Miss Texas USA

Last updated

Miss Texas USA
Formation1952
Type Beauty pageant
Headquarters Dallas
Location
Membership
Miss USA
Official language
English
Website Official website

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.

Contents

The pageant is currently held in Houston. It has previously been hosted by El Paso, San Antonio, South Padre Island, Lubbock and Laredo. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] It was televised from 1971 to 2009. [7] [3] [8]

The current titleholder is Allison Drake of Dallas, Texas, who assumed the position after Gabriel's win at Miss USA 2022 and eventually Miss Universe 2022. She was originally the second runner-up and only assumed the title when Sydni Leonard, the first runner-up to Gabriel at the state pageant, declined the offer.

Background

Unlike the rest of Miss and Teen state pageants in the Miss USA system have annually scheduled at the same time, this Miss and Teen pageants in Texas are held separately in different months, the Miss pageant goes first and is held on first Sunday of September every year. Those events have affected from the regular September schedule such as the 2018 pageant was held in January 2018 due to Hurricane Harvey devastated the pageant's host city, Houston; and the 2021 pageant was held in September 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, exactly a year originally planned for September 2020. [9] [10]

Ten Miss Texas USA titleholders have won the Miss USA title, including Chelsi Smith, has been crowned Miss Universe. In the 1980s Texas won the Miss USA title five consecutive years from 1985 to 1989, a streak known as the "Texas Aces". [11] Prior to this no state had ever won the Miss USA pageant more than two times in succession. [12] Past state directors have included Richard Guy and Rex Holt, "GuyRex" and Al and Gail Clark of "The Crystal Group". [13] [7] [1] [14]

Contestants enter by winning local pageants or may choose to compete "at large" with an assigned title. [3] [15] In 2001 a record number of former Miss Texas Teen USA winners, six, competed for the Miss Texas USA 2002 title. [8]

Texas Aces

Prior to the 1980s, no other state had won more than two Miss USA pageants in succession (the only two states to win twice in succession were Virginia in 1969-1970 and Illinois in 1973–1974). The five Texan Miss USA winners were all coached by "GuyRex", Richard Guy and Rex Holt, who held the Texas franchise from 1975. The term was first used in 1988 after Gibbs became their fourth consecutive titleholder, with Guy referring to the four queens as "four aces in a deck of cards", with their fifth titleholder, Kim Tomes (1977) as the "wildcard". [16] The following year Gretchen Polhemus became the fifth and final "ace". The term is still in use.

As well as directing the Texas pageant, GuyRex also acquired the Miss California USA franchise in 1986. In 1988, Diana Magaña of California placed first runner-up to Gibbs, the fourth ace. The two had both undergone extensive preparation by GuyRex, and even lived together prior to the pageant. [17] [18]

The five Aces were:

Results summary

Placements

Texas holds a record of 56 placements at Miss USA, being placed first overall.

Awards

Winners

Color key
YearNameHometownLocal TitleAge [lower-alpha 1] Placement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2024 TBATBATBATBATBA
2023 Lluvia Alzate Houston Miss Houston264th runner-upBest in Swimsuit
2022 Allison Drake Dallas Miss Dallas26Originally second runner-up, assumed title when Gabriel won Miss Universe
(Sydni Leonard, the first runner-up, declined the offer)
R'Bonney Gabriel Houston Miss Friendswood28Miss USA 2022Best State Costume
  • Miss Universe 2022
  • First Asian American Miss Texas USA
2021 Victoria Hinojosa McAllen Miss South Texas22Top 8Granddaughter of U.S. Representative TX-15 Rubén Hinojosa
2020 Taylor Kessler Houston Miss Lone Star23
  • Previously Miss Grand USA 2017
  • Longest reigning Miss Texas USA (2 years and 3 days) and also the longest reigning Miss USA state titleholder under three calendar years in the organization's history
2019 Alayah Benavidez San Antonio Miss San Antonio23Previously Miss United States 2016

Later a contestant on season 24 of The Bachelor

2018 Logan Lester Houston Miss Harris County23Top 15Shortest reigning Miss Texas USA (7 months and 27 days)
2017 Nancy Gonzalez Freeport Miss Kemah27
2016 Daniella Rodriguez [19] Laredo [19] Miss Central Webb County19
2015 Ylianna Guerra [20] McAllen Miss Tropics of Texas221st runner-up
2014 Lauren Guzman [21] Laredo [21] Miss Central Laredo24Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2008
2013 Alexandria "Ali" Nugent Dallas Miss North Texas194th runner-upFan Vote WinnerNiece of rock musician Ted Nugent
2012 Brittany Booker Friendswood Miss Houston21Top 10
2011 Ana Rodriguez Laredo Miss Central Laredo243rd runner-up
2010 Kelsey Moore El Paso Miss El Paso19
2009 Brooke Daniels [6] Tomball Miss Harris County22Top 10
2008 Crystle Stewart [22] Missouri City Miss Fort Bend County26Miss USA 2008Top 10 at Miss Universe 2008. President of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA
2007 Magen Ellis [23] Tyler Miss Houston [23] 19Top 10Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2004 (Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2004)
2006 Lauren Lanning Friendswood Miss Houston22Top 10
2005 Tyler Willis Lubbock Miss Central Plains25Top 15Miss Photogenic
2004 Stephanie Guerrero Lake Jackson Miss Houston23Top 15
2003 Nicole O'BrianFriendswoodMiss Bay Area202nd runner-up
2002 Kasi KellyBridgeportMiss DFW20Top 12
2001 Kandace Krueger Austin Miss Austin24Miss USA 20012nd runner-up at Miss Universe 2001
2000 Heather Ogilvie [24] Houston Miss Southeast Texas22
1999 Carissa BlairHoustonMiss Southeast Texas23Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 1992
1998 Holly MillsSan AntonioMiss San Antonio22Top 5
1997 Amanda Little Wylie Miss Metroplex20Top 6
1996 Kara WilliamsHoustonMiss Harris County23Top 10Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 1991 (Top 12 at Miss Teen USA 1991)
Title vacant
1995 Chelsi Smith † Deer Park Miss Galveston County21Miss USA 1995Miss Congeniality and Best in Swimsuit
  • Miss Universe 1995
  • First African American Miss Texas USA [15]
1994 Christine Friedel El Paso Miss El Paso22Top 6
1993 Angie SiskHoustonMiss Fort Bend County21Top 12
1992 Katie Young Fort Worth Miss Fort Worth19Top 11
1991 Chris BogardTomballMiss North Harris County23
1990 Stephanie Kuehne [25] Missouri City Miss Houston22Top 12Miss Wonderland 1989
1989 Gretchen Polhemus [26] Fort Worth [26] Miss Fort Worth23Miss USA 1989
1988 Courtney Gibbs [2] Fort WorthMiss Metroplex21Miss USA 1988Top 10 at Miss Universe 1988
1987 Michelle Royer [28] Keller [28] Miss Keller [28] 21Miss USA 19872nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1987
1986 Christiane "Christy" Fichtner Dallas Miss Dallas County23Miss USA 19861st runner-up at Miss Universe 1986
1985 Laura Martinez Herring [29] El PasoMiss El Paso County21Miss USA 1985
1984 Laura Shaw [31] Burleson Miss Burleson19Top 10Miss Photogenic
1983 Lisa Allred [32] [33] Fort Worth [33] Miss Fort Worth20 [33] 1st runner-upMiss Photogenic Miss World USA 1983 & 6th runner-up at Miss World 1983
1982 Luann Caughey [34] Abilene [34] Miss Abilene [34] 23 [34] 1st runner-up Miss World USA 1982 & 4th runner-up at Miss World 1982
1981 Diana Durnford [35] [36] El Paso [36] Miss Sun City [36] 21 [36] Top 12
1980 Barbara Buckley Midland Top 12
1979 Anne Hinnant [37] HoustonMiss Harris County [37] Top 12
1978 Barbara HoranDallas2nd runner-upBest State Costume
1977 Kimberly Tomes Houston21Miss USA 1977Best State CostumeTop 12 at Miss Universe 1977, Miss Texas World 1974 and 1st runner up at Miss World USA 1974.
1976 Candace Gray† [38] El PasoTop 12Died in a scuba diving accident in 1981 [39]
1975 Aundie EversEl Paso4th runner-up
1974 Debra Cronin McDade
1973 Lavonne McConnell [40] Fort Worth19Top 12Best State Costume
1972 Susan Peters [41] Austin Miss Photogenic
1971 Brenda BoxAmarillo1st runner-up
1970 Diane Swendeman San Antonio Top 15Miss Congeniality
1969 Sandy DrewesDallasTop 15
1968 Jeannie Wilson Dallas
1967 Bonnie RobinsonHoustonTop 15
1966 Dorothy Pickens Edinburg Top 15
1965 Phillis Johnson Houston Top 15
1964 Diane Balloun Houston 1st runner-up
1963 Cheryl WilburnHouston
1962 Jackie Williams Waxahachie Miss Lake WhitneyTop 15
1961 Sheila Wade Dallas Miss Lake Whitney
1960 Pat Cloud Houston
1959 Carelgean Douglas Houston 1st runner-up
1958 Linda Daugherty Houston Top 15
1957 Gloria Hunt Houston Top 15
1956 Jo Dodson Houston 4th runner-up
1955 Mary Daughters Houston Top 15
1954 Betty Lee Houston 3rd runner-up
1953 Joan Bradshaw Houston 17Top 15
1952 Charlene McClary Houston
  1. ↑ Age at the time of the pageant

Related Research Articles

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, when the organization announced it was licensing operation of the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants to Crystle Stewart, Miss USA for 2008 prior to her suspension in October 2022, thus returning the said pageants to the Miss Universe Organization.

Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant that run since 1983 by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19. Unlike its sister pageants Miss Universe, which currently broadcasts on JKN18 and Miss USA, this pageant is webcast on the Miss Teen USA website and simulcast on mobile devices and video game consoles. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelsi Smith</span> American actress

Chelsi Mariam Pearl Smith was an American actress, singer, TV host, and beauty pageant titleholder, who was crowned Miss USA 1995 and Miss Universe 1995. Smith was the third Miss USA of African-American origin, after Carole Gist (1990) and Kenya Moore (1993), in addition to being the sixth American woman to win Miss Universe and the first since Shawn Weatherly was crowned Miss Universe 1980.

Gretchen Lynn Polhemus-Jensen is an American actress, journalist and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 1989 and second runner-up to Miss Universe 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christy Fichtner</span> American actress and beauty queen

Christiane Crane Fichtner is an American actress and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 1986. In 2003, she participated in Who Wants to Marry My Dad?.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Royer</span> American model

Michelle Renee Royer-Jefferson is an American television personality and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 1987 and second runner-up to Miss Universe 1987.

Christie Lee Woods is an American actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. in 1996 she was the first Texan to capture the Miss Teen USA crown.

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 California Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss Teen USA pageant. It was formed in 1983. This pageant is part of the Miss USA Organization, owned by Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart.

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

The Miss Texas Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Texas in the Miss Teen USA pageant. This pageant is part of the Miss USA organization, owned by Texas native Crystle Stewart, who was Miss USA for 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystle Stewart</span> American model and beauty pageant titleholder

Crystle StewartSebrechts is an American actress, television host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2008. Stewart's acting career began in 2011, when she played real estate agent Leslie Morris on the OWN/TBS comedy-drama television series For Better or Worse until 2017. Shortly after, she appeared in the 2018 film Acrimony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 2008</span> 57th Miss USA pageant

Miss USA 2008 was the 57th Miss USA pageant, held at the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 11, 2008. At the conclusion of the final night of competition, Crystle Stewart of Texas was crowned the winner by outgoing titleholder Rachel Smith of Tennessee. Crystle represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2008 pageant, which was held in Vietnam, where she placed in the Top 10. This was also the first time in the pageant's 56-year history that two consecutive women of African Americans have been crowned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 1988</span> 37th Miss USA pageant

Miss USA 1988 was the 37th Miss USA pageant, televised live from the El Paso Civic Center in El Paso, Texas on March 1, 1988. At the conclusion of the final competition, Courtney Gibbs of Texas was crowned Miss USA, becoming the fourth consecutive winner from Texas.

The United States has continuously sent a representative to Miss World since its inception in 1951. The United States has won the Miss World crown three times in 1973, 1990 and 2010. Currently, Miss World America is the official national pageant that selects the contestant from the United States to Miss World.

Mayra Matos Pérez is a Puerto Rican actress, writer, fashion model and beauty pageant titleholder who held the title of Miss Teen International 2006 and Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristen Dalton (Miss USA)</span> Miss USA 2009

Kristen Jeannine Dalton-Wolfe is an American actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2009 and represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 1964</span>

Miss USA 1964 was the 13th Miss USA pageant, held in Miami Beach, Florida on July 29, 1964. This was the last Miss USA pageant to be held as an inclusive part of the Miss Universe event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R'Bonney Gabriel</span> American beauty pageant titleholder (born 1994)

R'Bonney Nola Gabriel is an American beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 2022, becoming the ninth delegate from the United States to win the title, as well as the oldest entrant to be crowned. She was previously crowned as Miss USA 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 Belkin, Lisa (February 28, 1988). "In Texas, Two Kings of the Beauty Queen Business". New York Times.
  2. 1 2 "Miss Metroplex crowned Miss Texas USA". Del Rio News Herald. August 4, 1987.
  3. 1 2 3 "Miss Ricebelt pageant on tap for Sunday". The Facts. February 11, 1998.
  4. ↑ "Miss Texas pageant planned at El Paso". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. March 6, 1975.
  5. ↑ Davis, John (July 18, 2000). "Austin native claims Miss Texas USA crown". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
  6. 1 2 "Harris County's Brooke Daniels crowned Miss Texas USA". Houston Chronicle. June 29, 2008.
  7. 1 2 "Richard Guy and Rex Holt behind new Miss Texas USA". The Waco Citizen. September 4, 1975.
  8. 1 2 Davis, John (July 26, 2001). "The Miss Texas USA pageant will go on ..." The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
  9. ↑ Elliott, Amber (January 9, 2018). "Popular real estate agent Logan Lester wins the 2018 Miss Texas USA pageant". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Event Information". Miss Texas USA Facebook. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022.
  11. ↑ Anderson, Lindsey (September 28, 2015). "El Paso's pageant king Rex Holt dies". El Paso Times.
  12. ↑ Kennedy, J Michael (March 13, 1987). "They Reign as Kings in the Land of the Beauty Queens". Los Angeles Times.
  13. ↑ Gunderson, Edna (July 7, 1985). "Beauty apostles look for winners". The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise.
  14. ↑ "Texas beauty files suit over alleged snub". The San Bernardino County Sun. August 8, 1991.
  15. 1 2 Krenek, Melinda (July 8, 1994). "New Miss Texas USA beginning her banner year with enthusiasm". The Galveston Daily News.
  16. ↑ Lewis, Holden (March 2, 1988). "Miss USA Contest Rewards Winners, Gurus". Associated Press.
  17. ↑ "New Miss California". The San Francisco Chronicle. August 31, 1987. p. 6.
  18. ↑ "Bringing Up Beauty / In the months before the Miss USA Pageant, advisers work on Miss California". The San Francisco Chronicle. October 1, 1987. p. 6.
  19. 1 2 Mendoza, Madalyn (September 2, 2016). "Miss Texas USA isn't great at baseball, but her Instagram game is in the big leagues". San Antonio Express-News.
  20. ↑ Flores, Daniel (July 11, 2015). "RGV native Miss Texas USA ready for pageant". The Monitor.
  21. 1 2 Fechter, Joshua (September 16, 2014). "Former Miss Texas serves in Texas State Guard". San Antonio Express.
  22. ↑ Associated Press (July 1, 2007). "Miss Fort Bend County takes Miss Texas title". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 1, 2007.
  23. 1 2 "Miss Houston named Miss Texas USA". Plainview Daily Herald. June 24, 2006.
  24. ↑ "Houston woman wins Miss Texas USA title". The Kerville Times. July 6, 1999.
  25. ↑ "Stephanie Kuehne new Miss Texas". The Paris News. June 27, 1989.
  26. 1 2 "Fort Worth woman lands Miss Texas USA title Sunday night". The Paris News. August 15, 1988.
  27. ↑ Chinn, Surae (April 28, 2017). "Utah woman follows in mother's footsteps, competes for Miss USA title". KTVX . Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  28. 1 2 3 "Miss Keller will wear crown of Miss Texas USA in '87". The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise. August 5, 1986.
  29. ↑ "Beauty pageant winner returns to glamour". The Baytown Sun. September 5, 1984.
  30. ↑ "El Paso Model Miss Texas USA". Del Rio News Herald. July 24, 1984.
  31. ↑ "Beauty Pinched". The Times-News. August 3, 1983.
  32. ↑ "Texas USA title won". The Victoria Advocate. August 23, 1982.
  33. 1 2 3 "Miss Texas USA crowned Monday". The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise. August 24, 1982.
  34. 1 2 3 4 "Miss Abilene wins pageant". The Paris News. August 11, 1981.
  35. ↑ Speakerman, Carol (March 18, 1981). "Miss Texas USA Enjoying 'Good Year' for Texas". The Victoria Advocate.
  36. 1 2 3 4 "El Paso lass claims Miss Texas USA title". The Paris News. August 19, 1980.
  37. 1 2 "Miss Texas USA selected". The Taylor Daily Press. August 22, 1978.
  38. ↑ "Miss Texas USA winners". The Waco Citizen. September 4, 1975.
  39. ↑ "Diving Accident Kills Beauty Queen". The Montreal Gazette. September 8, 1981.
  40. ↑ "Yoakum Entry Named Runner-up". The Victoria Advocate. April 15, 1973.
  41. ↑ "Miss Texas Universe named in San Antonio Competition". The Victoria Advocate. April 17, 1972.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.