Miss RI USA Mary Malloy • Miss RI Teen USA Lola Paolissi (results)
Miss RI USA Mary Malloy • Miss RI Teen USA Lola Paolissi (results)
Your ultimate Miss USA state pageant resource
Take a trip back into the history of the Miss Nebraska USA and Miss Nebraska Teen USA pageants, from the first winner Berneta Nelson in 1953, to Mimi Wood of Omaha and Aubrie Charter of North Platte 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.
Nebraska first competed in the Miss USA pageant in 1953, and was a powerhouse state in the 1950s and early 1960s with three runner-up and three semi-finalist placements between 1953 and 1961 (they did not send a representative in 1960 or 1962). Following that period the state recorded only two more placements, in 1972 and 1980, before a thirty-year dry spell.
Belinda Wright made Miss Nebraska USA history by placing in 2010, less than a week after her father passed away in a tragic farming accident. Belinda rushed home to be with her family then returned for final competition, making the top 15 and winning Miss Congeniality. Since then, Nebraska has had another period of success, this time in both the Miss and Teen divisions – including Sarah Summers winning Nebraska’s very first Miss USA title in 2018 and Faron Medhi winning Miss Teen USA 2022.
Nebraska was one of the last states to have one of their own Teen titleholders win Miss Nebraska USA, with the first coming when Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2004 Meagan Winings won Miss Nebraska USA 2009. Since then five more Nebraska Teen titleholders, have gone on to win the Miss Nebraska USA title. Three of those made the cut at Miss USA, including Sarah Summers.
The pageant has been directed by Vanbros and Associates since 2002.
23 • Omaha
Top 20
at Miss Universe
18 • Omaha
25 • Lincoln
27 • Omaha
24 • Lincoln
Top 16
at Miss USA
27 • Omaha
2nd runner-up
at Miss USA
23 • Omaha
| IMAGE | YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mimi Wood | Omaha | 23 | |||
| 2022 | Natalie Pieper | Omaha | 27 | 2nd runner-up | ||
| 2021 | Erika Etzelmiller* | Lincoln | 24 | Top 16 | Previously Miss NE Teen USA 2016 | |
| 2020 | Megan Swanson^ | Omaha | 27 | Previously Miss NE 2014; sister of Miss NE 2019 | ||
| 2019 | Lex Najarian | Lincoln | 25 | |||
| 2018 | Bree Coffey | Omaha | 24 | Succeeded Sarah as Miss NE USA 2018 | ||
| 2018 | SARAH SUMMERS* | Omaha | 23 | Miss USA | Previously Miss NE Teen USA 2012 | |
| 2017 | Jasmine Fuelberth* | Norfolk | 20 | Previously Miss NE Teen USA 2013 (Congeniality @ Miss Teen USA) | ||
| 2016 | Sarah Hollins* | Omaha | 25 | Previously Miss NE Teen USA 2009 | ||
| 2015 | Hoang-Kim Cung | Grand Island | 24 | |||
| 2014 | Amanda Soltero* | Columbus | 22 | Top 20 | Previously Miss NE Teen USA 2010 | |
| 2013 | Ellie Lorenzen | Omaha | 21 | |||
| 2012 | Amy Spilker | Malcolm | 22 | |||
| 2011 | Haley Jo Herold | Omaha | 23 | |||
| 2010 | Belinda Wright | Scotia | 21 | Top 15 | Congeniality | |
| 2009 | Meagan Winings* | Atkinson | 22 | Previously Miss NE Teen USA 2004 | ||
| 2008 | Micaela Johnson | Omaha | 23 | |||
| 2007 | Geneice Wilcher | Omaha | 26 | |||
| 2006 | Emily Poeschl | Lincoln | 21 | |||
| 2005 | Jana Murrell | Omaha | 23 | |||
| 2004 | Guerin Austin | Omaha | 24 | |||
| 2003 | Jessica Perea | Omaha | 22 | |||
| 2002 | Stacey Skidmore | Omaha | 21 | |||
| 2001 | SuJoing Drakeford | Bellevue | 23 | |||
| 2000 | Valerie Cook | Omaha | 22 | |||
| 1999 | WaLynda Lou Sipple* | Grand Island | 24 | Previously Miss MI Teen USA 1992 | ||
| 1998 | Jennifer Naro | Omaha | 23 | |||
| 1997 | Kimberly Jane Weir | Lincoln | 21 | |||
| 1996 | Kerry Lynn Kemper | Omaha | 24 | |||
| 1995 | Chandelle Peacock | Omaha | ||||
| 1994 | Shawn Wolff | Omaha | ||||
| 1993 | Tish Gade | Lincoln | ||||
| 1992 | Jeanna Margaret Blom | Omaha | ||||
| 1991 | Ziba Ayeen | Omaha | 26 | |||
| 1990 | Angela Humphrey | Lincoln | 22 | |||
| 1989 | Renee Harter | Omaha | ||||
| 1988 | Kellie O'Neil | Omaha | 24 | |||
| 1987 | Amy Anderson | Kearney | ||||
| 1986 | Ellen Withrow | Papillion | ||||
| 1985 | Lori Leigh Straight | Omaha | 19 | |||
| 1984 | Joni Rundall | Omaha | ||||
| 1983 | Penelope Boynton | Lincoln | ||||
| 1982 | Lori Lynn Novicki | Omaha | ||||
| 1981 | Ladonna Hill | Seward | ||||
| 1980 | Rebecca Staab | Ralston | 18 | Semi-Finalist | ||
| 1979 | Rhonda Lundberg | McCook | |||||
| 1978 | Shari Alyce Reimers | Omaha | 18 | ||||
| 1977 | Deb Ridge | Hastings | |||||
| 1976 | Catherine Fricke | Omaha | 19 | ||||
| 1975 | Mary Lee Hoth | Omaha | |||||
| 1974 | Mary Wolff | Omaha | 19 | ||||
| 1973 | Janice Geiler | Omaha | 21 | Photogenic | |||
| 1972 | Theresa Engels | Omaha | 18 | Semi-Finalist | |||
| 1971 | Lora Butler | Omaha | 25 | ||||
| 1970 | Bonnie McElveen | Bellevue | |||||
| 1969 | Marilyn Poole | Omaha | 19 | ||||
| 1968 | Linda Dresher | Omaha | |||||
| 1967 | Terry Lee Schmidt | Lincoln | 18 | ||||
| 1966 | Karen Weinfurtner | Omaha | 23 | Succeeded Janice Zielinski | |||
| 1966 | Janice Zielinski | Omaha | 23 | Resigned shortly after her crowning | |||
| 1965 | Constance Kellogg | Omaha | |||||
| 1964 | Georgia Ann Merriam | Lincoln | |||||
| 1963 | Sandy Zimmer | Kearney | Succeeded Cheryl Warden | ||||
| 1963 | Cheryl Warden | Fremont | Resigned following a situation involving a challenge to the winner of Miss Nebraska (America) - read the news article in the clippings gallery below, it's a doozy! | ||||
| 1962 | – | ||||||
| 1961 | Gail Weinstock | Omaha | 20 | Semi-Finalist | |||
| 1960 | – | ||||||
| 1959 | Priscilla Eckrish | Lincoln | 20 | ||||
| 1958 | Dee Kjeldgaard | Big Springs | 21 | Semi-Finalist | |||
| 1957 | Carolyn McGirr | Sidney | 18 | 3rd Runner-Up | |||
| 1956 | Shari Lewis | Daykin | 19 | 3rd Runner-Up | |||
| 1955 | Donna Jo Streever | Grand Island | 21 | 2nd Runner-Up | Sister of Sharon Kay Ritchie, Miss America 1955 | ||
| 1954 | Margie Winkhoff | Grand Island | Semi-Finalist | ||||
| 1953 | Berneta Nelson | Clay Center | 20 | Semi-Finalist |
| IMAGE | YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| 2023 | Mimi Wood | Omaha | 23 | |||
|
| 2022 | Natalie Pieper | Omaha | 27 | 2nd runner-up | ||
|
| 2021 | Erika Etzelmiller* | Lincoln | 24 | Top 16 | Previously Miss NE Teen USA 2016 | |
|
| 2020 | Megan Swanson^ | Omaha | 27 | Previously Miss NE 2014; sister of Miss NE 2019 | ||
|
| 2019 | Lex Najarian | Lincoln | 25 | |||
|
| 2018 | Bree Coffey | Omaha | 24 | Succeeded Sarah as Miss NE USA 2018 | ||
|
| 2018 | SARAH SUMMERS* | Omaha | 23 | Miss USA | Previously Miss NE Teen USA 2012 | |
|
| 2017 | Jasmine Fuelberth* | Norfolk | 20 | Previously Miss NE Teen USA 2013 (Congeniality @ Miss Teen USA) | ||
|
| 2016 | Sarah Hollins* | Omaha | 25 | Previously Miss NE Teen USA 2009 | ||
|
| 2015 | Hoang-Kim Cung | Grand Island | 24 | |||
|
| 2014 | Amanda Soltero* | Columbus | 22 | Top 20 | Previously Miss NE Teen USA 2010 | |
|
| 2013 | Ellie Lorenzen | Omaha | 21 | |||
|
| 2012 | Amy Spilker | Malcolm | 22 | |||
|
| 2011 | Haley Jo Herold | Omaha | 23 | |||
|
| 2010 | Belinda Wright | Scotia | 21 | Top 15 | Congeniality | |
|
| 2009 | Meagan Winings* | Atkinson | 22 | Previously Miss NE Teen USA 2004 | ||
|
| 2008 | Micaela Johnson | Omaha | 23 | |||
|
| 2007 | Geneice Wilcher | Omaha | 26 | |||
|
| 2006 | Emily Poeschl | Lincoln | 21 | |||
|
| 2005 | Jana Murrell | Omaha | 23 | |||
|
| 2004 | Guerin Austin | Omaha | 24 | |||
|
| 2003 | Jessica Perea | Omaha | 22 | |||
|
| 2002 | Stacey Skidmore | Omaha | 21 | |||
|
| 2001 | SuJoing Drakeford | Bellevue | 23 | |||
|
| 2000 | Valerie Cook | Omaha | 22 | |||
|
| 1999 | WaLynda Lou Sipple* | Grand Island | 24 | Previously Miss MI Teen USA 1992 | ||
|
| 1998 | Jennifer Naro | Omaha | 23 | |||
|
| 1997 | Kimberly Jane Weir | Lincoln | 21 | |||
|
| 1996 | Kerry Lynn Kemper | Omaha | 24 | |||
|
| 1995 | Chandelle Peacock | Omaha | ||||
|
| 1994 | Shawn Wolff | Omaha | ||||
|
| 1993 | Tish Gade | Lincoln | ||||
|
| 1992 | Jeanna Margaret Blom | Omaha | ||||
|
| 1991 | Ziba Ayeen | Omaha | 26 | |||
|
| 1990 | Angela Humphrey | Lincoln | 22 | |||
|
| 1989 | Renee Harter | Omaha | ||||
|
| 1988 | Kellie O'Neil | Omaha | 24 | |||
|
| 1987 | Amy Anderson | Kearney | ||||
|
| 1986 | Ellen Withrow | Papillion | ||||
|
| 1985 | Lori Leigh Straight | Omaha | 19 | |||
|
| 1984 | Joni Rundall | Omaha | ||||
|
| 1983 | Penelope Boynton | Lincoln | ||||
|
| 1982 | Lori Lynn Novicki | Omaha | ||||
|
| 1981 | Ladonna Hill | Seward | ||||
|
| 1980 | Rebecca Staab | Ralston | 18 | Semi-Finalist | ||
| 1979 | Rhonda Lundberg | McCook | |||||
| 1978 | Shari Alyce Reimers | Omaha | 18 | ||||
| 1977 | Deb Ridge | Hastings | |||||
| 1976 | Catherine Fricke | Omaha | 19 | ||||
| 1975 | Mary Lee Hoth | Omaha | |||||
| 1974 | Mary Wolff | Omaha | 19 | ||||
| 1973 | Janice Geiler | Omaha | 21 | Photogenic | |||
| 1972 | Theresa Engels | Omaha | 18 | Semi-Finalist | |||
| 1971 | Lora Butler | Omaha | 25 | ||||
| 1970 | Bonnie McElveen | Bellevue | |||||
| 1969 | Marilyn Poole | Omaha | 19 | ||||
| 1968 | Linda Dresher | Omaha | |||||
| 1967 | Terry Lee Schmidt | Lincoln | 18 | ||||
| 1966 | Karen Weinfurtner | Omaha | 23 | Succeeded Janice Zielinski | |||
| 1966 | Janice Zielinski | Omaha | 23 | Resigned shortly after her crowning | |||
| 1965 | Constance Kellogg | Omaha | |||||
| 1964 | Georgia Ann Merriam | Lincoln | |||||
| 1963 | Sandy Zimmer | Kearney | Succeeded Cheryl Warden | ||||
| 1963 | Cheryl Warden | Fremont | Resigned following a situation involving a challenge to the winner of Miss Nebraska (America) - read the news article in the clippings gallery below, it's a doozy! | ||||
| 1962 | – | ||||||
| 1961 | Gail Weinstock | Omaha | 20 | Semi-Finalist | |||
| 1960 | – | ||||||
| 1959 | Priscilla Eckrish | Lincoln | 20 | ||||
| 1958 | Dee Kjeldgaard | Big Springs | 21 | Semi-Finalist | |||
| 1957 | Carolyn McGirr | Sidney | 18 | 3rd Runner-Up | |||
| 1956 | Shari Lewis | Daykin | 19 | 3rd Runner-Up | |||
| 1955 | Donna Jo Streever | Grand Island | 21 | 2nd Runner-Up | Sister of Sharon Kay Ritchie, Miss America 1955 | ||
| 1954 | Margie Winkhoff | Grand Island | Semi-Finalist | ||||
| 1953 | Berneta Nelson | Clay Center | 20 | Semi-Finalist |
18 • Norfolk
Semi-finalist at
Miss Teen USA
18 • Lincoln
3rd runner-up at
Miss Teen USA
18 • Papillion
Semi-finalist at
Miss Teen USA
18 • Omaha
Winner of
Miss Teen USA 2022
18 • North Platte
| IMAGE | YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Aubrie Charter | North Platte | 18 | |||
| 2022 | FARON MEDHI | Omaha | 18 | Miss Teen USA | ||
| 2021 | Daisy Sudderth | Papillion | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 2020 | Audrey Eckert | Lincoln | 18 | 3rd runner-up | ||
| 2019 | Erin Shae Swanson | Norfolk | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 2018 | Michaela Edstrand | Omaha | 18 | |||
| 2017 | Samantha Washington° | Lincoln | 19 | Previously Miss NE's Outstanding Teen 2013 | ||
| 2016 | Erika Etzelmiller* | Lincoln | 18 | Later Miss NE USA 2021 | ||
| 2015 | Paige Pflueger | Norfolk | 18 | Daughter of Miss NE 1980 Paula Louise Mitchell | ||
| 2014 | Savannah Rave | Omaha | 18 | |||
| 2013 | Jasmine Fuelberth* | Norfolk | 16 | Later Miss NE USA 2017 | ||
| 2012 | Sarah Summers* | Papillion | 17 | Later Miss NE USA and Miss USA 2018 | ||
| 2011 | Madison Novak | Lincoln | 17 | |||
| 2010 | Amanda Soltero* | Columbus | 18 | Later Miss NE USA 2014 (T20 Miss USA) | ||
| 2009 | Sarah Hollins* | Omaha | 19 | Later Miss NE USA 2016 | ||
| 2008 | Melissa DeJong | David City | 17 | |||
| 2007 | Lauren Clabaugh | Omaha | 16 | |||
| 2006 | Danielle Zuroski | Ralston | 18 | Top 15 | ||
| 2005 | Kelsy Brown | Wood River | 17 | |||
| 2004 | Meagan Winings* | Atkinson | 18 | Top 10 | Later Miss NE USA 2009 | |
| 2003 | Leigh Ann Thagard | Omaha | 17 | |||
| 2002 | Brieanne Bogart | Omaha | 17 | |||
| 2001 | Heidi Lammli | Stanton | 16 | |||
| 2000 | Amy Weigert | Grand Island | 17 | |||
| 1999 | Kiley Kempcke | Blair | 18 | |||
| 1998 | Lori Andersen | Blair | 18 | |||
| 1997 | Natasha Fisher | Arapahoe | 17 | |||
| 1996 | Mandy Groff | Omaha | 17 | |||
| 1995 | Marlo McVea | Omaha | ||||
| 1994 | Elizabeth Schmitz | Omaha | ||||
| 1993 | Lauriette Logan | Omaha | ||||
| 1992 | Marney Monson | Wallace | ||||
| 1991 | Erin Mouther | Omaha | ||||
| 1990 | Shauna Redfern | Omaha | 17 | |||
| 1989 | Melissa Jennings | Hastings | ||||
| 1988 | Pamela Brown | Omaha | ||||
| 1987 | Susan Weikel | Elkhorn | ||||
| 1986 | Elizabeth Beshay | Omaha | ||||
| 1985 | Tina Farmer | Omaha | ||||
| 1984 | Cyndi Freymuller | Blair | ||||
| 1983 | Jackie Kuenning | Lincoln |
| YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Aubrie Charter | North Platte | 18 | |||
| 2022 | FARON MEDHI | Omaha | 18 | Miss Teen USA | ||
| 2021 | Daisy Sudderth | Papillion | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 2020 | Audrey Eckert | Lincoln | 18 | 3rd runner-up | ||
| 2019 | Erin Shae Swanson | Norfolk | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 2018 | Michaela Edstrand | Omaha | 18 | |||
| 2017 | Samantha Washington° | Lincoln | 19 | Previously Miss NE's Outstanding Teen 2013 | ||
| 2016 | Erika Etzelmiller* | Lincoln | 18 | Later Miss NE USA 2021 | ||
| 2015 | Paige Pflueger | Norfolk | 18 | Daughter of Miss NE 1980 Paula Louise Mitchell | ||
| 2014 | Savannah Rave | Omaha | 18 | |||
| 2013 | Jasmine Fuelberth* | Norfolk | 16 | Later Miss NE USA 2017 | ||
| 2012 | Sarah Summers* | Papillion | 17 | Later Miss NE USA and Miss USA 2018 | ||
| 2011 | Madison Novak | Lincoln | 17 | |||
| 2010 | Amanda Soltero* | Columbus | 18 | Later Miss NE USA 2014 (T20 Miss USA) | ||
| 2009 | Sarah Hollins* | Omaha | 19 | Later Miss NE USA 2016 | ||
| 2008 | Melissa DeJong | David City | 17 | |||
| 2007 | Lauren Clabaugh | Omaha | 16 | |||
| 2006 | Danielle Zuroski | Ralston | 18 | Top 15 | ||
| 2005 | Kelsy Brown | Wood River | 17 | |||
| 2004 | Meagan Winings* | Atkinson | 18 | Top 10 | Later Miss NE USA 2009 | |
| 2003 | Leigh Ann Thagard | Omaha | 17 | |||
| 2002 | Brieanne Bogart | Omaha | 17 | |||
| 2001 | Heidi Lammli | Stanton | 16 | |||
| 2000 | Amy Weigert | Grand Island | 17 | |||
| 1999 | Kiley Kempcke | Blair | 18 | |||
| 1998 | Lori Andersen | Blair | 18 | |||
| 1997 | Natasha Fisher | Arapahoe | 17 | |||
| 1996 | Mandy Groff | Omaha | 17 | |||
| 1995 | Marlo McVea | Omaha | ||||
| 1994 | Elizabeth Schmitz | Omaha | ||||
| 1993 | Lauriette Logan | Omaha | ||||
| 1992 | Marney Monson | Wallace | ||||
| 1991 | Erin Mouther | Omaha | ||||
| 1990 | Shauna Redfern | Omaha | 17 | |||
| 1989 | Melissa Jennings | Hastings | ||||
| 1988 | Pamela Brown | Omaha | ||||
| 1987 | Susan Weikel | Elkhorn | ||||
| 1986 | Elizabeth Beshay | Omaha | ||||
| 1985 | Tina Farmer | Omaha | ||||
| 1984 | Cyndi Freymuller | Blair | ||||
| 1983 | Jackie Kuenning | Lincoln |
