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For the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA, see Miss Missouri USA.
Miss Missouri
Formation1922
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersMexico
Location
Membership
Miss America
Official language
English
WebsiteOfficial website

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

Ashley Berry of Clinton was crowned Miss Missouri 2024 on June 15, 2024, at Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.

History

From 1935 to 1970, the Miss Missouri pageant was held in a number of locations, including St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield. In 1970, the pageant was held for the first time in Mexico, which would become the pageant's home. The pageant has been held in Mexico in all following years.

Missouri has produced one Miss America: Debbye Turner (Miss America 1990). Three Miss Missouri pageant winners have won the Miss Missouri USA crown and competed in the annual Miss USA pageant, most notably Miss Missouri 2002, Shandi Finnessey, who won the Miss USA 2004 title and placed 1st runner-up at Miss Universe.[citation needed] Sarah French, Miss Missouri 2006, is the only titleholder who has also competed at Miss Teen USA, representing Arkansas.[citation needed]

Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Missouri titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.

Placements

  • Miss Americas: Debbye Turner (1990)
  • 1st runners-up: Edna Smith (1935), Jennifer Davis (2018)
  • 2nd runners-up: Soncee Brown (1992), Simone Esters (2020)
  • 3rd runners-up: Charlotte Nash (1923), Susan Wilson (1980), Deborah McDonald (1999)
  • 4th runners-up: Tamara Tungate (1987), Kimberly Massaro (1997)
  • Top 10: Sara Cooper (1958), Barbara Webster (1984), Robin Riley (1988), Stephanie Patterson (1993)
  • Top 12: Shelby Ringdahl (2014)
  • Top 15: Corinne Groves (1926), Marguerite Jordan (1926), Virginia Morrison (1940), Amber Etheridge (2004)
  • Top 16: Wauneta Bates (1937)
  • Top 18: Marie Marks (1933)
  • Top 20: Jennifer Hover (2002)

Awards

Preliminary awards

Non-finalist awards

  • Non-finalist Talent: Sharon Knickmeyer (1956), Frances Biesemeyer (1970), Heather Smith (1989), Whitney Weeks (2005)

Other awards

  • Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship: Ann Marie Sun (1995)
  • Beacom College STEM Scholarship: Simone Esters (2020)
  • Quality of Life Award Finalists: Tara Osseck (2010)
  • Roller Chair Parade Grand Prize: Charlotte Nash (1923)

Winners

  •   Declared as winner
  •   Ended as a runner-up
  •   Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes
2024 Ashley Berry Clinton 20 Miss Kansas City TBA TBA Previously Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen 2021
2023 Hayley Leach[1] St.Louis 25 Miss Southern Missouri Monologue
2022 Claire Marie Kuebler Wildwood 21 Miss Spirit of St. Louis Vocal
2021 Callie Cox[2] Mexico 21 Miss Zona Rosa Vocal
2019–20 Simone Esters[3][4] Columbia 20 Miss Metro St. Louis Baton Twirling, "Turn the Beat Around" 2nd runner-up[5] Beacom College STEM Scholarship[6] Founded Writeous Girls, Inc., a nonprofit mentoring program that works to empower young women through the craft of writing[7]
2018 Katelyn Lewis[8] Lake St. Louis 22 Miss Fleur De Lis Vocal, "Memory" from Cats
2017 Jennifer Davis[9][10] St. Charles 23 Miss Jackson Bollywood Dance, "Naacho Re" 1st runner-up[11] Published author of children's book, Diversity Matters[12]
2016 Erin O'Flaherty[13] St. Louis 23 Miss City of Fountains Vocal First openly gay contestant to compete at Miss America[13]
2015 McKensie Garber[14] Hale 22 Miss Gateway St. Louis Jazz Ballet en Pointe, "P.Y.T." Previously Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen 2011[14]
2014 Jessica Hartman[15] Pueblo 23 Miss Springfield Dance, "Steppin' Out with My Baby" Previously Miss Colorado USA 2010
3rd runner-up at Miss USA 2010 pageant

Previously Miss Intercontinental 2011[16]
2013 Shelby Ringdahl[17] Columbia 21 Miss Springfield Vocal, "Defying Gravity" from Wicked Top 12
2012 Tippe Emmott[18] Springfield 21 Miss Branson Ballet en Pointe, "Un Dia Llegara" 1st runner-up at National Sweetheart 2011 pageant
2011 Sydney Friar[19] El Dorado Springs 22 Vocal, "Dream On"
2010 Erika Hebron[20] O'Fallon 23 Miss Gateway St. Louis Lyrical Dance, "Dream In Color"
2009 Tara Osseck[21] St. Charles 23 Miss Lake of the Ozarks Tap Dance, "Sing, Sing, Sing" Quality of Life Award Finalist
2008 Lacey Fitzgerald Kansas City 24 Miss Gateway of the West Vocal
2007 Lindsay Casmaer Florissant 24 Miss River City Ballet en Pointe, "Piano Fantasy"
2006 Sarah French Columbia 21 Miss Mid-Missouri Vocal, "I've Got the World on a String" Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2004
Named Miss Photogenic at Miss Teen USA 2004 pageant
2005 Stacie Cooley Liberty 22 Miss Columbia Jazz Dance, "Last Dance"
2004 Whitney Weeks Chesterfield 24 Miss Jackson Tap Dance, "Tico-Tico no Fubá" Non-finalist Talent Award Daughter of Miss West Virginia 1961, Carole Johnson[citation needed]
2003 Amber Etheridge St. Louis 23 Miss Northwest Missouri Vocal, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" Top 15
2002 Shandi Finnessey[22] Florissant 24 Miss Metro St. Louis Piano, "Bumble Boogie" Preliminary Evening Gown Award Later Miss Missouri USA 2004

Later Miss USA 2004[23]

1st runner-up at Miss Universe 2004 pageant[24]
2001 Jennifer Hover Springfield 23 Miss Springfield Vocal Medley, "Somewhere" & "Over the Rainbow" Top 20
2000 Arron Wendel Lawson 23 Miss Ray County Modern Dance, "This Is Your Time"
1999 Patryce King New Cambria 23 Miss Mid-Missouri Piano, Rhapsody in Blue
1998 Deborah McDonald Alton 24 Miss West Plains Vocal, "I Will Always Love You" 3rd runner-up
1997 Michele Eise St. Louis 24 Miss Malden Gospel Vocal, "How Great Thou Art"
1996 Kimberly Massaro St. Louis 24 Miss Mid-Missouri Tap Dance, "Favorite Son" from The Will Rogers Follies 4th runner-up
1995 Erin Phillips Mexico 23 Miss Audrain Tap Dance to Gershwin Medley
1994 Ann Marie Sun Springfield 22 Miss Mid-Missouri Piano Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship
1993 Amber Green Steelville 23 Miss North Central Piano, "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
1992 Stephanie Patterson Kansas City 23 Miss Aurora Vocal Medley, "I Have Dreamed" & "If I Loved You" Top 10
1991 Soncee Brown Springfield 24 Miss Lake of the Ozarks Vocal / Piano, "He Touched Me" from Drat! The Cat! 2nd runner-up
1990 Sherry Traylor Mexico 26 Miss North Central Vocal, "What's New"
1989 Patricia Ann Meusburger[25] 25 Miss Twin Counties Did not compete; originally 6th place as a semifinalist, later assumed title after Turner won Miss America 1990 as all of the runners-up declined to take the title
Debbye Turner Mexico 23 Miss Columbia Marimba Medley, "Flight of the Bumblebee," "Csárdás," & "Can-Can" Winner[26] Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Previously National Sweetheart 1988 as Miss Arkansas

Later a medical reporter and anchor for CBS' The Early Show
1988 Heather Smith Maryland Heights 21 Miss Columbia Baton Twirling, "Whistler and his Dog" by Arthur Pryor Non-finalist Talent Award
1987 Robin Riley Columbia 25 Miss Columbia Ballet, "Overture" from Funny Girl Top 10 Previously Miss Missouri USA 1983
1986 Tamara Tungate St. Peters 21 Miss North Central Vocal, "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl 4th runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
1985 Lisa Coverdale Columbia 24 Miss North Central Classical Piano
1984 Anna Schell Kennett 26 Miss Springfield Semi-classical Vocal, Medley from The Sound of Music
1983 Barbara Webster Jefferson City 21 Miss Santa Fe Trails Violin Medley, "Listen to the Mocking Bird" & "Orange Blossom Special" Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award Later Miss Missouri USA 1986
1982 Julie Phillips Ava 18 Miss Queen of the Ozarks Classical/Jazz Piano
1981 Theresa McDonnell Florissant 22 Miss Trenton Vocal, "Let's Hear it for Me" from Funny Lady
1980 Carla LeFevre Harrisonville 22 Miss Kansas City Semi-classical Vocal, "And This Is My Beloved"
1979 Susan Wilson Columbia 21 Miss Jefferson County Piano, Fantaisie-Impromptu 3rd runner-up
1978 Tamara Fister Poplar Bluff 21 Miss St. Louis Vocal, "Beautiful"
1977 Jayne Scherder Bowling Green 20 Miss William Woods College Piano, "The Firefly"
1976 Marcia Kolich Sugar Creek 22 Miss Jackson County Jazz Dance, "Everything's Coming up Roses," "On Broadway," & "That's Entertainment!"
1975 Rebecca Rives Stoutsville 22 Miss Kirksville Vocal Medley, "The Trolley Song" & "Over the Rainbow"
1974 Michelle Marshall Florissant 20 Miss St. Louis Vocal / Dance, "Sweet Charity" from Sweet Charity
1973 Terri Dodson Fulton 22 Miss William Woods College Piano, "Dizzy Fingers"
1972 Anita Columbo St. Louis 21 Miss St. Louis Vocal / Dance, "It's Today" from Mame
1971 Deborah Duff Kansas City 19 Miss Kansas City Modern Jazz Dance, "Big Noise from Winnetka"
1970 Marcia Mossbarger Brookfield 22 Miss Brookfield Tap Dance, "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
1969 Frances Biesemeyer New Franklin 18 Miss Fayette Art Presentation, "Talk to the Animals" Non-finalist Talent Award
1968 Kathleen Goff DeSoto 21 Miss Southwest Missouri State College Vocal, "I'm Gonna Live til I Die"
1967 Ronnee Brunk St. Louis 19 Miss Camdenton Vocal, "I Feel a Song Coming On"
1966 Janice Robinson Marshfield 20 Miss Southwest Missouri State College Skit with Piano, Vocal, & Dance, "Calling Billy Names"
1965 Lesley Fleenor Springfield 20 Miss West Plains Vocal, "Hard Hearted Hannah"
1964 Carol Browning Lee's Summit 20 Miss Lee's Summit Marimba & Accordion Medley
1963 Judith Engelhardt Affton Miss St. Charles Classical Vocal, "The Jewel Song" from Faust
1962 Sandra Lyle Springfield 19 Miss Springfield Dramatic Reading, "The Potion Scene" from Romeo & Juliet
1961 Sarah Burns Caruthersville 20 Miss Caruthersville Vocal / Dance, "Put on a Happy Face" from Bye Bye Birdie
1960 Dusene Vunovich Kansas City 19 Miss Kansas City Vocal, "Honey Bun" from South Pacific
1959 Linda Long Independence 19 Miss Independence Dramatic Reading from The White Cliffs of Dover
1958 Marjorie Critten[27] Kansas City Miss Kansas City Tap Dance, "Opus No. 1"
1957 Sara Cooper Buckner Miss Kansas City Charleston Dance Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award Daughter of Major League Baseball player, Walker Cooper[citation needed]
1956 Roseann Teri St. Louis Miss St. Louis Dress Design
1955 Sharon Knickmeyer Synchronized Swimming Non-finalist Talent Award
1954 Carole Wilkinson Maplewood Miss Maplewood Vocal
1953 Laura Holmes Northwoods Miss Northwoods Dance
1952 Florence Spack Clayton Miss Clayton Vocal
1951 Carol Romann St. Charles Miss St. Charles Bassoon
1950 Beverly Rotroff Kansas City Miss Kansas City Vocal / Piano
1949 Mary Stone Jefferson City Miss Jefferson City
1948 Dorothy Smith Kansas City Miss Kansas City
1947 Mary Jean Burke Vocal, "I'm a Big Girl Now"
1946 Nadine LaVerne Fugett Competed under local title at Miss America pageant
1945 Betty Ream Hughesville Miss Hughesville
1944 No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant[28]
1943 Emma Jean Adams St. Louis Miss St. Louis Competed under local title at Miss America pageant
1942 No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant[29]
1941 Leila Bell Wright[30] Kansas City Miss Kansas City Multiple Missouri representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Geraldine Koehler St. Louis Miss Missouri
1940 Gloria Kathleen Gipson Kansas City Miss Kansas City Multiple Missouri representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Virginia Morrison St. Louis Miss Missouri Top 15
LaFern Mueller St. Louis Miss St. Louis
1939 Margaret Ley
1938 No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant[31]
1937 Mary Sue Klein Moberly Miss Moberly Multiple Missouri representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Wauneta Bates St. Louis Miss St. Louis Top 16
1936 Margaret Price Lexington Miss Lexington
1935 Edna Smith Fayette 19 Miss Fayette Piano / Vocal, "Prelude No. 20 by Chopin" & "When Day Is Done" 1st runner-up Edna Smith Glenn died at age 90 on June 10, 2007.
1934 No national pageant was held[32]
1933 Marie LaTourette Marks St. Louis 16 N/A[33] Top 18
1932 No national pageants were held[32]
1931
1930
1929
1928
1927 Marion Kenser Miss Kansas City N/A[33] Multiple Missouri representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Katherine Calloway Miss Missouri
1926 Marguerite Jordan Miss Kansas City Top 15 Multiple Missouri representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Ruby Wallace Miss Missouri
Corinne Groves Miss St. Louis Top 15
1925 Eileen Wenzel Miss St. Louis Competed under local title at Miss America pageant
1924 Helen Moore
1923 Charlotte Nash[34] St. Louis 17 Miss St. Louis 3rd runner-up[35] Roller Chair Parade Grand Prize[36] Competed under local title at national pageant

Married millionaire and theatre magnate, Fred Nixon-Nirdlinger, twice[37][38]

Shot and killed Nixon-Nirdlinger in March 1931 in Nice, France[37][39]
Was acquitted after successfully arguing act was in self-defense[40][41]
1922 Miriam Chafee[42] Kansas City Miss Kansas City Multiple Missouri representatives

Contestants competed under local title at national pageant
Mildred Hose[43] St. Louis Miss St. Louis
1921
No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant[44]

References

  1. ^ Ramesh, Sruthidate=June 18, 2023 (17 June 2023). "St. Louis woman wins Miss Missouri competition". KOMU. Retrieved June 18, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Barczykowski, Hannah (21 June 2021). "New Miss Missouri, an MU senior, wants to spotlight people with disabilities". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  3. ^ Meyer, Lida (May 8, 2020). "Miss Missouri Pageant postponed a second time". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  4. ^ Dunlap, Charles (June 16, 2019). "University of Missouri student wins Miss Missouri pageant". Columbia Tribune.
  5. ^ Seemayer, Zach (December 19, 2019). "Miss Virginia Camille Schrier Crowned New Miss America 2020!". ET Tonight.
  6. ^ Zambito, Pete; Meisenbach, Rebecca (December 18, 2019). "Simone Esters wins $5,000 scholarship in Miss America competition". Missourian.
  7. ^ "Mentoring Program For Girls: Writeous Girls, Inc". Writeous Girls, Inc. Retrieved 2019-12-25.
  8. ^ Sabatke, Sarah (June 17, 2018). "Katelyn Lewis crowned 2018 Miss Missouri". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  9. ^ "New Miss Missouri crowned". Missouri Net. June 19, 2017.
  10. ^ Fike, Brenda (June 19, 2017). "Jennifer Davis crowned Miss Missouri 2017". The Mexico Ledger.
  11. ^ Nelson, Alisa (September 11, 2017). "Miss Missouri is 2018 Miss America runner-up". Missouri Net.
  12. ^ Fike, Brenda (June 19, 2017). "Jennifer Davis crowned Miss Missouri 2017". The Mexican Ledger.
  13. ^ a b Shepherd, Ken (September 6, 2016). "Erin O'Flaherty hoping to become first openly lesbian Miss America". The Washington Times.
  14. ^ a b Stortz Ripley, Catherine (June 15, 2015). "Miss Missouri McKENSIE GARBER". Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune. Chillicothe, MO: GateHouse Media.
  15. ^ Sokolowski, Doug (September 14, 2014). "Miss Missouri Ready For Miss America". KSIS Radio.
  16. ^ Rives, Ma (October 8, 2011). "United States is crowned at Orihuela Miss Intercontinental 2011". Información.
  17. ^ "Columbia native Shelby Ringdahl wins Miss Missouri pageant". Columbia Missourian. June 10, 2013.
  18. ^ "Springfield woman wins Miss Missouri crown". Springfield News-Leader. June 12, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  19. ^ "El Dorado Springs Woman Named Miss Missouri 2011". KSPR 33. June 11, 2011. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011.
  20. ^ Duplantier, Wes (June 14, 2010). "Erika Hebron crowned Miss Missouri 2010". Mexico Ledger. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010.
  21. ^ "St. Charles Native Wins Miss Missouri Title". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. June 9, 2009.
  22. ^ Redeffer, Linda (2004-04-14). "On her way to Miss USA, beauty queen won in Jackson". The Southeast Missourian. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  23. ^ "Miss Missouri crowned Miss USA 2004: Shandi Finnessey, 25, will represent America in Miss Universe pageant". USA Today. April 13, 2004.
  24. ^ "Miss Australia Crowned New Miss Universe". Fox News Channel. June 2, 2004.
  25. ^ "State Finally Finds a New Miss Missouri". The Southeast Missourian. September 29, 1989.
  26. ^ "Miss America 1990 Debbye Turner: A Profile of Success". Pageantry Magazine. 1989-09-16.
  27. ^ "Parade of States". Pageant Almanac. Archived from the original on October 15, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  28. ^ "1944 Candidates". Miss America.
  29. ^ "1942 Candidates". Miss America.
  30. ^ "Miss Delaware to Give Atlantic City Beauties Run for U. S. Honors". Wilmington, Delaware: The Morning News. September 4, 1941.
  31. ^ "1938 Candidates". Miss America.
  32. ^ a b "Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950". PBS. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
  33. ^ a b Schnitzspahn, Karen (September 8, 1997). "There She Was – Miss Long Branch". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com. ...talent contest that was established in 1935.
  34. ^ "Miss St. Louis First in Atlantic City Beauty Trials". The Pittsburgh Post. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. September 6, 1923. p. 2.
  35. ^ "Columbus Girl Wins for Second Time Title of Miss America". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. September 8, 1923. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com. ...Miss Charlotte Nash of St Louis and Miss Marian Green of Philadelphia were the runners up, in the order named.
  36. ^ "Columbus, O. Girl Again Wins Title of "Miss America"". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. September 8, 1923. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ a b "Beauty Contest Girl Held as Husband Shot to Death". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. March 13, 1931. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "Charlotte Nash". The St. Louis Star and Times. St. Louis, Missouri. May 19, 1926. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Mrs. Nixon-Nirdlinger Goes on Trial Today". The New York Times. New York, New York. May 20, 1931. p. 13.
  40. ^ "First Intimate Details of Her Romance With the Theatrical Magnate". The St. Louis Star and Times. St. Louis, Missouri. July 7, 1931. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com. ...acquitted in Nice, France of the murder of her husband.
  41. ^ "Takes Jury Ten Minutes to Acquit US Beauty". The Central New Jersey Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. May 20, 1913.
  42. ^ "Reporter, Dazzled by Beauty of Six Pageant Entrants - Sees Hard Job Ahead for Judges". The Indianapolis Times. Indianapolis, Indiana. September 5, 1922. p. 1.
  43. ^ "Miss Mildred Hose Wins Beauty Contest Here". The St. Louis Star and Times. St. Louis, Missouri. August 30, 1922. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ "1921 Candidates". Miss America.
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