The Miss Virginia USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of
Virginia in the
Miss USA pageant.
Virginia has been only moderately successful in terms of number of semi-finalists. They have had two Miss USAs. They are one of only four states to have had two Miss USAs in succession (the others being
Illinois,
Texas, and
District of Columbia). Virginia's greatest success came from the late 1960s to early 1980s. Virginia should have had the first Miss USA crown in 1954, as Ellen Whitehead finished 1st runner-up, and Miss USA 1954,
Miriam Stevenson, became
Miss Universe 1954. However, there was no rule until the 1960s that the 1st runner-up became Miss USA after the winner won Miss Universe. If that was true, 2nd runner-up,
Miss New York USA
The Miss New York USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New York in the Miss USA pageant. It is directed by D&D Productions.
The current titleholder is Heather Nunez of New York City was crowned on Jun ...
, Karin Hultman would have become Miss USA 1954, as Whitehead was disqualified due to being underage.
Ten Miss Virginia USA winners have previously held the
Miss Virginia Teen USA title and competed at
Miss Teen USA and three were previously competed in other states (
Georgia,
New Jersey and
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
), at thirteen.
Virginia also currently holds the record for the most Miss Teen USA state winners to win a
Miss USA state title from the same state. Two Miss winners have also competed at
Miss America
Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 17 and 25. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is now judged on competitors' talent performances and interviews. As ...
.
The current titleholder is Kailee Horvath of
Ashburn was crowned on April 16, 2022, at Hylton Performing Arts Center in
Manassas. She represented Virginia for the title of Miss USA 2022.
Gallery of titleholders
File:Donna Dixon at the 62nd Annual Academy Awards.jpg, Donna Dixon (pictured in 1990), Miss Virginia USA 1976 and Miss District of Columbia World 1977
File:Julielaipply.jpg, Julie Laipply, Miss Virginia USA 2002
File:Kristi Glakas headshot.png, Kristi Lauren Glakas, Miss Virginia USA 2004
File:Amber Copley 2006.jpg, Amber Copley, Miss Virginia USA 2006
File:Samantha Casey.jpg, Samantha Casey, Miss Virginia USA 2010
File:Catherine Muldoon 2012.jpg, Catherine Muldoon, Miss Virginia USA 2012
File:Desiree Williams.jpg, Desiree Williams, Miss Virginia 2013 and Miss Virginia USA 2016
Results summary
*Miss USAs:
Wendy Dascomb (1969),
Deborah Shelton (1970)
*1st runners-up: Ellen Whitehead (1954),
Patricia Southall (1994)
*2nd runners-up: Samantha Casey (2010)
*4th runners-up: Sheryl Lynn Herring (1977)
*Top 10: Meredith Blankenship (1998), Kellie Lightbourn (1999),
Lauren Barnette (2007), Desiree Williams (2016)
*Top 11/12: Brenda Joyce Miller (1971), Linda McKee (1975), Robin Shadle (1978), Betsy Bott (1979), Pam Hutchens (1981),Sondra Dee Jones (1982), Marsha Ralls (1987), Brandi Bottorff (1992),
*Top 15/16/20: Elizabeth "Betty" Karen Kallmyer (1967), Laurie Burke (1968), Maegan Phillips (2009), Arielle Rosmarino (2014),
Laura Puleo (2015), Christina Thompson (2021)
Virginia holds a record of 24 placements at
Miss USA.
Awards
*Miss Congeniality: Kimberly Nicewonder (1989)
*Miss Photogenic: Elizabeth "Betty" Karen Kallmyer (1967),
Deborah Shelton (1970), Brenda Joyce Miller (1971), Sondra Dee Jones (1982),
Patricia Southall (1994), Audra Wilks (1997)
* Best in Swimsuit:
Patricia Southall (1994)
Winners
;Color key
References
External links
Official Website
{{Miss USA state
Virginia
Virginia culture
Women in Virginia