Gallery of past titleholders
Taylor Wiebers,
Miss Iowa 2015
Olivia Myers,
Miss Iowa 2008
| Formation | 1924 |
|---|---|
| Type | Beauty pageant |
| Headquarters | Davenport |
| Location | |
Membership | Miss America |
Official language | English |
| Leslie Moore (Executive Director) Rachael Vopatek (President / Director of Public Relations & Marketing) ContentsAshley Brown (Secretary / Field Operations) Lisa Durbin (Treasurer / Scholarships Chair) Dapo Kolawole (Sponsorship Chair) Jessica Patel (Judge's Chair) Bill Lee Sandy Koester (Competition Week Contestant Coordinator) Andrea Riley (Princess Camp Coordinator) Natasha Sottos | |
| Website | Official website |
The Miss Iowa competition is the official preliminary for the state of Iowa in the Miss America Scholarship Competition.
Alysa Goethe of Bettendorf was crowned Miss Iowa 2023 on June 10, 2023 at the Adler Theatre in Davenport, Iowa. She competed for the title of Miss America 2024 at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando, Florida in January 2024. She is the first known diabetic Miss Iowa and was the only competitor at the national competition to advocate for diabetes.
The Miss Iowa Scholarship Competition is a three-day program held in the Davenport, IA every June. During this event, both Miss Iowa and Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen are crowned. In order to compete for Miss Iowa, you must be at least 17 years old and cannot be over 25 years old before December 31 in the year you hope to compete. In addition, you must reside, work, or attend school in Iowa. You also need to be awarded a preliminary title from a local competition. [1]
No contestant from Iowa has ever won the national Miss America title although two Miss Iowa Titleholders have been named first runner-up.[ citation needed ]
Cheryl Browne, Miss Iowa 1970, competed in the Miss America 1971 pageant as the first African American contestant. [2]
The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Iowa titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.
| Year | Name | Hometown | Age | Local Title | Miss America Talent | Placement at Miss America | Special scholarships at Miss America | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Alysa Goethe | Bettendorf | 23 | Miss Polk County | Vocal | |||
| 2022 | Bailey Hodson [3] | Des Moines | 24 | Miss Metro | Vocal | |||
| 2021 | Grace Lynn Keller [4] | Island Lake, IL | 22 | Miss Eastern Iowa | Contemporary Dance | Eligible as a student and recent graduate of the University of Iowa [4] | ||
| 2019–20 [lower-alpha 1] | Emily Tinsman [6] | Bettendorf | 22 | Miss Wild Rose | Classical Vocal | |||
| 2018 | Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw [7] | Rock Island, IL | 21 | Miss Clinton County | Violin, “Chrystalize” by Lindsey Stirling | Eligible as a student and recent graduate of the University of Iowa [7] | ||
| 2017 | Chelsea Dubczak [8] | Urbandale [8] | 23 | Miss Metro | Operatic Vocal, "Sempre Libera" from La traviata | Non-finalist Talent Award [9] | Later Iowa Sweetheart 2019[ citation needed ] | |
| 2016 | Kelly Koch [10] | Waukee | 20 | Miss Polk County | Dance | Top 10 | ||
| 2015 | Taylor Wiebers [11] | Clinton | 21 | Miss Clinton County | Vocal, "Don't Forget Me" from Smash | Top 12 | Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 2014 | Aly Olson [12] | Des Moines | 21 | Miss Scott County | Vocal, "How Could I Ever Know" from The Secret Garden | Top 12 | Previously Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen 2010 [13] | |
| 2013 | Nicole Kelly | Keokuk | 23 | Miss Metro | Vocal, "Brave" by Sara Bareilles | Born without left forearm [14] | ||
| 2012 | Mariah Cary | Burlington | 20 | Miss Muscatine | Tap Dance, "Scatman (Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop)" | 4th runner-up | ||
| 2011 | Jessica Pray [15] | Johnston | 18 | Miss Muscatine | Vocal, "You Raise Me Up" | Top 10 | ||
| 2010 | Pauli Mayfield | Davenport | 24 | Miss Scott County | Vocal, "I Know Where I've Been" from Hairspray | Non-finalist Interview Award | ||
| 2009 | Anne Langguth | Iowa City | 22 | Miss Johnson County | Violin, Zigeunerweisen | Non-finalist Talent Award Quality of Life Award Finalist | Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2008 pageant | |
| 2008 | Olivia Myers [16] | Sperry | 22 | Miss Burlington | Tap Dance, "Fever" | 2nd runner-up | ||
| 2007 | Diana Reed [17] | Norwalk | 23 | Miss Capital City | Baton, "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 2006 | Emily Nicholas | Clear Lake | 21 | Miss Cedar River | Vocal, "Over the Rainbow" | Sister of Miss Iowa 2004, Carolyn Nicholas | ||
| 2005 | Kay Pauszek | Bettendorf | 23 | Miss Muscatine | Irish Step Dance, "Tipping Wheel" | |||
| 2004 | Carolyn Nicholas | Clear Lake | 22 | Miss Cedar River | Flute, "The Heebie Jeebies" | Non-finalist Talent Award | Sister of Miss Iowa 2006, Emily Nicholas | |
| 2003 | Nicole White | Eldridge | 22 | Miss Scott County | Vocal, "If I Had My Way" | |||
| 2002 | Stephanie Moore | Okoboji | 22 | Miss Golden Circle | Vocal, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from The Phantom of the Opera | |||
| 2001 | Erin Smith | Bettendorf | 20 | Miss Mississippi Valley Fair | Piano, "Toccata in E-flat minor" by Aram Khachaturian | Miss America Scholar | ||
| 2000 | Theresa Uchytil | Urbandale | 24 | Miss Johnson County | Baton, "The Cup of Life" | Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up | ||
| 1999 | Jennifer Caudle | Davenport | 21 | Miss Scott County | Cello, "Sabre Dance" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1998 | Lisa Dondlinger | Des Moines | 24 | Miss Capital City | Violin, "Hoe-Down" from Rodeo | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1997 | Sheri Riley | Clear Lake | 19 | Miss Cedar Valley | Gospel Vocal, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" | |||
| 1996 | Natasha Courter | Davenport | 23 | Miss Mississippi Valley Fair | Tap Dance, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" | |||
| 1995 | Jennifer Curry | Muscatine | 21 | Miss Johnson County | Vocal, "The Last Man In My Life" from Song and Dance | |||
| 1994 | Tammy Truitt | Davenport | 21 | Miss Scott County | Dramatic Vocal, "I Still Believe" from Miss Saigon | |||
| 1993 | Nancy Van Meter | Burlington | 24 | Miss Burlington | Vocal, "Stand by Your Man" | Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up | ||
| 1992 | Catherine Lemkau | Muscatine | 24 | Miss Mississippi Valley Fair | Vocal, "Someone Like You" from Jekyll & Hyde | 1st runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award Preliminary Swimsuit Award (tie) | |
| 1991 | Lisa Somodi | 23 | Miss Muscatine County | Classical Piano, "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 15" | 3rd runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | ||
| 1990 | Kerri Rosenberg | Burlington | 26 | Miss Mississippi Valley Fair | Classical Vocal, "Ah, Je Veux Vivre" from Roméo et Juliette | Top 10 | ||
| 1989 | Jayna Sanchez | Davenport | 24 | Miss Cedar-Johnson County | Dance / Twirl, "Another Cha-Cha" by Santa Esmeralda | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1988 | Tiffany DiBernardo | Bettendorf | 19 | Miss Scott County | Vocal, "I Go To Rio" | |||
| 1987 | Robin Wolfram | Davenport | 24 | Popular Vocal, "Only You" | Non-finalist Talent Award | |||
| 1986 | Darcy Benton | Delmar | 19 | Miss Clinton County | Vocal, "Someone to Watch Over Me" | |||
| 1985 | Sherri Bowman | Council Bluffs | 24 | Miss Nishna Valley | Piano | |||
| 1984 | Debra Deitering | Missouri Valley | 23 | Miss Southwest Iowa | Vocal, "This Is My Life" | |||
| 1983 | Karri Nussle | Des Moines | 19 | Miss Polk County | Vocal, "Minute Waltz" | |||
| 1982 | Linda Simon | DeWitt | 23 | Miss Clinton County | Baton Twirling | Non-finalist Talent Award[ citation needed ] | ||
| 1981 | Darla Blocker | Davenport | 19 | Miss Scott County | Vocal, "But the World Goes Round" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1980 | Jane Patton | Council Bluffs | 24 | Miss Nishna Valley | Semi-Classical Vocal, "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" from The Sound of Music | |||
| 1979 | Lori Froeling | Keokuk | 20 | Miss Keokuk | Flute, "Carnival of Venice" | Top 10 | ||
| 1978 | Mary England [18] | Davenport | 20 | Miss Scott County | Piano, "Spellbound" | |||
| 1977 | Debra Jo Scheller [19] | Fort Dodge | 23 | Miss Emmet County | Popular Vocal, "Country Girl" | |||
| 1976 | Ronda Frogley [20] | Davenport | 20 | Miss Scott County | Popular Vocal, "Tomorrow" | |||
| 1975 | Debbie Weuve [21] | State Center | 20 | Miss Marshall County | Vocal, "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret | |||
| 1974 | Jean Bollhoefer [22] | Haverhill | 25 | Popular Vocal, "Starting Here, Starting Now" | Non-finalist Talent Award | |||
| 1973 | Lynette Henninger [23] | Bettendorf | 19 | Miss Scott County | Ballet, "Color My World" & "Make No Sound" | |||
| 1972 | Renee Stuedemann [24] | Clinton | 23 | Miss Clinton County | Baton Twirling, "Can-Can" from Orpheus in the Underworld | Top 10 | ||
| 1971 | Judith Stephens [25] | Clarinda | 21 | Miss Southwest Iowa | Piano, Rhapsody In Blue | |||
| 1970 | Cheryl Browne [26] | Decorah | 20 | Miss Decorah | Ballet, "Deep Purple" | Non-finalist Talent Award | First African American contestant to compete at a Miss America pageant[ citation needed ] Cheryl Adrienne Browne was a native of Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York who attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. | |
| 1969 | Lois Koth [27] | Alta | 20 | Miss Storm Lake | Pipe Organ, "Toccata" by Charles-Marie Widor | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1968 | Susan Thompson [28] | Des Moines | 21 | Miss Des Moines | Piano, Warsaw Concerto | 2nd runner-up | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |
| 1967 | Lynda Jeanne Formanek [29] | Belle Plaine | 23 | Miss Newton | Character Portrayal from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Top 10 | ||
| 1966 | Pamela Ericson [30] | Sioux City | 19 | Miss Sioux City | Semi-classical Vocal, "Love Is Where You Find It" from The Kissing Bandit | |||
| 1965 | Marie Mushro [31] | 19 | Ballet en Pointe, The Dying Swan | Miss Congeniality Non-finalist Talent Award | ||||
| 1964 | Carol Johnson [32] | Ames | 21 | Miss Ames | Folk Vocal & Guitar | |||
| 1963 | Carolyn Northway [33] | Davenport | 19 | Miss Davenport | Piano, "Étude Op. 25, No. 8" by Frédéric Chopin | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1962 | Joleen Wolf [34] | Des Moines | 19 | Miss Des Moines | Interpretive Ballet, "Autumn Concerto" from The Four Seasons | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1961 | Patti Whalen [35] | Clinton | 18 | Miss Clinton County | Vocal Medley, "I Feel Pretty" & "Tonight" from West Side Story | |||
| 1960 | Sally Neville [36] | Davenport | 18 | Miss Davenport | Dramatic Reading, "Mother on a Moment's Notice" | |||
| 1959 | Jacquelyn Baker [37] | Grinnell | 20 | Miss Grinnell | Modern Interpretive Dance | |||
| 1958 | Joanne MacDonald [38] | Ames | 20 | Miss Ames | Dramatic Recitation from The White Cliffs of Dover | 1st runner-up | ||
| 1957 | Carol Fleck [39] | Oskaloosa | 19 | Miss Southeast Iowa | Dance | |||
| 1956 | Martha Barsness [40] | Decorah | 20 | Miss Decorah | Vocal, "Ah, Fors'e Lui" from La Traviata | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1955 | Kay Taylor [41] | Iowa City | 20 | Miss Cedar Rapids | Tap Dance, "French Maids Dreaming of Marriage" | |||
| 1954 | Carol Morris [42] | Ottumwa | 18 | Miss Ottumwa | Violin | Later Miss Iowa USA 1956 Later Miss USA 1956 [43] and Miss Universe 1956 | ||
| 1953 | Constance VerHoef [44] | Sheldon | 18 | Miss Sheldon | Vocal | |||
| 1952 | Carolyn Hill [45] | Cedar Falls | 19 | Miss Waterloo | Vocal, "You're My Everything" | |||
| 1951 | Nancy Jane Norman [46] | Shenandoah | 19 | Miss Southwest Iowa | Vocal, "Romance" from The Desert Song | |||
| 1950 | Mary Virginia Lines [47] | Clarinda | 18 | Miss Southwest Iowa | Piano / Marimba, "Stardust" | |||
| 1949 | Barbara Juel [48] | Council Bluffs | 20 | Miss Council Bluffs | Classical Vocal, "Strie la Vampa" from Il trovatore | |||
| 1948 | No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant [49] | |||||||
| 1947 | Ruth Janet Anderson [50] | Oelwein | 19 | Miss Fayette County | Vocal, "You Made Me Love You" | |||
| 1946 | Jacquline Means [51] | Des Moines | 19 | Miss Des Moines | Acrobatic Dance | |||
| 1945 | Jeanne Gordon [52] | 19 | ||||||
| 1944 | No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant [53] [54] [55] | |||||||
| 1943 | ||||||||
| 1942 | ||||||||
| 1941 | Lorene Snoddy [56] | Des Moines | 20 | |||||
| 1940 | No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant [57] [58] [59] [60] | |||||||
| 1939 | ||||||||
| 1938 | ||||||||
| 1937 | ||||||||
| 1936 | Carol Bailey | Waterloo | 16 | Miss Waterloo | ||||
| 1935 | Connie Rosefield | Des Moines | 18 | Miss Des Moines | No Miss Iowa Competed as Miss Des Moines at Miss America pageant | |||
| 1934 | No national pageant was held [61] | |||||||
| 1933 | Eleanor Dankenbring | Manning | 20 | |||||
| 1932 | No national pageants were held [61] | |||||||
| 1931 | ||||||||
| 1930 | ||||||||
| 1929 | ||||||||
| 1928 | ||||||||
| 1927 | Geneva Roberts | Storm Lake | 19 | Miss Storm Lake | ||||
| 1926 | No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant [62] | |||||||
| 1925 | Dorothy Nordyke | Miss Sioux City | No Miss Iowa Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant | |||||
| 1924 | Alta Sterling | |||||||
| 1923 | No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant [63] [64] [65] | |||||||
| 1922 | ||||||||
| 1921 | ||||||||
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