Miss Arizona USA

Miss Arizona USA
Formation	1952
Type	Beauty pageant
Headquarters	Phoenix
Location	Arizona ;
Membership	Miss USA
Official language	English
Key people	Sebastien Verstraet; (Director and Executive Producer)
Website	Official website

Last updated September 24, 2025

Miss Arizona USA is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arizona in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by its winner. The pageant is directed by Casting Crown Productions.^[1]

Arizona's most successful placements were in 1965 and 1980, when Jane Nelson and Jineane Ford, respectively, placed as the first runner-up. Ford later became Miss USA 1980 after the original winner Shawn Weatherly was crowned Miss Universe 1980. Arizona's most recent placement was in 2016, when Chelsea Myers placed in the Top 15.

The longest reigning titleholder was Yesenia Vidales in 2020 at 1 year, 6 months and 5 days, while Cassidy Jo Jacks was the shortest reigning titleholder in 2021 ended her reign at 10 months and 19 days.

The current Miss Arizona USA is Elexes Richardson of Scottsdale and was crowned at the Hilton Caesars Republic Scottsdale Hotel in Scottsdale on September 7, 2025. Richardson will represent Arizona at Miss USA 2025.

Gallery of titleholders

LeeAnne Locken, Miss Arizona USA 1989
Courtney Barnas, Miss Arizona USA 2007
Brittany Bell, Miss Arizona USA 2010
Brittany Brannon, Miss Arizona USA 2011
Erika Frantzve, Miss Arizona USA 2012
Nicole Smith, Miss Arizona USA 2018

Results summary

Placements in Miss USA

1st Runners-Up: Jane Nelson (1965), Jineane Ford (1980)^[a]
2nd Runners-Up: Susanne Pottenger (1971), Diane Martin (1987), Alicia-Monique Blanco (2009)
3rd Runners-Up: Ruth Hayes (1969), Sherry Nix (1973)
Top 10/11/12: Carlys Peterson (1974), Toni Abranovic (1977), Ana Rupert (1979), Cassie Hill (1981), Michelle Ducote (1985), Lee Anne Locken (1989), Maricarroll Verlinde (1991), Dannis Shephard (1992), Stacey Kole (1998)
Top 15/16/20: Jerri Michaelson (1962), Diane McGarry (1963), Roxanne Neeley (1966), Judianne Magnusson (1967), Danielle Demski (2004), Brenna Sakas (2006), Brittany Brannon (2011), Jordan Wessel (2014), Maureen Montagne (2015), Chelsea Myers (2016)

Arizona holds a record of 26 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

Miss Congeniality: Cara Jackson (1999)
Miss Photogenic: Jineane Ford (1980), Brittany Brannon (2011)
Best State Costume: Daria Sparling (1984), Michelle Ducote (1985), Maricarroll Verlinde (1991)

Winners

Color key

Winner
Runner-Up
Semifinalist

Year	Name	Age^[b]	Hometown	Local title	Placement at Miss USA	Special awards at Miss USA	Notes
2025	Elexes Richardson	30	Scottsdale	Miss North Scottsdale	TBA	TBA
2024	K Johnson	41	Phoenix	Miss Uptown Phoenix
2023	Candace Kanavel	27	Tempe	Miss Tempe
2022	Isabel Ticlo	28	Phoenix	Miss Phoenix			Previously Miss Arizona 2018 First Indian American and Thai American Miss Arizona USA
2021	Cassidy Jo Jacks	26	Mesa	Miss Usery Mountain			Later contestant on season 1 of Farmer Wants a Wife
2020	Yesenia Vidales	23	Phoenix	Miss Uptown Phoenix
2019	Savannah Wix	22	Paradise Valley	Miss Saguaro Blossom			Previously Miss Arizona Teen USA 2014 ^{[ citation needed ]}
2018	Nicole Smith	24	Phoenix	Miss Phoenix
2017	Tommy Lynn Calhoun^[2]	26	Tucson	Miss Sunset Canyon
2016	Chelsea Myers	20	Chandler	Miss North Phoenix	Top 15
2015	Maureen Montagne	21	Chandler	Miss South Chandler	Top 15		First Asian American Miss Arizona USA Previously 1st runner-up at Mutya ng Pilipinas 2013 Later placed 1st Runner-Up at Miss World America 2017 Later joined Miss World Philippines 2018 and was crowned Miss Eco Philippines 2018 Later became 1st runner-up at Miss Eco International 2018 as Miss Philippines Later joined Binibining Pilipinas 2021 and was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2021 Later crowned The Miss Globe 2021 as Miss Philippines
2014	Jordan Wessel	20	Phoenix	Miss Tempe	Top 20
2013	Rachel Massie	19	Glendale	Miss Maricopa County
2012	Erika Lane Frantzve	23	Scottsdale	Miss Phoenix
2011	Brittany Brannon	22	Paradise Valley	Miss Grand Canyon	Top 16	Miss Photogenic
2010	Brittany Bell	22	Chandler	Miss Chandler			Later Miss Guam Universe 2014
2009	Alicia-Monique Blanco^[3]	22	Phoenix	Miss Diamondback	2nd Runner-Up
2008	Kimberly Joiner^[4]^[1]	22^[1]	Gilbert ^[1]	Miss Gilbert
2007	Courtney Barnas	19	Mesa	Miss Red Mountain
2006	Brenna Sakas	21	Chandler		Top 15
2005	Mariana Loya	26	Gilbert				Previously Miss Washington 1998
2004	Danielle Demski ^[5]	22	Chandler		Top 15		Previously Miss Arizona Teen USA 1999 ^[6] Former NFL Cheerleader for the Arizona Cardinals ^[5]
2003	Nafeesa DeFlorias	26	Phoenix
2002	Jennifer Lenz	25	Mesa
2001	Tasha Dixon	19	Phoenix
2000	Heather Keckler	26	Scottsdale				Previously Miss Arizona Teen USA 1992
1999	Cara Jackson^[6]	25	Chandler ^[6]			Miss Congeniality^[6]	Previously Miss Arizona 1995
1998	Stacey Kole	24	Tempe		Top 10
1997	Jessica Nicely		Gilbert
1996	Christina Novak		Tempe
1995	Shara Riggs		Oro Valley
1994	Jennifer Tisdale		Mesa
1993	Apryl Hettich		Scottsdale
1992	Dannis Shephard		Mesa		Top 11
1991	Maricarroll Verlinde		Tempe		Top 11	Best State Costume
1990	Lezlie Leonard		Tempe
1989	LeeAnne Locken		Apache Junction		Top 10		Cast member on The Real Housewives of Dallas (2016–2020)^[7]
1988	Kris Keim^[8]	22	Scottsdale				Previously Miss Arizona Teen USA 1983
1987	Diane Martin	24	Phoenix		2nd Runner-Up		Previously Miss Arizona 1985
1986	Jodi Armstrong		Phoenix
1985	Michelle Ducote	20	Tempe		Top 10	Best State Costume
1984	Daria Sparling^[9]	19	Tucson			Best State Costume^[10]
1983	Sindy Hedden^[11]	23^[11]	Tucson ^[11]
1982	Lori Hakola		Tucson
1981	Cassie Hill		Phoenix		Top 12
1980	Jineane Ford	20	Gilbert		1st Runner-Up	Miss Photogenic	Became Miss USA 1980 when Shawn Weatherly became Miss Universe 1980
1979	Ana Rupert		Scottsdale		Top 12
1978	Jacque Crutchfield		Phoenix
1977	Toni Abranovic		Scottsdale		Top 12
1976	Curvey Walters		Phoenix
1975	Sanna Osgood		Scottsdale
1974	Carlys Peterson		Phoenix		Top 12
1973	Sherry Nix		Phoenix		3rd Runner-Up
1972	Marcia Banks		Tempe
1971	Susanne Pottenger		Tempe		2nd Runner-Up
1970	Alicia Lein		Mesa
1969	Ruth Hayes		Tempe	Miss Tempe	3rd Runner-Up
1968	Shirley Sprague		Avondale
1967	Judianne Magnusson		Mesa	Miss Phoenix	Top 15
1966	Roxanne Neeley		Oro Valley	Miss Phoenix	Top 15
1965	Jane Nelson		Mesa		1st Runner-Up		Previously Miss New Mexico 1964, dethroned when she won the Miss Arizona USA title.^[12]
1964	Diane Reutter		Phoenix
1963	Diane McGarry		Mesa		Top 15
1962	Jerri Michaelson		Paradise Valley	Miss Yuma	Top 15
1961	Shyrle Owens Ortiz		Avondale
1960	Virginia Crook		Mesa
1959	Patricia Varga		Mesa
1958	Shirlee Fox		Avondale
1956	Maija Bertulson		Tucson
1955	Patti Marks^[13]	19	Glendale
1954	Bonnie Johnson^[14]	18	Glendale
1953	Eleanor Ruth Cross^[15]	19	Chandler
1952	Charlene Hendricks^[16]	18	Tempe

Notes

↑ Ford originally placed as the first runner-up at Miss USA 1980, but inherited the crown after the original winner Shawn Weatherly was crowned Miss Universe 1980. The two titles cannot be held simultaneously.
↑ Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

References

1 2 3 4 Gersema, Emily (2008-03-31). "Miss Arizona USA confident – Gilbert beauty says she'll win Vegas pageant". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
↑ Willett, Johanna (2016-11-20). "Think you know the typical beauty queen? Tucson's Miss Arizona USA will make you think again". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
↑ Sparks, Colleen (2008-12-10). "2 pageant winners share bond". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
↑ Guyette, Trevor (2007-11-04). "Gilbert teacher will compete for Miss USA". East Valley Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-06-24.
1 2 Carroll, Doug (2004-01-03). "Broadcast beauty goes for top". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
1 2 3 4 Beard, Betty (1999-08-28). "Beauty, talent radiate from city". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
↑ "LeeAnne Locken exiting 'Actual Housewives of Dallas' to focus on philanthropy". 10 October 2020.
↑ "It Wasn't All Hearts, Flowers being Miss Arizona-USA". Mohave Daily Miner. 1988-03-29.
↑ "Tucsonan named Miss Arizona-USA". The Courier. 1984-03-19.
↑ "Miss Arizona flies off with costume win". Lakeland Ledger. 1984-05-06.
1 2 3 Williams, Steve (1983-04-04). "Miss USA seeker has no qualms". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
↑ "Loses Title". The Bristol Daily Courier. 10 June 1965. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
↑ "Beauty contestant". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. June 5, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Official Entry List Shows How Beauties Measure Up". Long Beach Press-Telegram. 18 July 1954. p. 22. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
↑ "Miss Universe pageant Tableau of Beauty". Long Beach Press-Telegram . Long Beach, California. 12 July 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 8 May 2023– via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Beauty entry skips meet". Arizona Republic. 25 June 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 12 December 2022– via Newspapers.com.

External links

Official website

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[Ford-2] Ford originally placed as the first runner-up at Miss USA 1980, but inherited the crown after the original winner Shawn Weatherly was crowned Miss Universe 1980. The two titles cannot be held simultaneously.

[3] Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

[:0-1] 1 2 3 4 Gersema, Emily (2008-03-31). "Miss Arizona USA confident – Gilbert beauty says she'll win Vegas pageant". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.

[4] Willett, Johanna (2016-11-20). "Think you know the typical beauty queen? Tucson's Miss Arizona USA will make you think again". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2018-07-11.

[5] Sparks, Colleen (2008-12-10). "2 pageant winners share bond". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.

[6] Guyette, Trevor (2007-11-04). "Gilbert teacher will compete for Miss USA". East Valley Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-06-24.

[:1-7] 1 2 Carroll, Doug (2004-01-03). "Broadcast beauty goes for top". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.

[:2-8] 1 2 3 4 Beard, Betty (1999-08-28). "Beauty, talent radiate from city". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.

[9] "LeeAnne Locken exiting 'Actual Housewives of Dallas' to focus on philanthropy". 10 October 2020.

[10] "It Wasn't All Hearts, Flowers being Miss Arizona-USA". Mohave Daily Miner. 1988-03-29.

[11] "Tucsonan named Miss Arizona-USA". The Courier. 1984-03-19.

[12] "Miss Arizona flies off with costume win". Lakeland Ledger. 1984-05-06.

[:3-13] 1 2 3 Williams, Steve (1983-04-04). "Miss USA seeker has no qualms". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2018-07-11.

[14] "Loses Title". The Bristol Daily Courier. 10 June 1965. Retrieved 20 June 2023.

[15] "Beauty contestant". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. June 5, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.

[contestants-16] "Official Entry List Shows How Beauties Measure Up". Long Beach Press-Telegram. 18 July 1954. p. 22. Retrieved 26 July 2023.

[17] "Miss Universe pageant Tableau of Beauty". Long Beach Press-Telegram . Long Beach, California. 12 July 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 8 May 2023– via Newspapers.com.

[18] "Beauty entry skips meet". Arizona Republic. 25 June 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 12 December 2022– via Newspapers.com.

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