
| 1958 | Shannon Beasley | Henderson | 22 | |||
| 1957 | Did Not Compete | |||||
| 1956 | Did Not Compete | |||||
| 1955 | Did Not Compete | |||||
| 1954 | Nikki Horner | Prospect | 28 | |||
| 1953 | Mary Stice | Paducah | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1952 | Jean Tingle | Lexington | 20 |
18 • Bowling Green
17 • London
19 • Carrolton
17 • Elizabethtown
17 • Gilbertsville
1st runner-up
Kristi Dawn Hicks (1989)
2nd runner-up
Krista Keith (1983), Kristen Johnson (2000), Tara Conner (2002)
Top 5/6
April Vaughn (1990)
Semi-finalist
Brittany Johnson (1995), Lexie Kemper (1999), Jefra Bland (2009), Taylor Hubbard (2010),
Top 10*
Amanda Nunnelley (2003)
Top 15/16/20*
Sarah Withers (2015)
* Where the semi-finalists are cut in multiple stages before the top 5 or 6
Photogenic
Lexie Kemper (1999), Kristen Johnson (2000)
Other Awards
Best in Swimsuit • Tara Conner (2002)
| IMAGE | YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2024 | Karlie Holmen | Gilbertsville | 17 | |||
 | 2023 | MèShyia Bradshaw | Elizabethtown | 17 | |||
 | 2022 | Gabriella Hembree | Carrollton | 19 | |||
 | 2021 | Kennedy Mosley | London | 17 | |||
 | 2020 | Mattie Barker | Bowling Green | 18 | |||
 | 2019 | Emma Johns | Pikeville | 17 | |||
 | 2018 | Jordan Crozier | Somerset | 19 | |||
 | 2017 | Olivia Prewitt | Danville | 18 | |||
 | 2016 | Christiaan Prince | Grayson | 15 | |||
 | 2015 | Caroline Ford | Bowling Green | 18 | |||
 | 2014 | Megan Ducharm | Shelbyville | 18 | |||
 | 2013 | Gracie Sapp | Lexington | 15 | |||
 | 2012 | Tiffany Cline | Georgetown | 14​ | |||
 | 2011 | Stephanie Jones | Elizabethtown | 17 | |||
 | 2010 | Taylor Hubbard | London | 15 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 2009 | Jefra Bland | Campbellsville | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 2008 | Shannen Reil | West Van Lear | 15 | |||
 | 2007 | Katrina Giannini | Princeton | 17 | |||
 | 2006 | Tiffany Withrow | Ashland | 17 | |||
 | 2005 | Sarah Withers | Columbia | 18 | Top 15 | ||
 | 2004 | Megan Frank | Greensburg | 19 | |||
 | 2003 | Amanda Nunnelley | Louisville | 17 | Top 10 | ||
 | 2002 | Tara Conner* | Russell Springs | 16 | 2nd runner-up | Best in Swimsuit | Later Miss KY USA & Miss USA 2006 |
 | 2001 | Katherine Faulkner | Chavies | 17 | |||
 | 2000 | Kristen Johnson* | Slaughters | 18 | 2nd runner-up | Photogenic | Later Miss KY USA 2005 (2RU Miss USA) |
 | 1999 | Lexie Kemper | Louisville | 17 | Semi-finalist | Photogenic | |
 | 1998 | Elizabeth Arnold* | Columbia | 18 | Later Miss KY USA 2002 | ||
 | 1997 | Kelli Jones | Lexington | 18 | |||
 | 1996 | Kelly Marie Sodan | Berea | 16 | |||
 | 1995 | Brittany Johnson | Virgie | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1994 | Crystal Hayden | Paducah | ||||
 | 1993 | Holly Riggs | Paducah | ||||
 | 1992 | Heather Boggess | Paducah | ||||
| 1991 | Christine Jackman | Louisville | |||||
 | 1990 | April Vaughn | Georgetown | 17 | Top 6 | ||
 | 1989 | Kristi Dawn Hicks^ | Bardstown | 17 | 1st runner-up | Later Miss KY 1995 | |
 | 1988 | Marti Hendricks | Danville | ||||
| 1987 | Tracey Marsee | Middlesboro | |||||
| 1986 | Amy Miller | Benton | |||||
| 1985 | Leanne Gregory | Lexington | Later Miss KS USA 1993 (F Miss USA) | ||||
| 1984 | Suzy Neclerio | Georgetown | |||||
| 1983 | Krista Keith | Louisville | 16 | 2nd runner-up |
| YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Karlie Holmen | Gilbertsville | 17 | |||
| 2023 | MèShyia Bradshaw | Elizabethtown | 17 | |||
| 2022 | Gabriella Hembree | Carrollton | 19 | |||
| 2021 | Kennedy Mosley | London | 17 | |||
| 2020 | Mattie Barker | Bowling Green | 18 | |||
| 2019 | Emma Johns | Pikeville | 17 | |||
| 2018 | Jordan Crozier | Somerset | 19 | |||
| 2017 | Olivia Prewitt | Danville | 18 | |||
| 2016 | Christiaan Prince | Grayson | 15 | |||
| 2015 | Caroline Ford | Bowling Green | 18 | |||
| 2014 | Megan Ducharm | Shelbyville | 18 | |||
| 2013 | Gracie Sapp | Lexington | 15 | |||
| 2012 | Tiffany Cline | Georgetown | 14​ | |||
| 2011 | Stephanie Jones | Elizabethtown | 17 | |||
| 2010 | Taylor Hubbard | London | 15 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 2009 | Jefra Bland | Campbellsville | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 2008 | Shannen Reil | West Van Lear | 15 | |||
| 2007 | Katrina Giannini | Princeton | 17 | |||
| 2006 | Tiffany Withrow | Ashland | 17 | |||
| 2005 | Sarah Withers | Columbia | 18 | Top 15 | ||
| 2004 | Megan Frank | Greensburg | 19 | |||
| 2003 | Amanda Nunnelley | Louisville | 17 | Top 10 | ||
| 2002 | Tara Conner* | Russell Springs | 16 | 2nd runner-up | Best in Swimsuit | Later Miss KY USA & Miss USA 2006 |
| 2001 | Katherine Faulkner | Chavies | 17 | |||
| 2000 | Kristen Johnson* | Slaughters | 18 | 2nd runner-up | Photogenic | Later Miss KY USA 2005 (2RU Miss USA) |
| 1999 | Lexie Kemper | Louisville | 17 | Semi-finalist | Photogenic | |
| 1998 | Elizabeth Arnold* | Columbia | 18 | Later Miss KY USA 2002 | ||
| 1997 | Kelli Jones | Lexington | 18 | |||
| 1996 | Kelly Marie Sodan | Berea | 16 | |||
| 1995 | Brittany Johnson | Virgie | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1994 | Crystal Hayden | Paducah | ||||
| 1993 | Holly Riggs | Paducah | ||||
| 1992 | Heather Boggess | Paducah | ||||
| 1991 | Christine Jackman | Louisville | ||||
| 1990 | April Vaughn | Georgetown | 17 | Top 6 | ||
| 1989 | Kristi Dawn Hicks^ | Bardstown | 17 | 1st runner-up | Later Miss KY 1995 | |
| 1988 | Marti Hendricks | Danville | ||||
| 1987 | Tracey Marsee | Middlesboro | ||||
| 1986 | Amy Miller | Benton | ||||
| 1985 | Leanne Gregory | Lexington | Later Miss KS USA 1993 (F Miss USA) | |||
| 1984 | Suzy Neclerio | Georgetown | ||||
| 1983 | Krista Keith | Louisville | 16 | 2nd runner-up |
