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.
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:
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.
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.
Missouri titleholders who have participated in reality TV shows have included:
25 • Florissant
1st runner-up
at Miss Universe
18 • Springfield
17 • Kansas City
24 • Kansas City
Top 16 at
Miss USA
25 • Spanish Lake
28 • St Louis
Top 16
at Miss USA
25 • Lee’s Summit
26 • Campbell
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
Congeniality
Bayleigh Dayton (tie) (2017)
| IMAGE | YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2024 | Ashleigh Bedwell | Campbell | 26 | |||
 | 2023 | Autumn Black | Lee's Summit | 24 | |||
 | 2022 | Mikala McGhee | St Louis | 28 | Top 16 | ||
 | 2021 | Joye Forrest | Spanish Lake | 25 | |||
 | 2020 | Megan Kelly | Kansas City | 24 | Top 15 | ||
 | 2019 | Miriah Ludtke | St. Louis | 25 | |||
 | 2018 | Tori Kruse | Camdenton | 27 | |||
 | 2017 | Bayleigh Dayton | Kansas City | 24 | Semi-finalist | Congeniality (tie) | |
 | 2016 | Sydnee Stottlemyre°* | Chesterfield | 22 | Top 10 | Previously Miss MO's OT 2008 (4RU MAOTeen) & Miss MO Teen USA 2011 (4RU Teen USA) | |
 | 2015 | Rebecca Dunn | Columbia | 24 | |||
 | 2014 | Erica Sturdefant* | Springfield | 23 | Previously Miss MO Teen USA 2010 | ||
 | 2013 | Ellie Holtman | Montgomery City | 21 | |||
 | 2012 | Katie Kearney | St. Louis | 23 | |||
 | 2011 | Hope Driskill | Jefferson City | 21 | Top 16 | Cousin of Miss Kansas USA 2020 Hayden Brax |
|
 | 2010 | Ashley Strohmier | Jefferson City | 21 | Top 10 | ||
 | 2009 | Stacey Smith | Florissant | 22 | |||
 | 2008 | Candice Crawford | Columbia | 21 | Top 10 | ||
 | 2007 | Amber Seyer* | Oran | 20 | Top 10 | Previously Miss MO Teen USA 2003 | |
 | 2006 | Kristi Capel | Springfield | 22 | |||
 | 2005 | Andrea Ciliberti | Kansas City | 21 | |||
 | 2004 | Ashley Litton | Olathe | 20 | Assumed title after Shandi won Miss USA | ||
 | 2004 | SHANDI FINNESSEY^ | Florissant | 25 | Miss USA | Previously Miss MO 2002; 1RU Miss Universe 2004 | |
 | 2003 | Tara Bollinger | Chesterfield | 23 | |||
 | 2002 | Melana Scantlin* | Gladstone | 24 | Previously Miss MO Teen USA 1995 (SF Miss Teen USA) | ||
 | 2001 | Larissa Meek* | St. Louis | 23 | 4th runner-up | Previously Miss MO Teen USA 1997 | |
 | 2000 | Denette Roderick | Lebanon | 24 | |||
 | 1999 | Teri Bollinger* | Kansas City | 26 | Previously Miss IL Teen USA 1990 | ||
 | 1998 | Melanie Breedlove* | Mountain Grove | 22 | 2nd runner-up | Previously Miss MO Teen USA 1993 | |
 | 1997 | Amanda Jahn | St Joseph | 25 | |||
 | 1996 | Aimee Rinehart | Kansas City | 24 | |||
 | 1995 | Britt Powell | Kansas City | 25 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1994 | Shelly Lehman | Republic | 25 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1993 | Stephanie Nunn | Marshfield | 20 | Mother of Miss MO Teen USA 2016 Dallas Ezard | ||
 | 1992 | Tonya Snodgrass | Springfield | 20 | Mother of Miss AR Teen USA 2016 Makenzie Sexton | ||
 | 1991 | Tiffany Hazell | Sedalia | 19 | |||
 | 1990 | Lori Suschnick | Liberal | 19 | Mother of Miss MO Teen USA 2018 Chloe Bartlett | ||
 | 1989 | Rhonda Hoglen* | Kansas City | 21 | Previously Miss MO Teen USA 1985 (3RU Miss Teen USA) | ||
 | 1988 | Alecia Workman | Maryland Heights | 21 | |||
 | 1987 | Dawn Fonseca | Independence | 22 | 3rd runner-up | ||
 | 1986 | Barbara Webster^ | Kansas City | 24 | Previously Miss MO 1983 (SF Miss America) | ||
 | 1985 | Amy Coverdale | Columbia | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1984 | Saundra "Sandy" Percival | Sunrise Beach | 20 | 3rd runner-up | ||
 | 1983 | Robin Riley^ | Columbia | 20 | Later Miss MO 1987 (SF Miss America) | ||
 | 1982 | Susan Heiman | Kansas City | 21 | |||
 | 1981 | Karyn Smagacz | Fulton | 19 | |||
 | 1980 | Kelly Laxson | Kansas City | 20 | |||
 | 1979 | Virginia Dean | Rolla | 21 | |||
 | 1978 | Paula Taylor | Columbia | 20 | |||
 | 1977 | Connie Ast | Chesterfield | 18 | |||
| 1977 | Leigh Middleton | Florissant | Resigned due to a car accident that prevented her from competing at Miss USA | ||||
 | 1976 | Donna Hibbitts | Columbia | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1975 | Nancy LaRose | Marshall | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1974 | Dorothy "Tweetie" McElveen | Columbia | 19 | Semi-finalist | Sister of Miss NE USA 1970 Bonnie McElveen | |
 | 1973 | Camilla Crist | Shelbina | 18 | |||
 | 1972 | Janet Potter | Springfield | 19 | |||
 | 1971 | Nancy Rich | Springfield | 21 | 3rd runner-up | ||
 | 1970 | Suzette Grinham | Independence | 18 | |||
 | 1969 | Cherrie Hofmann | Kansas City | 20 | |||
 | 1968 | Jan Barton | Macon | 19 | |||
 | 1967 | Karen Hendrix | Independence | 18 | 4th runner-up | ||
 | 1966 | Martha Taylor | Independence | 18 | |||
 | 1965 | Barbara Brooks | Kansas City | 21 | |||
 | 1964 | Sandy Bawol | Florissant | 19 | |||
 | 1963 | Sandra Marlin | Springfield | 19 | 2nd runner-up | ||
 | 1962 | Mikee Campbell | Springfield | 21 | |||
 | 1961 | Joan Roberts | Richmond Heights | 19 | |||
 | 1960 | Marilyn Stalcup | Normandy | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1959 | Barbara Stell | Kansas City | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1958 | Beverly Wright | St Louis | 19 | |||
 | 1957 | Judith Murback | Sikeston | 18 | |||
 | 1956 | Carol Thrower | Kemmett | 18 | |||
 | 1955 | Janet Coker | Caruthersville | 18 | |||
 | 1954 | Alice Porritt | Cape Girardeau | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1953 | Donna Gardner | Union City | 18 | |||
 | 1952 | Carolyn Carlew | Sikeston | 18 | 2nd runner-up |
| YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ashleigh Bedwell | Campbell | 26 | |||
| 2022 | Mikala McGhee | St Louis | 28 | Top 16 | ||
| 2021 | Joye Forrest | Spanish Lake | 25 | |||
| 2020 | Megan Kelly | Kansas City | 24 | Top 15 | ||
| 2019 | Miriah Ludtke | St. Louis | 25 | |||
| 2018 | Tori Kruse | Camdenton | 27 | |||
| 2017 | Bayleigh Dayton | Kansas City | 24 | Semi-finalist | Congeniality (tie) | |
| 2016 | Sydnee Stottlemyre°* | Chesterfield | 22 | Top 10 | Previously Miss MO's OT 2008 (4RU MAOTeen) & Miss MO Teen USA 2011 (4RU Teen USA) | |
| 2015 | Rebecca Dunn | Columbia | 24 | |||
| 2014 | Erica Sturdefant* | Springfield | 23 | Previously Miss MO Teen USA 2010 | ||
| 2013 | Ellie Holtman | Montgomery City | 21 | |||
| 2012 | Katie Kearney | St. Louis | 23 | |||
| 2011 | Hope Driskill | Jefferson City | 21 | Top 16 | Cousin of Miss Kansas USA 2020 Hayden Brax |
|
| 2010 | Ashley Strohmier | Jefferson City | 21 | Top 10 | ||
| 2009 | Stacey Smith | Florissant | 22 | |||
| 2008 | Candice Crawford | Columbia | 21 | Top 10 | ||
| 2007 | Amber Seyer* | Oran | 20 | Top 10 | Previously Miss MO Teen USA 2003 | |
| 2006 | Kristi Capel | Springfield | 22 | |||
| 2005 | Andrea Ciliberti | Kansas City | 21 | |||
| 2004 | Ashley Litton | Olathe | 20 | Assumed title after Shandi won Miss USA | ||
| 2004 | SHANDI FINNESSEY^ | Florissant | 25 | Miss USA | Previously Miss MO 2002; 1RU Miss Universe 2004 | |
| 2003 | Tara Bollinger | Chesterfield | 23 | |||
| 2002 | Melana Scantlin* | Gladstone | 24 | Previously Miss MO Teen USA 1995 (SF Miss Teen USA) | ||
| 2001 | Larissa Meek* | St. Louis | 23 | 4th runner-up | Previously Miss MO Teen USA 1997 | |
| 2000 | Denette Roderick | Lebanon | 24 | |||
| 1999 | Teri Bollinger* | Kansas City | 26 | Previously Miss IL Teen USA 1990 | ||
| 1998 | Melanie Breedlove* | Mountain Grove | 22 | 2nd runner-up | Previously Miss MO Teen USA 1993 | |
| 1997 | Amanda Jahn | St Joseph | 25 | |||
| 1996 | Aimee Rinehart | Kansas City | 24 | |||
| 1995 | Britt Powell | Kansas City | 25 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1994 | Shelly Lehman | Republic | 25 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1993 | Stephanie Nunn | Marshfield | 20 | Mother of Miss MO Teen USA 2016 Dallas Ezard | ||
| 1992 | Tonya Snodgrass | Springfield | 20 | Mother of Miss AR Teen USA 2016 Makenzie Sexton | ||
| 1991 | Tiffany Hazell | Sedalia | 19 | |||
| 1990 | Lori Suschnick | Liberal | 19 | Mother of Miss MO Teen USA 2018 Chloe Bartlett | ||
| 1989 | Rhonda Hoglen* | Kansas City | 21 | Previously Miss MO Teen USA 1985 (3RU Miss Teen USA) | ||
| 1988 | Alecia Workman | Maryland Heights | 21 | |||
| 1987 | Dawn Fonseca | Independence | 22 | 3rd runner-up | ||
| 1986 | Barbara Webster^ | Kansas City | 24 | Previously Miss MO 1983 (SF Miss America) | ||
| 1985 | Amy Coverdale | Columbia | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1984 | Saundra "Sandy" Percival | Sunrise Beach | 20 | 3rd runner-up | ||
| 1983 | Robin Riley^ | Columbia | 20 | Later Miss MO 1987 (SF Miss America) | ||
| 1982 | Susan Heiman | Kansas City | 21 | |||
| 1981 | Karyn Smagacz | Fulton | 19 | |||
| 1980 | Kelly Laxson | Kansas City | 20 | |||
| 1979 | Virginia Dean | Rolla | 21 | |||
| 1978 | Paula Taylor | Columbia | 20 | |||
| 1977 | Connie Ast | Chesterfield | 18 | |||
| 1977 | Leigh Middleton | Florissant | Resigned due to a car accident that prevented her from competing at Miss USA | |||
| 1976 | Donna Hibbitts | Columbia | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1975 | Nancy LaRose | Marshall | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1974 | Dorothy "Tweetie" McElveen | Columbia | 19 | Semi-finalist | Sister of Miss NE USA 1970 Bonnie McElveen | |
| 1973 | Camilla Crist | Shelbina | 18 | |||
| 1972 | Janet Potter | Springfield | 19 | |||
| 1971 | Nancy Rich | Springfield | 21 | 3rd runner-up | ||
| 1970 | Suzette Grinham | Independence | 18 | |||
| 1969 | Cherrie Hofmann | Kansas City | 20 | |||
| 1968 | Jan Barton | Macon | 19 | |||
| 1967 | Karen Hendrix | Independence | 18 | 4th runner-up | ||
| 1966 | Martha Taylor | Independence | 18 | |||
| 1965 | Barbara Brooks | Kansas City | 21 | |||
| 1964 | Sandy Bawol | Florissant | 19 | |||
| 1963 | Sandra Marlin | Springfield | 19 | 2nd runner-up | ||
| 1962 | Mikee Campbell | Springfield | 21 | |||
| 1961 | Joan Roberts | Richmond Heights | 19 | |||
| 1960 | Marilyn Stalcup | Normandy | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1959 | Barbara Stell | Kansas City | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1958 | Beverly Wright | St Louis | 19 | |||
| 1957 | Judith Murback | Sikeston | 18 | |||
| 1956 | Carol Thrower | Kemmett | 18 | |||
| 1955 | Janet Coker | Caruthersville | 18 | |||
| 1954 | Alice Porritt | Cape Girardeau | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1953 | Donna Gardner | Union City | 18 | |||
| 1952 | Carolyn Carlew | Sikeston | 18 | 2nd runner-up |
