Miss Arizona USA

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss America, see Miss Arizona.

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

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 represented 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), LeeAnne 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
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			Later married to Charlie Kirk
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	Miss 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 Lynn Keim [8]	22	Scottsdale				Previously Miss Arizona Teen USA 1983 First runner-up at Miss Arizona USA 1987
1987	Diane Lynn Martin [9]	24	Tempe		2nd runner-up		Previously Miss Arizona 1985 Top 15 at Miss Asia Pacific 1987
1986	Jodi Lee Armstrong		Phoenix
1985	Michelle Ducote	20	Tempe		Top 10	Best State Costume
1984	Daria Joi Sparling [10]	20	Tucson			Best State Costume [11]	First runner-up at Miss Arizona USA 1983
1983	Sindy Lou Hedden [12]	21 [12]	Tucson [12]				First runner-up at Miss Arizona USA 1981 Finalist at Miss Arizona USA 1982 [13]
1982	Lori Diane Hakola [13]	19	Tucson
1981	Cassie Denise Hill [14]		Phoenix		Top 12
1980	Jineane Marie Ford	20	Gilbert		1st runner-up [15]	Miss Photogenic [16]	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 [17]	23	Phoenix
1975	Sanna Jo Osgood [18]		Scottsdale
1974	Carlys Peterson [19]		Phoenix	Miss Phoenix	Top 12		Third runner-up at Miss Arizona USA 1973 [20]
1973	Sherry Nix [20]	21	Carefree		3rd runner-up		Participated in Miss California USA 1973
1972	Marcia Banks		Tempe
1971	Susanne Elizabeth "Susie" Pottenger [21]		Tempe		2nd runner-up		Finalist at Miss Arizona USA 1970 [22]
1970	Alicia Ellen Lein [22]	21	Mesa
1969	Ruth Hayes		Tempe	Miss Tempe	3rd Runner-Up
1968	Shirley Diane Sprague		Avondale			Top 15 Best in Swimsuit [23]
1967	Judianne Magnusson [24]	20	Phoenix	Miss Phoenix	Top 15
1966	Roxanne Neeley [25]	20	Phoenix	Miss Phoenix	Top 15		Later Miss Arizona Wool 1966 (first runner-up at Miss Wool of America)
1965	Jane Nelson [26]	20	Tempe	Miss Tempe	1st runner-up		Previously Miss New Mexico 1964, dethroned when she won the Miss Arizona USA title. [27]
1964	Diane Louise Reutter [28]	19	Phoenix	Miss Phoenix
1963	Diane McGarry [29]	20	Phoenix		Top 15
1962	Marilyn Jerri Michelson [30]	18	Scottsdale	Miss Yuma County	Top 15
1961	Shyrle Owens Ortiz		Avondale
1960	Virginia Crook		Mesa
1959	Patricia Varga		Mesa
1958	Shirlee Dianne Fox		Avondale				Died in 2003. [31]
1956	Maija Bertulson		Tucson
1955	Patti Marks [32]	19	Glendale
1954	Bonnie Johnson [33]	18	Glendale
1953	Eleanor Ruth Cross [34]	19	Chandler
1952	Charlene Hendricks [35]	18	Tempe

Notes

1. 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.
2. Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

References

1. Gersema, Emily (2008-03-31). "Miss Arizona USA confident – Gilbert beauty says she'll win Vegas pageant". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
2. 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.
3. Sparks, Colleen (2008-12-10). "2 pageant winners share bond". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
4. Guyette, Trevor (2007-11-04). "Gilbert teacher will compete for Miss USA". East Valley Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-06-24.
5. Carroll, Doug (2004-01-03). "Broadcast beauty goes for top". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
6. Beard, Betty (1999-08-28). "Beauty, talent radiate from city". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
7. "LeeAnne Locken exiting 'Actual Housewives of Dallas' to focus on philanthropy". 10 October 2020.
8. "It Wasn't All Hearts, Flowers being Miss Arizona-USA". Mohave Daily Miner. 1988-03-29.
9. "A crowning achievement". The Arizona Republic . 15 December 1986. p. 22. Retrieved 14 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
10. "Tucsonan named Miss Arizona-USA". The Courier. 1984-03-19.
11. "Miss Arizona flies off with costume win". Lakeland Ledger. 1984-05-06.
12. Williams, Steve (1983-04-04). "Miss USA seeker has no qualms". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
13. "Miss Arizona finalists chosen". The Arizona Republic . 8 March 1982. p. 18. Retrieved 13 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
14. "Monkeyshines". The Arizona Republic . 9 May 1981. p. 118. Retrieved 16 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
15. Goggin, Terry (16 May 1980). "South Carolina coed is new Miss USA". Hattiesburg American . p. 9. Retrieved 9 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
16. "Miss Photogenic Winners". The Knoxville News-Sentinel . 11 May 1980. p. 32. Retrieved 15 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
17. "Deputy court clerk wins beauty contest". The Arizona Republic . 12 March 1976. p. 10. Retrieved 13 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
18. Edgren, Valerie (2 September 1975). "The Gadabout: Miss Texas Pageant held". El Paso Herald-Post . p. 8. Retrieved 13 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
19. "Arizonan seeks title". Tucson Citizen . 16 May 1974. p. 6. Retrieved 15 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
20. "Model wins 2nd in state pageant". The Arizona Republic . 2 April 1973. p. 31. Retrieved 14 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
21. "THE BEACH AND BEAUTIES". Scranton Tribune . 20 May 1971. p. 2. Retrieved 15 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
22. "All over but the crying". The Arizona Republic . 15 February 1970. p. 5. Retrieved 16 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
23. "SWIMSUIT WINNERS". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . 16 May 1968. p. 62. Retrieved 7 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
24. "CONTENDER". The Arizona Republic . 5 May 1967. p. 16. Retrieved 14 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
25. "MISS ARIZONA, OLD AND NEW". The Arizona Republic . 5 May 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 16 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
26. "RELAXING FROM MISS USA REHEARSAL". The Jackson Sun . 1 June 1965. p. 2. Retrieved 14 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
27. "Loses Title". The Bristol Daily Courier. 10 June 1965. p. 2. Retrieved 20 June 2023– via Newspapers.com.
28. "TIME OUT FOR PLAY". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal . 24 July 1964. p. 46. Retrieved 11 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
29. "MISS U.S.A. AND 14 RUNNERS-UP". Iowa City Press-Citizen . 18 July 1963. p. 20. Retrieved 8 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
30. "BEAUTIES GALORE". The Macon News . 12 July 1962. p. 2. Retrieved 8 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
31. "OBITUARIES". The Arizona Republic . 2 January 2004. p. 30. Retrieved 16 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
32. "Beauty contestant". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. June 5, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
33. "Official Entry List Shows How Beauties Measure Up". Long Beach Press-Telegram. 18 July 1954. p. 22. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
34. "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.
35. "Beauty entry skips meet". Arizona Republic. 25 June 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 12 December 2022– via Newspapers.com.

External links

• Official website