Your ultimate Miss USA state pageant resource
Take a trip back into the history of the Miss Michigan USA and Teen USA pageants, from the first winner, Judy Hatula in 1952, to Miss Michigan USA 2023 Alexis-Fagan Williams and Miss Michigan Teen USA 2023 Avery Hill. 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.
Michigan has won the Miss USA title four times, with Carole Gist‘s 1990 win making history as the first time an African-American won the title. Carole has stayed involved in the pageant scene and frequently attends Miss Michigan USA and Miss USA. Three years later Kenya Moore became Michigan’s second winner – and the second African-American titleholder. In 2010 Michigan made history yet again when Rima Fakih became the first Arab-American to win Miss USA. Most recently West Point Grad and serving US Army Officer Alma Cooper won the Miss USA 2024 title.
Michigan has had the fewest crossovers (contestants who have held multiple Miss Teen USA, Miss USA, Miss America or Miss America’s Outstanding Teen titles) of any state. Kristen Danyal is the only titleholder to win both Miss Michigan Teen USA and Miss Michigan USA, making the semi-finals at both Miss Teen USA and Miss USA. Wa’Lynda Lou Sipple is the only other Michigan Teen to compete at Miss USA, representing Nebraska at Miss USA 1999 – her daughter is Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2024. No Miss Michigan USA titleholders have competed at Miss America, and Che’vonne Burton, Miss MI Teen USA 1997 and Miss Michigan 2000, is the only Miss Michigan Teen USA to win a Miss America title.
Miss USA 1993 Kenya Moore starred on five seasons of The Real Housewives of Atlanta and has also appeared on Dancing with the Stars. Jaclyn Schultz competed with her then-boyfriend (now husband) Jon on Survivor: San Juan del Sur, the 29th season of survivor. Most recently, Taylor Hale won Big Brother 24 as well as being voted America’s Favourite Houseguest.
20 • Detroit
1st runner-up
at Miss Universe
22 • Detroit
Top 6
at Miss Universe
24 • Dearborn
22 • Okemos
27 • Detroit
24 • Detroit
Miss Congeniality
at Miss USA
23 • Plymouth
23 • Detroit
22 • Okemos
Winner of
Miss USA 2024
Winner
Carole Gist (1990), Kenya Moore (1993), Rima Fakih (2010), Alma Cooper (2024)
1st runner-up
Kevin Gale (1976)
3rd runner-up
Elisa Schleef (2003)
Top 5/6
Natasha Bell (1996)
Semi-finalist
Pamela Lee Sands (1963), Susan Lynne Pill (1965), Pat Glannan (1971), Marilyn Petty (1972), Diane Arabia (1982), Kimberly Mexicotte (1993), Johnelle Ryan (1998), Shannon Clark (1999), Jill Dobson (2000), Kenya Howard (2001)
Top 8/10/11/12*
Rashontae Wawrzyniak (2015)
Top 15/16/20*
Crystal Hayes (2005), Kelly Best (2007), Kristen Danyal (2012), Elizabeth Johnson (2018)
* Where the semi-finalists are cut in multiple stages before the top 5 or 6
| IMAGE | YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2024 | ALMA COOPER | Okemos | 22 | Miss USA | Best in Interview | |
 | 2023 | Alexis Fagan-Williams | Detroit | 23 | |||
 | 2022 | Aria Hutchinson | Plymouth | 23 | Daughter of Miss MI Teen USA 1988 Melissa Sinkevics | ||
 | 2021 | Taylor Hale | Detroit | 24 | Congeniality | ||
 | 2020 | Chanel Johnson | Detroit | 27 | |||
 | 2019 | Alyse Madej | Garden City | 26 | |||
 | 2018 | Elizabeth Johnson | Detroit | 25 | Top 15 | ||
 | 2017 | Krista Ferguson | Detroit | 24 | |||
 | 2016 | Susie Leica | Livonia | 26 | |||
 | 2015 | Rashontae Wawrzyniak | Detroit | 25 | Top 11 | ||
 | 2014 | Elizabeth Ivezaj | Macomb | 24 | |||
 | 2013 | Jaclyn Schultz | Wyandotte | 24 | |||
 | 2012 | Kristen Danyal* | Detroit | 21 | Top 16 | Previously Miss MI Teen USA 2009 (SF Miss Teen USA) | |
 | 2011 | Channing Pierce | Royal Oak | 23 | |||
 | 2010 | RIMA FAKIH | Dearborn | 24 | Miss USA | NF Miss Universe 2010 | |
 | 2009 | Lindsey Tycholiz | Sterling Heights | 26 | |||
 | 2008 | Elisabeth Crawford | Canton | 25 | |||
 | 2007 | Kelly Best | Troy | 20 | Top 15 | Later Miss US International 2008 | |
 | 2006 | Danelle Gay | Lapeer | 24 | |||
 | 2005 | Crystal Hayes | Rock | 20 | Top 15 | ||
 | 2004 | Stacey Lee | Rochester Hills | 26 | |||
 | 2003 | Elisa Schleef | St. Joseph | 23 | 3rd runner-up | ||
 | 2002 | Rebekah Decker | Ferndale | 24 | |||
 | 2001 | Kenya Howard | Detroit | 24 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 2000 | Jill Dobson | Quincy | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1999 | Shannon Clark | Troy | 26 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1998 | Johnelle Ryan | Cassopolis | 25 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1997 | Jennifer Reed | Taylor | 25 | |||
 | 1996 | Natasha Bell | Berrien Springs | 20 | Top 6 | ||
 | 1995 | Keisha Eichelberger | Detroit | ||||
 | 1994 | Kelly Pawlowski | Allen Park | ||||
 | 1993 | KENYA MOORE | Detroit | 22 | Miss USA | T6 Miss Universe 1990 | |
 | 1992 | Lainie Howard | St. Joseph | 21 | |||
 | 1991 | Leann Rothi | Kalamazoo | 18 | |||
 | 1990 | CAROLE GIST | Detroit | 20 | Miss USA | 1RU Miss Universe 1990 | |
 | 1989 | Karyn Finucan | Birmingham | ||||
 | 1988 | Anthonia Dotson | Detroit | 20 | |||
 | 1987 | Elizabeth Puleo | Grosse Pointe Woods | 19 | |||
 | 1986 | Lisa Bernardi | Carleton | ||||
 | 1985 | Nancy Mazuro | Washington | 18 | |||
 | 1984 | Adriana Krambeck | Sterling Heights | 20 | |||
 | 1983 | Kimberly Mexicotte | Livonia | 21 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1982 | Diane Arabia | Warren | 21 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1981 | Karen Eidson | Hazel Park | 21 | |||
 | 1980 | Teena Hammonds | Troy | 21 | |||
 | 1979 | Susan James | Hazel Park | 19 | |||
 | 1978 | April Patrick | Detroit | 19 | |||
 | 1977 | Jenny Pinks | Trenton | 20 | |||
 | 1976 | Kevin Gale | Dearborn Heights | 22 | 1st runner-up | ||
 | 1975 | Debbie Holland | West Bloomfield | 24 | |||
 | 1974 | Patricia Loftis | Detroit | ||||
 | 1973 | Linda East | Warren | 26 | |||
 | 1972 | Marilyn Petty | Roseville | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1971 | Pat Glannan | Detroit | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1970 | Duane Bergen | Detroit | 19 | |||
 | 1969 | Lisa Brenner | Reed City | ||||
 | 1968 | Virginia Clift | Novi | 18 | |||
 | 1967 | Sonja Dunson | Detroit | 24 | |||
 | 1966 | Kathlene Blascak | Allen Park | 19 | |||
 | 1965 | Susan Lynne Pill | Pontiac | Semi-finalist | |||
 | 1964 | Johneane Teeter | Dearborn | 20 | |||
 | 1963 | Pamela Lee Sands | Ludington | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1962 | Judith Lamparter | Detroit | 18 | |||
 | 1961 | Patricia Squires | Milan | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1960 | Judith Richards | Dearborn | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1959 | Susan Westergaard | Southfield | 20 | |||
 | 1958 | Shirley Ann Black | Flint | 19 | |||
 | 1957 | Sharon Moore | Detroit | 19 | |||
 | 1956 | Barbara Sias | Detroit | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1955 | Martha Smith | Detroit | 18 | |||
 | 1954 | Gerri Hoffman | Detroit | 22 | |||
 | 1953 | Jo Ann Page | Detroit | 20 | |||
 | 1952 | Judy Hatula | Detroit | 18 | Semi-finalist |
| YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ALMA COOPER | Okemos | 22 | Miss USA | Best in Interview | |
| 2023 | Alexis Fagan-Williams | Detroit | 22 | |||
| 2022 | Aria Hutchinson | Plymouth | 23 | Daughter of Miss MI Teen USA 1988 Melissa Sinkevics | ||
| 2021 | Taylor Hale | Detroit | 24 | Congeniality | ||
| 2020 | Chanel Johnson | Detroit | 27 | |||
| 2019 | Alyse Madej | Garden City | 26 | |||
| 2018 | Elizabeth Johnson | Detroit | 25 | Top 15 | ||
| 2017 | Krista Ferguson | Detroit | 24 | |||
| 2016 | Susie Leica | Livonia | 26 | |||
| 2015 | Rashontae Wawrzyniak | Detroit | 25 | Top 11 | ||
| 2014 | Elizabeth Ivezaj | Macomb | 24 | |||
| 2013 | Jaclyn Schultz | Wyandotte | 24 | |||
| 2012 | Kristen Danyal* | Detroit | 21 | Top 16 | Previously Miss MI Teen USA 2009 (SF Miss Teen USA) | |
| 2011 | Channing Pierce | Royal Oak | 23 | |||
| 2010 | RIMA FAKIH | Dearborn | 24 | Miss USA | NF Miss Universe 2010 | |
| 2009 | Lindsey Tycholiz | Sterling Heights | 26 | |||
| 2008 | Elisabeth Crawford | Canton | 25 | |||
| 2007 | Kelly Best | Troy | 20 | Top 15 | Later Miss US International 2008 | |
| 2006 | Danelle Gay | Lapeer | 24 | |||
| 2005 | Crystal Hayes | Rock | 20 | Top 15 | ||
| 2004 | Stacey Lee | Rochester Hills | 26 | |||
| 2003 | Elisa Schleef | St. Joseph | 23 | 3rd runner-up | ||
| 2002 | Rebekah Decker | Ferndale | 24 | |||
| 2001 | Kenya Howard | Detroit | 24 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 2000 | Jill Dobson | Quincy | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1999 | Shannon Clark | Troy | 26 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1998 | Johnelle Ryan | Cassopolis | 25 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1997 | Jennifer Reed | Taylor | 25 | |||
| 1996 | Natasha Bell | Berrien Springs | 20 | Top 6 | ||
| 1995 | Keisha Eichelberger | Detroit | ||||
| 1994 | Kelly Pawlowski | Allen Park | ||||
| 1993 | KENYA MOORE | Detroit | 22 | Miss USA | T6 Miss Universe 1990 | |
| 1992 | Lainie Howard | St. Joseph | 21 | |||
| 1991 | Leann Rothi | Kalamazoo | 18 | |||
| 1990 | CAROLE GIST | Detroit | 20 | Miss USA | 1RU Miss Universe 1990 | |
| 1989 | Karyn Finucan | Birmingham | ||||
| 1988 | Anthonia Dotson | Detroit | 20 | |||
| 1987 | Elizabeth Puleo | Grosse Pointe Woods | 19 | |||
| 1986 | Lisa Bernardi | Carleton | ||||
| 1985 | Nancy Mazuro | Washington | 18 | |||
| 1984 | Adriana Krambeck | Sterling Heights | 20 | |||
| 1983 | Kimberly Mexicotte | Livonia | 21 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1982 | Diane Arabia | Warren | 21 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1981 | Karen Eidson | Hazel Park | 21 | |||
| 1980 | Teena Hammonds | Troy | 21 | |||
| 1979 | Susan James | Hazel Park | 19 | |||
| 1978 | April Patrick | Detroit | 19 | |||
| 1977 | Jenny Pinks | Trenton | 20 | |||
| 1976 | Kevin Gale | Dearborn Heights | 22 | 1st runner-up | ||
| 1975 | Debbie Holland | West Bloomfield | 24 | |||
| 1974 | Patricia Loftis | Detroit | ||||
| 1973 | Linda East | Warren | 26 | |||
| 1972 | Marilyn Petty | Roseville | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1971 | Pat Glannan | Detroit | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1970 | Duane Bergen | Detroit | 19 | |||
| 1969 | Lisa Brenner | Reed City | ||||
| 1968 | Virginia Clift | Novi | 18 | |||
| 1967 | Sonja Dunson | Detroit | 24 | |||
| 1966 | Kathlene Blascak | Allen Park | 19 | |||
| 1965 | Susan Lynne Pill | Pontiac | Semi-finalist | |||
| 1964 | Johneane Teeter | Dearborn | 20 | |||
| 1963 | Pamela Lee Sands | Ludington | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1962 | Judith Lamparter | Detroit | 18 | |||
| 1961 | Patricia Squires | Milan | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1960 | Judith Richards | Dearborn | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1959 | Susan Westergaard | Southfield | 20 | |||
| 1958 | Shirley Ann Black | Flint | 19 | |||
| 1957 | Sharon Moore | Detroit | 19 | |||
| 1956 | Barbara Sias | Detroit | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1955 | Martha Smith | Detroit | 18 | |||
| 1954 | Gerri Hoffman | Detroit | 22 | |||
| 1953 | Jo Ann Page | Detroit | 20 | |||
| 1952 | Judy Hatula | Detroit | 18 | Semi-finalist |
