Miss California USA is the

beauty pageant A beauty pageant is a competition that has traditionally focused on judging and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants. Pageants have now evolved to include inner beauty, with criteria covering judging of personality, intelligence, ...

that selects the representative for the state of

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

in the

Miss USA Miss USA is an American beauty pageant that has been held annually since 1952 to select the entrant from United States in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operated both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA, until 2020, ...

pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is directed by Crown Diva Productions. California's most successful placements were in

1959 Events January * January 1 - Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance. * January 2 - Lunar probe Luna 1 was the first man-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reached the vicinity of E ...

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 - Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

1983 The year 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to Internet protocol suite, TCP/IP is officially completed (this is consid ...

1992 File:1992 Events Collage V1.png, From left, clockwise: 1992 Los Angeles riots, Riots break out across Los Angeles, California after the Police brutality, police beating of Rodney King; El Al Flight 1862 crashes into a residential apartment buildi ...

, and

2011 File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...

, when

Terry Huntingdon Terry Lynn Huntingdon (born May 8, 1940) is an American actress who began working in film and television roles after winning the title of Miss USA 1959. Early years Huntingdon comes from a family of five-generation Californians. She attended ...

Maria Remenyi Maria Judith Remenyi (born December 13, 1945 in Denmark) is a Danish-American astrophysicist, cosmologist and beauty pageant titleholder who held the title of Miss USA 1966. Early life Remenyi was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and grew up in Hunga ...

, Summer Bartholomew,

Julie Hayek Julie Lynne Hayek (born October 4, 1960) is an American actress, model, charity worker and beauty queen who won Miss USA 1983. Early life Hayek is of Czech and German descent on her father's side and Norwegian, Scottish, Irish, and English on h ...

Shannon Marketic Shannon LaRhea Marketic (born January 14, 1971), is an American actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was Miss California USA and Miss USA 1992. Biography Pageants Marketic was crowned Miss Arizona Teen USA 1989 but held the title for on ...

, and

Alyssa Campanella Alyssa Marie Campanella (born March 21, 1990) is an American model, blogger, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2011. Having previously been crowned Miss California USA 2011, Campanella was the sixth woman representing Calif ...

, respectively, were crowned Miss USA. The current Miss California USA is Tianna Clark of

Perris, California Perris is an old railway city in Riverside County, California, United States, located east-southeast of Los Angeles and north of San Diego. It is known for Lake Perris, an artificial lake, skydiving, and its sunny dry climate. Perris is wit ...

, who is crowned on June 18, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County. Clark will represent California for the title of

Miss USA 2023 Miss USA 2023 will be the 72nd Miss USA pageant that will be held on 2023 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. R'Bonney Gabriel of Texas will crown her successor at the end of the event. The winner will go on to represent the United Sta ...

History

The Miss California USA Pageant was produced by Carolee Munger. Prior to Ms. Munger, Guyrex Productions held the franchise for a number of years and produced successful televised pageants with over 100 participants. Before Guyrex, the pageant was produced by Dr. Leanord Stallcup, who took over the directorship after Faye Smith successfully led the way through the 1970s and 1980s. Also was produced by Top 10 Productions, Inc. San Diego-based. Top 10 was led by Pam Wilson and Alex Kuty, who have been involved in pageant and fashion production for many years. Top 10 took over for K2 Productions in 2013. K2 had a number of controversies but during its 9 years producing the pageant, it managed to be the top placing state at Miss USA, growing the entry numbers to the largest state pageant in the history of Miss USA and doing the first live television airing in over 10 years. In the beginning, K2 Productions was directed by former

Miss Teen USA 1995 Miss Teen USA 1995, the 13th Miss Teen USA pageant, was televised live from the Century II Convention Center in Wichita, Kansas on 15 August 1995. At the conclusion of the final competition, Keylee Sue Sanders of Kansas was crowned by outgoing ...

Keylee Sue Sanders Keylee Sue Sanders (born July 29, 1977) is an American beauty queen who was Miss Kansas Teen USA and Miss Teen USA 1995. Sanders first won the Miss Kansas Teen USA title in October 1994. In August 1995 she was crowned Miss Teen USA in the natio ...

, and Keith Lewis. K2 Productions was later directed by Lewis and briefly co-produced by

Miss USA 1995 Miss USA 1995 was the 44th Miss USA pageant, held at South Padre Island Convention Centre on South Padre Island, Texas culminating in the final competition and crowning on February 10, 1995. At the conclusion of the final competition, Chelsi S ...

Shanna Moakler Shanna Lynn Moakler (; born March 28, 1975) is an American model, actress, and reality television star. She was the winner of the Miss New York USA pageant in 1995 and was the first runner-up at Miss USA 1995. After winner Chelsi Smith won the Mi ...

. In October 2021, Kristen Bradford of Crown Diva Productions took over the directorship for California pageants. In 2009

Carrie Prejean Caroline Michelle "Carrie" Prejean Boller (; born 1987) is an American model, former Miss California USA 2009, and Miss USA 2009 first runner-up. Prejean was stripped of her Miss California USA crown for alleged breaches of contract. Litigation ...

was forced to resign after placing 1st runner-up at

Miss USA 2009 Miss USA 2009 was the 58th Miss USA pageant, held at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19, 2009. At the conclusion of the final night of competition, Kristen Dalton of North C ...

after a

controversy Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of conflicting opinion or point of view. The word was coined from the Latin ''controversia'', as a composite of ''controversus'' – "turned in an opposite d ...

developed regarding the answer she gave to her final interview question at the national pageant. Pageant organisers claimed she was fired due to contractual violations. California has produced a Miss USA every decade (except the 2000s) and is ranked second highest among states in terms of placements, after Texas.

Shauna Gambill Shauna Gambill (born 22 September 1976) is a beauty queen from Acton, California who has held the Miss Teen USA title and competed in the Miss USA and Miss World pageants. Gambill first won the Miss California Teen USA title in late 1993. In A ...

, who won the national

Miss Teen USA Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant formerly run, since 1983, by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19. Unlike its sister pageants Miss Universe, which currently broadcasts on Fox and Miss USA, this pageant is webcast on the Mis ...

crown in

1994 File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which Sinking of the MS Estonia, sank in ...

, is the only Miss California USA who has previously held the Miss California Teen USA title. As Miss California USA in 1998, Gambill placed 1st Runner-Up to

Shawnae Jebbia Shawnae Nicole Jebbia (born September 13, 1971) is an American entertainer and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 1998. Jebbia won the Miss Massachusetts USA title in 1997, in her first attempt at a pageant title. She went on to repres ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

. Three Miss California USA titleholders have also competed in the

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 ...

pageant while two were former winners of the Miss Teenage California Scholarship Pageant.

Gallery of titleholders

File:Erica Dann 2019 by Glenn Francis.jpg, Erica Dann, Miss California USA 2019 File:Nadia_Mejia_2015.jpg,

Nadia Mejia Nadia Grace Eicher Mejia (born 22 November 1995) is an American-Ecuadorian model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss California USA 2016 and placed in the Top 5 at Miss USA 2016. Mejia is the daughter of Ecuadorian-born musician Gerardo M ...

, Miss California USA 2016 File:Natasha_Martinez_2013.jpg, Natasha Martinez, Miss California USA 2015 File:Cassandra_Kunze_2014.jpg, Cassandra Kunze, Miss California USA 2014 File:Mabelynn Capeluj 2013.jpg, Mabelynn Capeluj, Miss California USA 2013 File:Natalie Pack 2 2012.jpg,

Natalie Pack Natalie Ann Pack (born March 30, 1989) is an American fashion model and real estate agent who held the title of Miss California USA 2012. She is also known for competing on ''America's Next Top Model, Cycle 12''. Early life Pack was born and ra ...

, Miss California USA 2012 File:Katie Blair 2010.jpg,

Katie Blair Katherine Amanda Blair (born December 29, 1987) is an American actress, model and beauty queen who won Miss Teen USA 2006, becoming the first person from the state of Montana to win a major pageant title. In 2011, she was crowned Miss California ...

, Miss California USA 2011 File:Alyssa Campanella 2010.jpg,

, Miss California USA 2011 and

Miss USA 2011 Miss USA 2011 was the 60th Anniversary of the Miss USA pageant, held on the Las Vegas Strip at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, Paradise, Nevada on Sunday, June 19, 2011. Rima Fakih of Michigan crowned ...

File:Miss California 2010.jpg, Nicole Johnson, Miss California USA 2010 File:Tami Farrell 2 2009.jpg,

Tami Farrell Tami or TAMI may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tami (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with either the given name or nickname * Mark Tami (born 1962), British politician and Member of Parliament * Pierluigi Tami ...

, Miss California USA 2009 File:Carrie Prejean Miss California.jpg,

, Miss California USA 2009 File:Raquel Beezley 2011.jpg,

Raquel Beezley Miss California USA is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is directed by Crown Diva Productions. California's most ...

, Miss California USA 2008 File:Meagan Tandy 2015.jpg,

Meagan Tandy Meagan Yvonne Tandy (born May 3, 1985) is an American actress and model. She is a former Miss California USA who placed as third runner-up at Miss USA 2007. As an actress, she had long running roles in ''Jane by Design'', ''Teen Wolf'', ''Sur ...

, Miss California USA 2007 File:TamikoNash.jpg,

Tamiko Nash Tamiko Pleshette Nash is an American actress, television host, model and beauty queen who has competed in the Miss USA 2006. Nash won the Miss California USA pageant in 2005, becoming only the third African American to hold the title. She went ...

, Miss California USA 2006 File:Ellen_Chapman_2015.jpg, Ellen Chapman, Miss California USA 2004 File:Julie Hayek Miss USA 1983.png,

, Miss California USA 1983 and

Miss USA 1983 Miss USA 1983 was the 32nd Miss USA pageant, televised live from the Knoxville Civic Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, on May 12, 1983. At the conclusion of the final competition, Julie Hayek of California was crowned Miss USA 1983 by outgoing titl ...

File:Summer Bartholomew, CBS photo front.jpg, Summer Bartholomew, Miss California USA 1975 and Miss USA 1975 File:Maria Remenyi picture session.jpg,

, Miss California USA 1966 and

Miss USA 1966 Miss USA 1966 was the 15th Miss USA pageant, televised live from Miami Beach, Florida, on May 21, 1966. The pageant was won by Maria Remenyi of California, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Sue Downey of Ohio. Remenyi was the second wom ...

File:Terry Lynn Huntingdon as Miss California.jpg,

, Miss California USA 1959 and Miss USA 1959

Results summary

*Miss USAs:

(1959),

(1966), Summer Bartholomew (1975),

(1983),

(1992),

(2011) *1st Runners-Up: Pamela Stettler (1961), Susan Bradley (1967), Diana Magaña (1988),

(1998), Brittany Hogan (2005),

(2006),

(2009) *2nd Runners-Up: Kim Hobson (1972), Diane Schock (1991), Angelique Breaux (1999) *3rd Runners-Up: Donna Schurr (1955), Marilyn Tindall (1962), Gayle Gorrell (1974), Pamela Gergley (1977), Cynthia Kerby (1981),

(2007) *4th Runners-Up: Francine Herack (1963), Troas Hayes (1969), Kelly Parsons (1986) *Top 5: Nadia Mejía (2016) *Top 10/12: Karin Morrell (1971), Carol Herrema (1973), Joni Pennock (1976), Donna Adrain (1978), Linda Fogarty (1979), Christina Faust (1989), Jane Olvera (1993), Tarah Peters (2002), Nicole Johnson (2010), Cassandra Kunze (2014), India Williams (2017), Kelley Johnson (2018), Allyshia Gupta (2020) *Top 15/16/20: Marcella Roulette (1953), Sandra Constance (1954), Peggy Jacobson (1957), Donna Brooks (1958), Teri Janssen (1960), Jeanne Venables (1964), Kathryn Hage (1965), Suzanne Fromm (1968), Linda Hall (1970),

(2008), Mabelynn Capeluj (2013), Tiffany Johnson (2022), Tianna Clark (2023) California holds a record of 52 placements at

, second overall behind

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

and ahead of

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

Awards

*Miss Congeniality: Jeanne Venables (1964), Cynthia Kerby (1981), Lori Dickerson (1987) *Miss Photogenic:

(1966), Cynthia Kerby (1981),

(1992), Cassandra Kunze (2014) *Best State Costume: Suzanne Fromm (1968)

Winners

;Color key

Notes

References

External links

Official Miss California USA website
* {{State pageantry, State=California

California culture Women in California 1952 establishments in California Recurring events established in 1952 Annual events in California