Miss Pennsylvania USA

Last updated

Miss Pennsylvania USA
Formation1952
Type Beauty pageant
Headquarters Cincinnati
Location
Membership
Miss USA
Official language
English
Key people
Melissa Proctor-Pitchford, State Pageant Director
Website Official website

The Miss Pennsylvania USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Pennsylvania in the Miss USA pageant. It has been previously known as Miss Pennsylvania Universe. [1] This pageant is independently conducted and produced by Proctor Productions based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was produced by Sanders & Associates, Inc., dba- Pageant Associates based in Buckhannon, West Virginia from 2001 to 2020. Since 2020 the pageant based in Cincinnati, Ohio. [2]

Contents

The annual competition is currently held in Johnstown and has previously been hosted by Harrisburg, Greensburg, Monroeville, and Pittsburgh. [1] [3] [4]

Michele McDonald, Miss USA 1971, is the only woman from Pennsylvania to win the Miss USA title. [5] At just eighteen, she was the youngest competitor ever to win the crown. [6] Their most recent placement came in 2023 when Jasmine Daniels placed 3rd runner-up.

The current titleholder is Noni Diarra of Philadelphia was crowned on June 29, 2024, at Richland Performing Arts Center in Johnstown. She will represent Pennsylvania at Miss USA 2024.

Results summary

Pennsylvania holds a record of 15 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

Winners

Color key
YearNameCityAge [lower-alpha 1] Local titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2024 Noni Diarra Philadelphia 23Miss Philadelphia
2023 Jasmine Daniels Collegeville 26Miss Collegeville3rd runner-upBest in Evening Gown
2022 Billie LaRaé Owens Phoenixville 25Miss Upper ProvidenceDaughter of former basketball player Billy Owens
2021 Sydney Robertson Williamsport 23Miss WilliamsportMiss Photogenic
2020 Victoria Piekut Irwin 23
  • Previously International Junior Miss Teen 2015 [8]
  • Longest reigning Miss Pennsylvania USA (1 year, 8 months, and 28 days)
2019 Kailyn Marie Perez Camp Hill 27Top 15
2018 Olivia Ann Suchko [9] Belle Vernon [9] 21 [9]
2017 Cassandra Lee Angst Philadelphia 22
2016 Elena Flora LaQuatra [10] Pittsburgh 23Triple crown winner; deaf since age 4 due to bacterial meningitis [11] [12]
2015 Elizabeth Lee Cardillo [15] Pittsburgh 24
2014 Valerie Gatto [16] Pittsburgh 24Top 20 [16]
2013 Jessica Billings Berwyn 26Top 15
Title vacant
2012 Sheena Monnin Pittsburgh 26
  • Resigned the title after the Miss USA competition, alleging that the pageant was a fraud. [17]
  • Shortest reigning Miss Pennsylvania USA (6 months and 1 day)
2011 Amber-Joi Watkins Philadelphia 26Former Sixers Dancer
2010 Gina Domenica Cerilli Greensburg 23Top 15Former Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader
2009 Lindsey Nelsen Stewartstown 21
2008 LauRen Merola Pittsburgh 234th runner-upFormer Miami Dolphins Cheerleader
2007 Samantha Johnson Philadelphia 22
2006 Tanya Lehman York 22
2005 Brenda Brabham Philadelphia 24Top 10
2004 Nicole Georghalli East Stroudsburg 25
2003 Camille Young Philadelphia 23
2002 Nicole BighamBelle Vernon25
2001 Jennifer Ann Watkins Monongahela
2000 Angela Patla Sweet Valley 26
1999 Melissa Godshall Philadelphia 25
1998 Kimberly Jaycox [18] Indiana [18]
1997 Cara Bernosky Whitehall
1996 Susan Barnett Levittown
1995 Stephanie Fallat Murrysville
1994 Linda Chiaraluna [3] Evans City [3] 23 [3]
1993 Kimmarie Johnson Pittsburgh Top 6
1992 Catherine Weber Philadelphia
1991 Adrienne Romano Philadelphia
1990 Elizabeth Cebak [19] [20] Ross [19] 23 [19]
1989 Denise Epps [21] [22] Lansdale [22] 22 [22] Semi-finalist
1988 Susan Gray [23] Lansdale [23] 20 [23]
1987 Lisa Rynkiewicz Clarksville
1986 Sherri Fitzpatrick Quakertown 231983 & 1984 Professional Cheerleader for the USFL Philadelphia Stars Football Team; 1985 Professional Cheerleader for the Philadelphia Eagles
1985 Sandra Ferguson [24] [25] Pittsburgh 18Played Amanda Cory on Another World [26]
1984 Tina Albright Lansford
1983 Julie Page [27] [28] Belle Vernon [27] 18 [27] Semi-finalistBest State Costume
1982 Theresa Rosa [29] North Versailles [29]
1981 Nena Stone [30] Bethel Park [30] 21 [30]
1980 Andrea Patrick [31] Connellsville [31]
1979 Maureen Starinsky [33] Monongahela [33] 23 [33]
1978 Sandy Dell [34] Latrobe [34] 22 [34] Semi-finalist
1977 Lorraine Lincoski Daisytown Miss Daisytown
1976 Marcy Zambelli Newcastle
1975 Pat Hurley Wilkes-Barre
1974 Dorisann Gatalski Bethel Park
1973 Jill Unbewust Benton
1972 Jeanie Zadrozny Pittsburgh Miss Allegheny
1971 Michele McDonald Butler Miss USA 1971
  • Semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1971
  • Michele Marlene McDonald-Boeke died in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania on January 23, 2020, at age 67 from complications stemming from a 2018 double-lung transplant surgery.
1970 Carol Cerully Altoona
1969 Marlene Vaughn Philadelphia 21
1968 Barbara Verlander [35] White Oak 20 [35]
1967 Barbara Ann Woronko Edwardsville 17Miss Wilkes-BarreSemifinalistSwimsuit WinnerFormer Radio City Rockette.
1966 Susan Joanne Fennell Philadelphia
1965 Beverly Rudolph Philadelphia
1964 Maryann Reilly Philadelphia
1963 Deborah Cardonick Philadelphia
1962 Margaret Lineman Philadelphia Semi-finalist
1961 Gayle Nelson Philadelphia
1960 Betsy Reeves Philadelphia
1959 Rhoda Mae Kachilo Philadelphia
1958 Natalie Dee Philadelphia
1957 Rosalie Culp Philadelphia
1956 Serena Kifer Philadelphia
1955 Marianne Marcus Philadelphia
1954 Helen Vidovich Philadelphia
1953 Jeri Hauer [36] Hatboro [36] Semi-finalist
1952 Miriam Smith Philadelphia
Notes
  1. Age at the time of the crowning

Related Research Articles

Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant that has been run since 1983 by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19 years old as of January 1st of the competition year. They must be US citizens, and cannot have been married, pregnant, or have children. Unlike its sister pageants Miss Universe, which currently broadcasts on JKN18 and like its sister pageant Miss USA, it is televised on The CW television network starting in 2024, after being streamed online for several years. The Miss Universe Organization previously operated Miss Teen USA, as well as Miss USA, until 2020 when the rights to produce both pageants were licensed to Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart prior to her suspension in October 2022, thus returning the said pageants to the Miss Universe Organization. The parent company of all three pageants and the Miss Universe organization remains the same under the licensing agreement: JKN Metaverse Inc., a subsidiary of JKN Global Group.

The Miss Texas USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Texas in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. This pageant is part of the Miss USA Organization, owned by Texas native Crystle Stewart, herself a Miss USA for 2008.

The Miss Hawaii USA competition, previously known as Miss Hawaii Universe, is a beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of Hawaii in the Miss USA pageant.

The Miss Indiana USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Indiana in the Miss USA pageant and the name of the title held by those representatives. This pageant is currently produced by Crown Moxie, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA</span> Beauty pageant competition

The Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Pennsylvania in the Miss Teen USA pageant. This pageant is independently conducted and produced by Proctor Productions based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was produced by Sanders & Associates, Inc., dba- Pageant Associates based in Buckhannon, West Virginia from 2001 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Ohio</span> Beauty pageant competition

The Miss Ohio Scholarship Program selects the representative for the U.S. state of Ohio to compete for the title of Miss America. The pageant is held annually, during the "Miss Ohio Festival" week, at the historic 1,600 seat Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield.

The Miss Tennessee competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Tennessee in the Miss America Scholarship Competition.

The Miss Missouri competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Missouri in the Miss America pageant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 2007</span> 56th Miss USA pageant

Miss USA 2007 was the 56th Miss USA pageant, held at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on March 23, 2007, after two weeks of events and preliminary competition. The winner of the pageant was Rachel Smith of Tennessee.

The Miss Indiana competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Indiana in the Miss America Pageant.

The Miss Michigan competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Michigan in the Miss America pageant. Michigan has won the Miss America crown on five occasions.

The Miss Pennsylvania competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Pennsylvania in the Miss America pageant. Pennsylvania, including early years' city representatives, has won the Miss America crown on five occasions.

The Miss Pennsylvania's Teen competition selects the representative for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the Miss America's Teen Competition. The Miss Pennsylvania's Teen Competition is held each June at the Appell Center for Performing Arts in York, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss America 1922</span> 2nd Miss America pageant

Miss America 1922 was the second annual Miss America pageant, held at the Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey from September 7–9, 1922.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss America 1923</span> 3rd Miss America pageant

Miss America 1923, was the third Miss America pageant, held at the Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Friday, September 7, 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimmarie Johnson</span> American model and businesswoman

Kimmarie Johnson is an American actress, model, businesswoman, and beauty pageant titleholder. She is the founder of SkinGlow by Kimmarie, a skin care and beauty retailing and consulting company she founded in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 2018</span> 67th Miss USA pageant

Miss USA 2018 was the 67th Miss USA pageant. It was held on May 21, 2018 at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport, Louisiana. The pageant was held at the same venue that was used for Miss USA 1997.

Miss Teen USA 2018, the 36th Miss Teen USA pageant, was held on May 18, 2018, at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport, Louisiana. Sophia Dominguez-Heithoff of Missouri crowned Hailey Colborn of Kansas as her successor at the end of the event. She is the second entrant from Kansas to win the title after Keylee Sue Sanders won Miss Teen USA 1995.

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss Teen USA, see Miss New York Teen USA

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008</span> 3rd Miss America Outstanding Teen pageant held in Orlando, Florida

Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 was the third Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant, held at the Linda Chapin Theater in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on August 11, 2007.

References

  1. 1 2 "Miss Pennsylvania Pageant to be Held in Harrisburg". The Daily Notes. 9 March 1967. p. 3.
  2. "Who We Are: Pageant Associates". Miss Pennsylvania USA® & Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA®. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Deadline Set for Miss PA USA Entrants". The Titusville Herald. 7 December 1993. p. 7.
  4. "Deadline Set for Pageant Applications". The Daily News. 22 November 1980. p. 12.
  5. "First push from mother helps teen-age winner". The Manhattan Mercury. 24 May 1971.
  6. Koteski, Rena Lynn (3 July 1971). "'I still feel the same', Michelle: Miss Saxonburg to Miss USA". North Hills News Record.
  7. "Williamsport Native named Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA 2014". Williamsport Sun Gazette. January 19, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  8. Larussa, Tony (September 23, 2015). "North Huntingdon's Piekut wins international title". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 "Pittsburgh-Area Natives Named Miss Pa. USA, Miss Pa. Teen USA". CBS Pittsburgh. 3 December 2017.
  10. McDermott, Maeve (5 June 2016). "This Miss USA contestant overcame losing her hearing to compete for the crown". USA Today.
  11. 1 2 Wiggin, Sally (December 7, 2015). "4 the 412 team member Elena LaQuatra wins Miss Pennsylvania USA". WTAE News. As a teenager, she won Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen, a pageant that is part of the Miss America system. LaQuatra finished as second runner-up in the national contest.
  12. Niederberger, Mary (2007-07-26). "Deaf teen tapping her way to fame". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
  13. Zapf, Karen (2007-08-02). "East Young Achiever: Elena LaQuatra". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Archived from the original on 2007-12-05. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
  14. Pennello, Toni (December 24, 2015). "Elena LaQuatra is the new Miss Pennsylvania USA". The Almanac.
  15. Ganster, Kathleen (8 January 2015). "Resume: A newsmaker you should know / Hampton alumnae Elizabeth Cardillo named Miss Pennsylvania USA". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  16. 1 2 Glover, Sarah (8 June 2014). "Miss Pennsylvania USA Says She's a Product of Rape". NBC Pittsburgh.
  17. Krupnick, Ellie (2012-06-05). "Miss Pennsylvania USA 2012 Resigns Over Alleged Pageant Fraud". Huffington Post.
  18. 1 2 McAndrew, Meghan (14 March 1997). "Miss Pennsylvania USA Entered Pageant on a Whim". Indiana Gazette.
  19. 1 2 3 Opalka, William (9 February 1990). "Crowning Glory: Pitt student set for Miss USA pageant". News Record. p. 1.
  20. "Ross model wins state pageant". North Hills News Record. 14 March 1989.
  21. "Miss Pennsylvania-USA selected". The Harrisburg Patriot. 1988-03-07. p. B3.
  22. 1 2 3 Fricker, Dan (16 April 1988). "Giving IUP Friend a Ride Leads to Beauty Title". Indiana Gazette.
  23. 1 2 3 "Lansdale coed new Miss PA". Indiana Gazette. 6 April 1987. p. 8.
  24. Stefanik, Regis M. (March 11, 1985). "Senior here wins beauty pageant". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . p. 5. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  25. Novakovich, Lilana (1988-03-14). "Ex-teen queen looks like Ivory gal". The Toronto Star. p. C8.
  26. Bianco, Robert (June 19, 1987). "If children's TV turns you off, try 'Kids America' on radio". The Pittsburgh Press . p. D7. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  27. 1 2 3 "Miss Pennsylvania Crowned". The Gettysburg Times. 7 March 1983. p. 10.
  28. "Belle Vernon teen wins Miss Pennsylvania title". Indiana Gazette. 7 March 1983. p. 27.
  29. 1 2 "Rosa wins beauty pageant". The Gettysburg Times. 1 March 1982. p. 13.
  30. 1 2 3 "Miss Pennsylvania USA Leads Exercise Program and Models". Indiana Evening Gazette. 5 May 1981.
  31. 1 2 "Dancer becomes Miss PA". Indiana Evening Gazette. 4 March 1980. p. 4.
  32. Bryant, Jean (1998-09-22). "Connellsville Beauty Queen weds Fabian". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. G1.
  33. 1 2 3 "State police typist wins Miss Pennsylvania pageant". Indiana Evening Gazette. 6 March 1979.
  34. 1 2 3 "New Miss Pennsylvania chosen from 77 contestants". The Kane Republican. 6 March 1978. p. 7.
  35. 1 2 "Pitt coed wins Queen contest". The Oil City Derrick. 29 April 1968.
  36. 1 2 "Delegate from Pennsylvania". The Morning Call. 9 July 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 31 July 2023.