States That Have Never Won the Miss USA Pageant

The closest Alaska has come to the Miss USA crown was in 1964, when Patricia Marlin placed second runner-up. 

Alaska has placed four additional times in the pageant’s history, most recently with Alyssa London, who made the top 10 in 2017. 

While Arizona has never won Miss USA, it assumed the title in 1980 when Jineane Ford, who originally placed first runner-up, inherited the crown after Shawn Weatherly won Miss Universe. 

Arizona has made frequent appearances in the Miss USA semifinals, including three second runner-ups and two third runner-ups. But it has not placed at Miss USA since 2016, when Chelsea Myers made the top 15. 

Colorado was closest to the Miss USA crown in 1963 and 2010, when Rhea Looney and Jessica Hartman placed third runner-up. 

Colorado most recently placed at the Miss USA 2024 pageant, when titleholder Jessi Kalambayi made it to the top 10. It was the state’s first placement in the competition since 2012.

Delaware has only placed once at Miss USA, becoming the last state to ever place in the pageant’s history. 

Renee Bull broke the streak in 2015 when she made it to the top 11. She also tied for the Miss Congeniality title with Miss Alaska Kimberly Agron. 

While Florida has never won Miss USA, it assumed the title in 1967. Cheryl Patton, who placed second runner-up, inherited the crown after Sylvia Hitchcock won Miss Universe and the first runner-up, Susan Ellen Bradley, declined to take on the title. 

Florida has also had two first runner-ups, and more than a dozen contestants have made it to the semifinals. The state last placed at Miss USA in 2023 with titleholder Caroline Dixon, who made it to the top 20.

Past Miss Florida contestants have also had success at Miss Universe. In 2019, Madison Anderson placed first runner-up at Miss Florida before winning the title of Miss Universe Puerto Rico that year. She won first runner-up at Miss Universe 2019, losing the crown to Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi.

In 2021, Miss Florida Ashley Cariño won second runner-up at Miss USA. She won Miss Universe Puerto Rico in 2022 and placed in the top five at Miss Universe that year.

The closest Georgia has come to the Miss USA crown was in 1993, when Erin Nance was named first runner-up. Contestants from Georgia have also won second runner-up six times — in 1986, 1988, 2001, 2006, 2014, and 2016. 

Georgia last placed at Miss USA in 2020, when Alyssa Beasley made the top 16. 

Holli Rene Dennis almost nabbed the Miss USA crown for Indiana in 1981, when she won first runner-up. 

Indiana contestants also won second runner-up in 1966 and 2002. Indiana last placed in 2020 when Alexis Nicole Lete was third runner-up. 

The closest Maine has come to the Miss USA crown was in 2010, when Katie Whittier placed fourth runner-up. It last placed during the Miss USA 2018 competition, when Marina Gray made the top 10. 

Miss Maine 2023 Juliana Morehouse also made history as the first married woman to compete at Miss USA.

Maryland actually won the Miss USA crown in 1957, but Mary Leona Gage was dethroned after it was discovered that she was married and had two children. Married women and mothers were not allowed to compete at Miss USA or Miss Universe until 2023.

Maryland has assumed the title of Miss USA once. Nana Meriwether, who placed first runner-up in 2012, inherited the crown after Olivia Culpo won Miss Universe that year. 

Maryland last placed at Miss USA in 2023, when Savena Mushinge made it to the top 20.

Montana has placed three times at Miss USA, with all three placements happening before 1960. 

Montana last placed in the Miss USA competition in 1958, when Sharon Tietjen made it to the top 15. 

The closest New Hampshire has gotten to the Miss USA crown was in 2000, when Bridget Vezina was named first runner-up. 

The state has placed five times at Miss USA, most recently in 2022 when Camila Sacco made the top 12. 

New Jersey nearly nabbed the Miss USA crown in 1991 and 2017, when Charlotte Ray and Chhavi Verg placed first runner-up. Contestants in New Jersey have also taken the second runner-up spot three times — in 1989, 1990, and 2008. 

New Jersey last placed at the Miss USA competition in 2023, when Derby Chukwudi made it into the top 20.

North Dakota has come close to the Miss USA crown twice. Audra Mari placed first runner-up in 2014, as did Caitlyn Vogel in 2021. 

Vogel was the last Miss North Dakota titleholder to place at Miss USA.

Oregon was closest to winning the Miss USA crown in 1976, when Gail Atchison was named second runner-up. The state has had three additional contestants appear in the top 10 — in 1984, 2001, and 2004. 

Oregon last placed at Miss USA in 2018, when Toneata Morgan reached the top 15. 

Miss South Dakota Madison Nipe landed the state’s best placement at Miss USA in 2018 when she made the top five. 

South Dakota most recently placed at Miss USA in 2021 when Caroline Pettey made it into the top 16. 

West Virginia has almost won the Miss USA crown twice. Ruth Parr won first runner-up in 1957, as did Kelly Anderson in 1984. 

The state last placed at Miss USA in 2022, when Krystian Leonard made it to the top 16. 

Wisconsin nearly won the Miss USA crown in 1974 and 2023, when Mary Lynn Cook and Alexis Loomans placed second runner-up.

Loomans was the last Miss Wisconsin titleholder to place at Miss USA.

Wyoming’s closest attempt at the Miss USA crown was in 1986, when Beth King placed in the top 10. 

The state has only placed twice at the Miss USA competition, most recently with Claire Schreiner, who made it into the top 15 in 2010.