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Miss profiles 2020-2022 complete • Teen profiles 2020-2022 and all profiles 2010-2019 coming soon

Miss Missouri USA and Teen USA Titleholder History

Your ultimate Miss USA state pageant resource

Take a trip back into the history of the Miss Missouri USA and Teen USA pageants, from the very first winner, Carolyn Carlew in 1952, to Autumn Black and Madison Beck 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.

Miss MO USA 1997 Amanda Jahn & Miss MO USA 1995 Britt Powell
Miss MO USA 1997 Amanda Jahn & Miss MO USA 1995 Britt Powell

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A guide to the state titleholder listings...

Miss Missouri USA and Teen USA Titleholder History

Family ties

The Missouri winners of the early 1990s have carved out a unique slice of history as mothers to one Miss USA and three Miss Teen USA contestants – including two Teens who competed in the same year.  Missouri winners with family connections to other state titleholders are:

  • Miss Missouri USA 2011 Hope Driskill – Cousin of Miss Kansas USA 2020 Hayden Brax.
  • Miss Missouri Teen USA 1990 (& Miss Kansas USA 1993) Tavia Shackles Hunt – Mother of Miss Kansas USA 2021 Gracie Hunt
  • Miss Missouri USA 1990 Lori Suschnick Bartlett – Mother of Miss Missouri Teen USA 2018 Chloe Bartlett
  • Miss Missouri USA 1992 Tonya Snodgrass Sexton – Mother of Miss Missouri Teen USA 2016 Makenzie Sexton
  • Miss Missouri USA 1993 Stephanie Nunn Ezard – Mother of Miss Missouri Teen USA 2018 Dallas Ezard
  • Miss Missouri USA 1974 Dorothy “Tweetie” McElveen – Sister of Miss Nebraska USA 1970 Bonnie McElveen

National Titleholders

Missouri has had three national titleholdrs, all since the year 2000.  Marissa Whitley  was the first when she won the Miss Teen USA title in 2001.  In 2004 Shandi Finnessey became only the second Miss America contestant to win the Miss USA title (the first was Mai Shanley in 1984).  She went on to place first runner-up at Miss Universe. Thirteen years later Sophia Dominguez-Heithoff was crowned Miss Teen USA 2017.  Sophia recently graduated with her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California.

Directors

Missouri has competed at every Miss USA pageant since its inception in 1952.  In the early 1950s, the winner of the “National Soybean Festival” pageant in Portage, Missouri, was sent to represent the Show-Me state at Miss USA.  From 1968 until the late 1970s, the Missouri pageant was held jointly with Kansas and both winners made joint appearances as they flew to Miss USA.

Missouri was the second state added to the Vanbros group, in 1993.  They have now directed Missouri for over 30 years, including all three of Missouri’s national titleholders.  Miss Missouri USA 1995 Britt Powell has been the director of the Miss Arizona USA pageant since 2006, and also directed Utah from 2008-2018.  Britt’s roommate at Miss USA 1995 was winner and eventual Miss Universe Chelsi Smith.

Reality TV

Missouri titleholders who have participated in reality TV shows have included:

  • Miss Missouri USA 2017 Bayleigh Dayton – Contestant on Big Brother 20, Big Brother 22 and The Challenge: Total Madness
  • Miss Missouri USA 2011 Hope Driskill – Contestant on Survivor: Caramoan
  • Miss Missouri USA 2015 Andrea Ciliberti – Contestant on Beauty and the Geek, season 3
  • Miss Missouri USA 2002 Melana Scantlin – Star of Average Joe
  • Miss Missouri USA 2001 Larissa Meek – Star of Average Joe: Hawaii

Miss USA and Miss Teen USA titleholders from Missouri

MISS USA 2004

Shandi Finnessey

25 • Florissant

1st runner-up
at Miss Universe

MISS TEEN USA 2001

Marissa Whitley

18 • Springfield

 

MISS TEEN USA 2017

Sophia Domínguez-Heithoff

17 • Kansas City

 

Miss Missouri USA titleholders 1952-2022

Recent titleholders

2020
Missouri USA icon 2020
Megan Renee Kelly

24 • Kansas City

Top 16 at
Miss USA

2021
Missouri USA icon 2021
Joye Forrest

25 • Spanish Lake

 

2022
Missouri USA icon 2022
Mikala McGhee

28 • St Louis

Top 16
at Miss USA

2023
Missouri USA icon 2023
Autumn Black

25 • Lee’s Summit

 

2024
Miss Missouri USA 2024 Ashleigh Bedwell
Ashleigh Bedwell

26 • Campbell

 

Placements and Awards Summary

Placements

Winner

Shandi Finnessey (2004)

2nd runner-up

Carolyn Corlew (1952), Sandra Marlin (1963), Melanie Breedlove (1998)

3rd runner-up

Nancy Rich (1971), Saundra “Sandy” Percival (1984), Dawn Fonseca (1987)

4th runner-up

Karen Hendrix (1967), Larissa Meek (2001)

Semi-finalist

Alice Porritt (1954), Barbara Stell (1959), Marilyn Stalcup (1960), Dorothy “Tweetie” McElveen (1974), Nancy LaRose (1975), Donna Hibbitts (1976), Amy Coverdale (1985), Shelly Lehman (1994), Britt Powell (1995), Bayleigh Dayton (2017)

Top 8/10/11/12*

Amber Seyer (2007), Candice Crawford (2008), Ashley Strohmier (2010), Sydnee Stottlemyre (2016)

Top 15/16/20*

Hope Driskill (2011), Megan Kelly (2020), Mikala McGhee (2022)

* Where the semi-finalists are cut in multiple stages before the top 5 or 6

Awards

Congeniality

Bayleigh Dayton (tie) (2017)

Full Titleholder Listing

IMAGEYEARNAMEHOMETOWNAGEPLACEMENTAWARDNOTES
2024Ashleigh BedwellCampbell26
2023Autumn BlackLee's Summit24
2022Mikala McGheeSt Louis28Top 16
2021Joye ForrestSpanish Lake25
2020Megan KellyKansas City24Top 15
2019Miriah LudtkeSt. Louis25
2018Tori KruseCamdenton27
2017Bayleigh DaytonKansas City24Semi-finalistCongeniality (tie)
2016Sydnee Stottlemyre°*Chesterfield22Top 10Previously Miss MO's OT 2008 (4RU MAOTeen) & Miss MO Teen USA 2011 (4RU Teen USA)
2015Rebecca DunnColumbia24
2014Erica Sturdefant*Springfield23Previously Miss MO Teen USA 2010
2013Ellie HoltmanMontgomery City21
2012Katie KearneySt. Louis23
2011Hope DriskillJefferson City21Top 16Cousin of Miss Kansas USA 2020 Hayden Brax
2010Ashley StrohmierJefferson City21Top 10
2009Stacey SmithFlorissant22
2008Candice CrawfordColumbia21Top 10
2007Amber Seyer*Oran20Top 10Previously Miss MO Teen USA 2003
2006Kristi CapelSpringfield22
2005Andrea CilibertiKansas City21
2004Ashley LittonOlathe20Assumed title after Shandi won Miss USA
2004SHANDI FINNESSEY^Florissant25Miss USAPreviously Miss MO 2002; 1RU Miss Universe 2004
2003Tara BollingerChesterfield23
2002Melana Scantlin*Gladstone24Previously Miss MO Teen USA 1995 (SF Miss Teen USA)
2001Larissa Meek*St. Louis234th runner-upPreviously Miss MO Teen USA 1997
2000Denette RoderickLebanon24
1999Teri Bollinger*Kansas City26Previously Miss IL Teen USA 1990
1998Melanie Breedlove*Mountain Grove222nd runner-upPreviously Miss MO Teen USA 1993
1997Amanda JahnSt Joseph25
1996Aimee RinehartKansas City24
1995Britt PowellKansas City25Semi-finalist
1994Shelly LehmanRepublic25Semi-finalist
1993Stephanie NunnMarshfield20Mother of Miss MO Teen USA 2016 Dallas Ezard
1992Tonya SnodgrassSpringfield20Mother of Miss AR Teen USA 2016 Makenzie Sexton
1991Tiffany HazellSedalia19
1990Lori SuschnickLiberal19Mother of Miss MO Teen USA 2018 Chloe Bartlett
1989Rhonda Hoglen*Kansas City21Previously Miss MO Teen USA 1985 (3RU Miss Teen USA)
1988Alecia WorkmanMaryland Heights21
1987Dawn FonsecaIndependence223rd runner-up
1986Barbara Webster^Kansas City24Previously Miss MO 1983 (SF Miss America)
1985Amy CoverdaleColumbia22Semi-finalist
1984Saundra "Sandy" PercivalSunrise Beach203rd runner-up
1983Robin Riley^Columbia20Later Miss MO 1987 (SF Miss America)
1982Susan HeimanKansas City21
1981Karyn SmagaczFulton19
1980Kelly LaxsonKansas City20
1979Virginia DeanRolla21
1978Paula TaylorColumbia20
1977Connie AstChesterfield18
1977Leigh MiddletonFlorissantResigned due to a car accident that prevented her from competing at Miss USA
1976Donna HibbittsColumbia20Semi-finalist
1975Nancy LaRoseMarshall22Semi-finalist
1974Dorothy "Tweetie" McElveenColumbia19Semi-finalistSister of Miss NE USA 1970 Bonnie McElveen
1973Camilla CristShelbina18
1972Janet PotterSpringfield19
1971Nancy RichSpringfield213rd runner-up
1970Suzette GrinhamIndependence18
1969Cherrie HofmannKansas City20
1968Jan BartonMacon19
1967Karen HendrixIndependence184th runner-up
1966Martha TaylorIndependence18
1965Barbara BrooksKansas City21
1964Sandy BawolFlorissant19
1963Sandra MarlinSpringfield192nd runner-up
1962Mikee CampbellSpringfield21
1961Joan RobertsRichmond Heights19
1960Marilyn StalcupNormandy20Semi-finalist
1959Barbara StellKansas City23Semi-finalist
1958Beverly WrightSt Louis19
1957Judith MurbackSikeston18
1956Carol ThrowerKemmett18
1955Janet CokerCaruthersville18
1954Alice PorrittCape Girardeau19Semi-finalist
1953Donna GardnerUnion City18
1952Carolyn CarlewSikeston182nd runner-up
YEARNAMEHOMETOWNAGEPLACEMENTAWARDNOTES
2024Ashleigh BedwellCampbell26
2022Mikala McGheeSt Louis28Top 16
2021Joye ForrestSpanish Lake25
2020Megan KellyKansas City24Top 15
2019Miriah LudtkeSt. Louis25
2018Tori KruseCamdenton27
2017Bayleigh DaytonKansas City24Semi-finalistCongeniality (tie)
2016Sydnee Stottlemyre°*Chesterfield22Top 10Previously Miss MO's OT 2008 (4RU MAOTeen) & Miss MO Teen USA 2011 (4RU Teen USA)
2015Rebecca DunnColumbia24
2014Erica Sturdefant*Springfield23Previously Miss MO Teen USA 2010
2013Ellie HoltmanMontgomery City21
2012Katie KearneySt. Louis23
2011Hope DriskillJefferson City21Top 16Cousin of Miss Kansas USA 2020 Hayden Brax
2010Ashley StrohmierJefferson City21Top 10
2009Stacey SmithFlorissant22
2008Candice CrawfordColumbia21Top 10
2007Amber Seyer*Oran20Top 10Previously Miss MO Teen USA 2003
2006Kristi CapelSpringfield22
2005Andrea CilibertiKansas City21
2004Ashley LittonOlathe20Assumed title after Shandi won Miss USA
2004SHANDI FINNESSEY^Florissant25Miss USAPreviously Miss MO 2002; 1RU Miss Universe 2004
2003Tara BollingerChesterfield23
2002Melana Scantlin*Gladstone24Previously Miss MO Teen USA 1995 (SF Miss Teen USA)
2001Larissa Meek*St. Louis234th runner-upPreviously Miss MO Teen USA 1997
2000Denette RoderickLebanon24
1999Teri Bollinger*Kansas City26Previously Miss IL Teen USA 1990
1998Melanie Breedlove*Mountain Grove222nd runner-upPreviously Miss MO Teen USA 1993
1997Amanda JahnSt Joseph25
1996Aimee RinehartKansas City24
1995Britt PowellKansas City25Semi-finalist
1994Shelly LehmanRepublic25Semi-finalist
1993Stephanie NunnMarshfield20Mother of Miss MO Teen USA 2016 Dallas Ezard
1992Tonya SnodgrassSpringfield20Mother of Miss AR Teen USA 2016 Makenzie Sexton
1991Tiffany HazellSedalia19
1990Lori SuschnickLiberal19Mother of Miss MO Teen USA 2018 Chloe Bartlett
1989Rhonda Hoglen*Kansas City21Previously Miss MO Teen USA 1985 (3RU Miss Teen USA)
1988Alecia WorkmanMaryland Heights21
1987Dawn FonsecaIndependence223rd runner-up
1986Barbara Webster^Kansas City24Previously Miss MO 1983 (SF Miss America)
1985Amy CoverdaleColumbia22Semi-finalist
1984Saundra "Sandy" PercivalSunrise Beach203rd runner-up
1983Robin Riley^Columbia20Later Miss MO 1987 (SF Miss America)
1982Susan HeimanKansas City21
1981Karyn SmagaczFulton19
1980Kelly LaxsonKansas City20
1979Virginia DeanRolla21
1978Paula TaylorColumbia20
1977Connie AstChesterfield18
1977Leigh MiddletonFlorissantResigned due to a car accident that prevented her from competing at Miss USA
1976Donna HibbittsColumbia20Semi-finalist
1975Nancy LaRoseMarshall22Semi-finalist
1974Dorothy "Tweetie" McElveenColumbia19Semi-finalistSister of Miss NE USA 1970 Bonnie McElveen
1973Camilla CristShelbina18
1972Janet PotterSpringfield19
1971Nancy RichSpringfield213rd runner-up
1970Suzette GrinhamIndependence18
1969Cherrie HofmannKansas City20
1968Jan BartonMacon19
1967Karen HendrixIndependence184th runner-up
1966Martha TaylorIndependence18
1965Barbara BrooksKansas City21
1964Sandy BawolFlorissant19
1963Sandra MarlinSpringfield192nd runner-up
1962Mikee CampbellSpringfield21
1961Joan RobertsRichmond Heights19
1960Marilyn StalcupNormandy20Semi-finalist
1959Barbara StellKansas City23Semi-finalist
1958Beverly WrightSt Louis19
1957Judith MurbackSikeston18
1956Carol ThrowerKemmett18
1955Janet CokerCaruthersville18
1954Alice PorrittCape Girardeau19Semi-finalist
1953Donna GardnerUnion City18
1952Carolyn CarlewSikeston182nd runner-up

State and Miss USA Photo Album