- Miss USA special awards
-
The following tables list the winners of the special awards given to candidates at the Miss USA pageant.
Contents
Current awards
Miss Congeniality
The first Miss Congeniality award specific to the Miss USA pageant was given out in 1965. Prior to this year, the award could be won by either a Miss USA or Miss Universe contestant because both pageants were held jointly. This is the only award voted on by the delegates themselves. The name of the award has changed a number of times over the years, and has been known as "Miss Unity" and "Miss Amity". The current definition of the award is that it "reflects the respect and admiration of the delegate's peers, who voted for her as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant."
As of 2011, Vermont has received the most awards with five. Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming follow with three awards.
Only one Miss USA winner would be voted Miss Congeniality: Chelsi Smith (1995). She would also be crowned Miss Universe 1995, becoming the only Miss USA titleholder and special award winner in history to capture the Miss Universe crown.
Year Winner State Placement at MUSA Notes 1952[^] AWARD WON BY MISS UNIVERSE CONTESTANT 1953[^] Jeanne Thompson Louisiana Top 20 semifinalist Previously Miss Louisiana 1951 and Miss Louisiana USA 1952; 1st runner-up at Miss USA 1952; only woman to compete at Miss USA pageant twice. 1954-1959[^] AWARD WON BY MISS UNIVERSE CONTESTANT 1960[^] Judy Fletcher (tie) Louisiana Top 15 semifinalist Tied with Myint Myint May of Burma from Miss Universe to win the award. 1961-1963[^] AWARD WON BY MISS UNIVERSE CONTESTANT 1964[^] Jeanne Venables California Top 15 semifinalist 1965 Elizabeth Carroll (tie) Minnesota Bonnie Perkins (tie) Tennessee 1966 Linda Leafdale Wyoming 1967 Sandra Baldwin Idaho 1968 Julia Pinkley Kentucky 1969 Mary Verdiana Vermont 1st runner-up 1970 Diane Swendeman Texas Top 15 semifinalist 1971 Diane Knaub Colorado 1972 Peggy Moore Utah 1973 Kiki Kirkland South Carolina 1974 Donna Thornton Vermont 1975 Constance Crabtree Vermont 1976 Connie Clark (tie) Kentucky Dorothy Westphal (tie) South Dakota 1977 Linda LeFevre Florida 1978 Nancy Wierzbicki Vermont 1979 Pam Williams Wyoming 1980 Robbin English Montana 1981 Cynthia Ann Kerby California 3rd runner-up Also won Miss Photogenic. 1982 Toni McFadden Alaska 1983 Dana Ruth Mintzer Iowa 1984 Diane Gadoury New Hampshire 1985 Marty Browning Tennessee 1986 Lisa Summerour-Perry New Jersey 1987 Lori Lynn Dickerson[1] California 1988 Elva Anderson[2] District of Columbia 1989 Kimberly Nicewonder Virginia 1990 Janet Tveita[3] Minnesota 1991 Charlotte Ray[4] New Jersey 1st runner-up 1992 Alesia Prentiss[5] Nevada 1993 Stacey Blaine[6] Massachusetts 1994 Denise White Oregon 1995 Chelsi Smith Texas Miss USA 1995 MISS UNIVERSE 1995 1996 Ku'ualoha Taylor Hawaii 1997 Napiera Groves[7] District of Columbia 1998 Vera Morris[8] North Carolina 1999 Cara Jackson Arizona 2000 Michele Kaplan Hawaii 2001 Monica Palumbo[9] North Carolina 2002 Meredith McCannel Montana 2003 Breann Parriott[10] Washington 2004 Michelle Fongemie[11] Vermont 2005 Melissa Young[12] Wisconsin 2006 Dottie Cannon[13] Minnesota 2007 Stephanie Trudeau Montana 2008 Monica Day Ohio 2009 Cynthia Pate Wyoming 2010 Belinda Wright Nebraska Top 15 semifinalist 2011 Kia Hampton Kentucky ^ Denotes winner of Miss Congeniality when the award was given to either a Miss USA or Miss Universe contestant.
Miss Photogenic
Like Miss Congeniality, the first Miss Photogenic award specific to the Miss USA pageant was given out in 1965. Prior to this year, the award could be won by either a Miss USA or Miss Universe contestant. The winner of the award was initially chosen by the press, however this was changed to an internet vote in 1996. The most recent definition of the Miss Photogenic award is that it defines "beauty behind the lens of a camera".
The most successful state as of 2011 is Virginia, with six awards. The next most successful states are Louisiana and Texas, each tied with four, followed by Alabama and California with three.
Coincidentally, California and Louisiana both have two Miss USA winners who have also been voted Miss Photogenic, the most from any state to win the award and the title: Maria Remenyi (1966) and Shannon Marketic (1992) from California; Sharon Brown (1961) and Ali Landry (1996) from Louisiana. Virginia has the only other Miss USA and Photogenic award winner: Debbie Shelton (1970).
Year Winner State Placement at MUSA Notes 1955-1955 NO AWARD 1956-1960[^] AWARD WON BY MISS UNIVERSE CONTESTANT 1961[^] Sharon Brown Louisiana Miss USA 1961 Won joint Miss Universe/Miss USA award as Miss Louisiana USA 1961 prior to winning Miss USA 1961; immediately competed in Miss Universe 1961, placing 4th runner-up. 1962-1964[^] AWARD WON BY MISS UNIVERSE CONTESTANT 1965 Cheryl Semrad Oklahoma Top 15 semifinalist 1966 Maria Remenyi California Miss USA 1966 Top 15 semifinalist at Miss Universe 1966. 1967 Elizabeth Kallmyer Virginia Top 15 semifinalist 1968 Kathy Hebert Louisiana 3rd runner-up 1969 Susan Hawkins Colorado Top 15 semifinalist 1970 Debbie Shelton Virginia Miss USA 1970 1st runner-up to Miss Universe 1970 1971 Brenda Joyce Miller Virginia Top 12 semifinalist 1972 Susan Lunette Peters Texas 1973 Janice Geiler Nebraska Top 12 semifinalist 1974 Barbara Cooper New York 1st runner-up 1975 Pamela Flowers Alabama 1st runner-up 1976 Liz Wickersham Georgia Top 12 semifinalist 1977 Elizabeth Curran Illinois 1978 Suzanna Timberlake Tennessee 1979 Michele Maria Sandoval New Mexico 1980 Jineane Ford (tie) Arizona 1st runner-up Kim Thomas (tie) Ohio Also won Best State Costume. 1981 Cynthia Ann Kerby California 3rd runner-up Also won Miss Congeniality. 1982 Sondra Dee Jones Virginia Top 12 semifinalist 1983 Lisa Allred Texas 1st runner-up 1984 Laura Shaw Texas Top 10 semifinalist 1985 Robyn Overbey Kentucky 1986 Beth King Wyoming Top 10 semifinalist 1987 Sophia Marie Bowen Georgia 4th runner-up 1988 Rowanne Brewer[14] Maryland Top 10 semifinalist 1989 Elizabeth Primm Louisiana 3rd runner-up 1990 Stephanie Teneyck[3] Mississippi Top 12 semifinalist 1991 Pat Arnold[4] North Carolina Top 6 finalist 1992 Shannon Marketic[5] California Miss USA 1992 Top 10 semifinalist at Miss Universe 1992. 1993 Kelly Hu[6] Hawaii Top 6 Finalist Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 1985 and Miss Teen USA 1985. 1994 Patricia Southall[15] Virginia 1st runner-up 1995 Nichole Holmes Illinois 2nd runner-up 1996 Ali Landry Louisiana Miss USA 1996 Previously Miss Louisiana Teen USA 1990; Top 12 semifinalist at Miss Teen USA 1990; Top 6 finalist at Miss Universe 1996; first woman to compete at all three. 1997 Audra Wilks Virginia Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 1998. 1998 Sonja Glenn[16] South Carolina 1999 Elyzabeth Pham Wisconsin 2000 Paige Swenson Minnesota Previously Miss Minnesota Teen USA 1994. 2001 Katee Doland Colorado 2002 Shannon Ford[17] Florida 2003 Sarah Cahill[10] Minnesota Previously Miss Minnesota Teen USA 1996. 2004 Jennifer Sherrill[11] Arkansas 2005 Tyler Willis[12] Texas Top 15 semifinalist 2006 Cristin Duren[18] Florida 4th runner-up Previously Miss Florida Teen USA 1997; first woman to win Miss Photogenic at both Miss Teen USA (in 1997) and Miss USA. 2007 Rebecca Moore Alabama 2008 Courtney Carroll Alaska 2009 Jessi Pierson West Virginia Top 10 finalist 2010 Audrey Moore Alabama Top 10 finalist 2011 Brittany Brannon Arizona Top 16 semifinalist Previously Miss Teen America 2007 ^ Denotes winner of Miss Photogenic when the award was given to either a Miss USA or Miss Universe contestant.
Former awards
Best State Costume
The first Best State Costume award was given out in 1962. It's not awarded since 1994.
The most successful state was Alaska, with four awards. The next most successful states were Arizona, Illinois and Texas, each tied with three; followed by Ohio, Oregon and South Carolina with two.
Year Winner State Placement at MUSA Notes 1952-1961 NO AWARD 1962 Joyce Collin Oregon Top 16 semifinalist 1963 Linda England Florida 1964 Pat Kerr Tennessee 1965 Carla Sullivan Alaska 1966 Nancy Self New York Top 15 semifinalist 1967 Maureen Bassett Oregon Top 15 semifinalist 1968 Suzanne Fromm California Top 15 semifinalist 1969 Linda Louise Rowley Alaska 1970 Vickie Lynn Chesser South Carolina 1st runner-up 1971 Katherine Hartman Alaska 1972 Patricia Lane Alaska Top 12 semifinalist 1973 Lavon McConnell (tie) Texas Top 12 semifinalist Diane Modrow (tie) Wisconsin 1974 Charlesy Gulick Kentucky 1975 Gayla Bryan Oklahoma 1976 Virginia Murray South Carolina 3rd runner-up 1977 Kimberly Tomes Texas Miss USA 1977 Top 12 semifinalist at Miss Universe 1977. 1978 Barbra Horan Texas 2nd runner-up 1979 Debra Niego Illinois 3rd runner-up 1980 Elizabeth Kim Thomas Ohio Also won Miss Photogenic. 1981 Joann Savery Massachusetts 1982 Kim Ann Weeda Ohio 3rd runner-up 1983 Julie Page Pennsylvania Top 12 semifinalist 1984 Daria Sparling Arizona 1985 Michelle Ducote Arizona Top 10 semifinalist 1986 Tricia Bach Illinois Top 10 semifinalist 1987 Kriston Gayle Killgore New Mexico Top 11 semifinalist 1988 Lagracella Omran[19] Nevada 1989 Kelly Holub Illinois Top 10 semifinalist 1990 NO AWARD 1991 Maricarroll Verlinde[4] Arizona Top 11 semifinalist 1992 Heather Gray[5] Indiana 1993 Tavia Shackles[6] Kansas 2nd runner-up Previously Miss Missouri Teen USA 1990; Top 12 semifinalist at Miss Teen USA 1990. Best in Swimsuit
This prize was first awarded in 1992 by Catalina until 1993. In 1994-1998 by Jantzen. In 1999-2000 by Speedo. In 2001 by Pieces from Bikini.com, and in 2002 by Bluepoint. Not awarded since 2003.
Year Winner State Placement at MUSA Notes 1992 Candace Brown Alabama 1st runner-up 1993 Erin Nance Georgia 1st runner-up Previously Miss Georgia Teen USA 1988. 1994 Patricia Southall Virginia 1st runner-up 1995 Chelsi Smith Texas Miss USA 1995 MISS UNIVERSE 1995 1996 Danielle Boatwright Kansas 1st runner-up Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 1992. 1997 Angelia Savage Florida Top 6 finalist 1998 Shawnae Jebbia Massachusetts Miss USA 1998 Top 5 finalist at Miss Universe 1998. 1999 Lauren Poppell South Carolina Top 5 finalist Previously Miss South Carolina Teen USA 1993; Top 12 semifinalist at Miss Teen USA 1993. Angelique Breaux California 2nd runner-up Became Miss World USA 2000; Top 10 semifinalist at Miss World 2000. 2000 Lynnette Cole Tennessee Miss USA 2000 Previously Miss Tennessee Teen USA 1995; Top 6 finalist at Miss Teen USA 1995; Top 5 finalist at Miss Universe 2000. 2001 Larissa Meek Missouri Top 5 finalist Previously Miss Missouri Teen USA 1997. 2002 Lanore Vanburen Minnesota 3rd runner-up Style Award
It was awarded by Vibrance in 1995, Finesse Shampoo in 1996, Clairol Herbal Essences in 1999-2001. Not awarded 1997-1998, 2002-present.
Year Winner State Placement at MUSA Notes 1995 Lynn Vesnefski Hawaii 1996 Becca Lee Tennessee 2nd runner-up 1997-1998 NO AWARD 1999 Kellie Lightbourn Virginia Top 10 semifinalist 2000 Kristin Ludecke Florida 2001 Megan Gunning Maryland References
- ^ "Column: PEOPLE". The Orange County Register. 1987-02-13.
- ^ Milloy, Courtland (1988-05-22). "Beauty is Having Your Act Together". The Washington Post. p. D.03. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73609459.html?dids=73609459:73609459&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=MAY+22%2C+1988&author=COURTLAND+MILLOY&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Beauty+Is+Having+Your+Act+Together&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ^ a b "Detroit's Carole Gist Is Miss USA". Washington Post. 1990-03-03. p. d.09.
- ^ a b c Curtright, Bob (1991-02-23). "Homegrown Beauty Miss Kansas wins Miss USA title". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
- ^ a b c Lewis, Diane (1992-02-05). "Stepping out with Glitz - State Icons". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
- ^ a b c Lewis, Diane (1993-02-17). "Miss Kansas Getting Attention as Pageant Ceremonies Begin". The Wichita Eage. p. 1A.
- ^ Warrick, Camilla (1997-05-27). "Living her Lessons: Pageant Winner Leaving Her Job to Chase Dream". The Cincinnati Post.
- ^ "Miss Massachusetts selected Miss USA in Shreveport". The Advocate. 1998-03-11.
- ^ Price, Mark (2001-03-31). "Miss Congeniality Turns on Personality, Chews the Fat as a Pageant Insider". Charlotte Observer. p. 1F. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CO&s_site=charlotte&p_multi=CO&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB6D2D52A38F495&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ^ a b "Miss Massachusetts USA, Susie Castillo, Crowned Miss USA 2003 During Live NBC Telecast on March 24" (Press release). Miss Universe Organization. 2003-03-24. http://www.missusa.com/press/03.24.03.html. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ^ a b "Miss Missouri, Crowned Miss USA(R) 2004 During Live NBC Telecast on April 12.". PR Newswire. 2004-04-13.
- ^ a b "Miss North Carolina USA, Chelsea Cooley Crowned MISS USA 2005 During Live NBC Telecast On April 11th". Patriot News. 2005-04-11. http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/m-news+article+storyid-9131.html. Retrieved 2007-02-25.[dead link]
- ^ "Miss Kentucky Crowned Miss USA 2006 During Live NBC Telecast on April 21st" (Press release). Miss Universe Organization. 2006-04-21. http://www.missusa.com/press/04.21.06.html. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ^ Conconi, Chuck (1990-12-10). "Personalities". The Washington Post. p. d.03. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72636178.html?dids=72636178:72636178&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=DEC+20%2C+1990&author=Chuck+Conconi&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=PERSONALITIES&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ^ Little, Robert (1994-02-13). "Mom's Death Inspired Miss USA contestant". The Virginian Pilot. p. B3. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=VP&p_theme=vp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFF71A4C4159ED&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ^ "Shawnae Jebbia of Massachusetts Crowned "Miss USA 1998"". Business Wire. 1998-03-11.
- ^ "Miss District of Columbia USA, Shauntay Hinton Crowned Miss USA(R) 2002 During Live CBS Telecast on March 1.". PR Newswire. 2002-03-02.
- ^ Lovett, Valerie (2006-05-15). "Miss Florida looks to future: Panama City Beach woman remains optimistic after placing fifth in nationwide pageant.". News Herald. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-145801736.html. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ^ Conconi, Chuck (1990-12-10). "Personalities". The Washington Post. p. d.03. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72636178.html?dids=72636178:72636178&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=DEC+20%2C+1990&author=Chuck+Conconi&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=PERSONALITIES&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
External links
Miss USA 1952 · 1953 · 1954 · 1955 · 1956 · 1957 · 1958 · 1959 · 1960
1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970
1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979 · 1980
1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990
1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
2011 · 2012Miss Universe Organization · Titleholders · Special award winners Categories:
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.