On October 24, the 74th annual Miss USA pageant will unfold in Reno, Nevada, a location that has become a notable stage for celebrating elegance, ambition, and national pride. In preparation for this grand event, a retrospective look at the competition’s storied past reveals a fascinating geographical tapestry of achievement, where individual states have risen to prominence through a combination of poise, charisma, and determination. Among these, Texas stands preeminent, having captured the Miss USA crown an impressive ten times, establishing itself as an enduring powerhouse in American pageantry.
While the United States collectively boasts the highest number of Miss Universe winners in the world, within its borders lies a more granular rivalry: which individual states have cultivated the greatest record of success in Miss USA history? Texas, in particular, has not merely participated but dominated, at one point securing a remarkable five-year consecutive triumph known as the legendary “Texas Aces” streak from 1985 to 1989. This era is remembered as a high watermark of competitive excellence, during which successive Texan contestants radiated confidence and grace, each reinforcing the state’s reputation for producing strong contenders who could seamlessly transition from national acclaim to global victory.
Over the decades, ten Miss Texas titleholders have ascended to the national throne. Among them, Chelsi Smith and R’Bonney Gabriel transcended national glory to earn the even more prestigious Miss Universe crown, underscoring the caliber of contestants Texas has introduced to the international stage. The roster of winners includes Kimberly Tomes (1977), Laura Martinez Herring (1985), Christy Fichtner (1986), Michelle Royer (1987), Courtney Gibbs (1988), Gretchen Polhemus (1989), Chelsi Smith (1995), Kandace Krueger (2001), Crystle Stewart (2008), and most recently, R’Bonney Gabriel (2022). Notably, Stewart’s involvement extended beyond her reign, as she later served from 2020 to 2023 as CEO and president of the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA organizations, demonstrating how Texas alumni continue to shape the pageant world even after their victories.
Close behind Texas stands California, a state with an illustrious record of six Miss USA crowns. Its achievement spans nearly every decade since the 1950s, an enduring consistency that reflects California’s cultural influence and spirit of reinvention. The state’s champions — Terry Huntingdon (1959), Maria Remenyi (1966), Summer Bartholomew (1975), Julie Hayek (1983), Shannon Marketic (1992), and Alyssa Campanella (2011) — form a lineage of talent that stretches across generations and style eras. Campanella’s victory in 2011 marked the continuation of California’s legacy of grace and intelligence, a reminder that the Golden State’s flair for glamour translates naturally to the national pageant stage.
Hawaii’s journey through Miss USA history is both inspiring and groundbreaking. The state not only celebrates five titles but also holds an extraordinary place in the competition’s diverse heritage. When Macel Wilson won the crown in 1962, she became not only Hawaii’s first representative but also the first Asian American and first woman of color to capture the national title — a transformative moment that redefined beauty standards and representation. Other Hawaiian winners — Tanya Wilson (1972), Judi Andersen (1978), Brook Lee (1997), and Savannah Gankiewicz (2023) — further demonstrate the state’s tradition of producing accomplished and globally resonant winners. Brook Lee, famously, went on to win Miss Universe, linking Hawaii’s legacy directly to international triumph. Most recently, Gankiewicz inherited the title after the resignation of Miss USA 2023, Noelia Voigt, marking the first such succession in pageant history and underscoring both the prestige and sensitivity of the role.
Michigan, too, has carved its own meaningful niche with four Miss USA winners, reflecting a combination of determination and diversity. Carole Gist, Miss USA 1990, became not only Michigan’s first national titleholder but also the first African American woman ever to achieve that distinction, forever changing the face of the competition. Her successor from Michigan, Kenya Moore (1993), later gained widespread recognition beyond the pageant world for her entrepreneurial ventures and long-standing role on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Michigan’s legacy of cultural inclusivity continued with Rima Fakih in 2010, who made history as the first Arab American woman to win the title, before Alma Cooper, a dedicated U.S. Army officer, claimed the 2024 crown, symbolizing modern womanhood’s fusion of beauty, service, and leadership.
The District of Columbia, despite its lack of Senate representation, has proven to be a formidable force on the Miss USA stage. Its contestants have claimed four national titles, and their historic achievements are highlighted by a rare back-to-back victory. Deshauna Barber’s 2016 win — followed in 2017 by Kára McCullough — marked the first instance of consecutive wins by the same jurisdiction since Texas’s late-1980s reign. Barber, an Army Reserve officer, was celebrated for her poise and commitment to public service, and McCullough, a scientist with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, embodied a perfect blend of intellect and elegance. Their triumphs, alongside earlier winners Bobbi Johnson (1964) and Shauntay Hinton (2002), positioned D.C. as a symbol of female empowerment and progress in modern pageantry.
Finally, Illinois, though absent from recent headlines, retains a distinguished place in Miss USA history as one of only four states to have secured consecutive national titles. Its quartet of winners — Myrna Hansen (1953), Marite Ozers (1963), Amanda Jones (1973), and Karen Morrison (1974) — captures an era of pageant tradition defined by classic beauty ideals and strong Midwestern representation. Morrison remains the last Illinoisan to wear the Miss USA crown, yet the state’s contribution to the pageant’s golden years endures as a reminder of its deep-rooted legacy.
As the 74th Miss USA pageant approaches, with anticipation building for October 24 in Reno, these records stand as both celebration and challenge — benchmarks of excellence for future contestants. Eighteen states have yet to experience the thrill of victory, but each new pageant brings the possibility of rewriting history. Whether the next queen hails from a perennial favorite like Texas or an underrepresented state waiting for its breakthrough, the Miss USA stage continues to serve as a dynamic reflection of ambition, diversity, and the ever-evolving definition of American beauty.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/miss-usa-states-that-have-won-most-titles
