Miss California USA
Formation1952
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California
Membership
Miss USA
Official language
English
Key people
Kristen Bradford
WebsiteOfficial website

Miss California USA is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is directed by Crown Diva Productions.

California's most successful placements were in 1959, 1966, 1975, 1983, 1992, and 2011, when Terry Huntingdon, Maria Remenyi, Summer Bartholomew, Julie Hayek, Shannon Marketic, and Alyssa Campanella, respectively, were crowned Miss USA.

The current Miss California USA is Tianna Clark of Perris, California, who is crowned on June 18, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County. Clark represented California at Miss USA 2023 and placed Top 20.

History

The Miss California USA Pageant was produced by Carolee Munger. Prior to Ms. Munger, Guyrex Productions held the franchise for a number of years and produced successful televised pageants with over 100 participants. Before Guyrex, the pageant was produced by Dr. Leanord Stallcup, who took over the directorship after Faye Smith successfully led the way through the 1970s and 1980s. Also was produced by Top 10 Productions, Inc. San Diego-based. Top 10 was led by Pam Wilson and Alex Kuty, who have been involved in pageant and fashion production for many years. Top 10 took over for K2 Productions in 2013. K2 had a number of controversies but during its 9 years producing the pageant, it managed to be the top placing state at Miss USA, growing the entry numbers to the largest state pageant in the history of Miss USA and doing the first live television airing in over 10 years. In the beginning, K2 Productions was directed by former Miss Teen USA 1995, Keylee Sue Sanders, and Keith Lewis. K2 Productions was later directed by Lewis and briefly co-produced by Miss USA 1995, Shanna Moakler. In October 2021, Kristen Bradford of Crown Diva Productions took over the directorship for California pageants.

In 2009 Carrie Prejean was forced to resign after placing 1st runner-up at Miss USA 2009 after a controversy developed regarding the answer she gave to her final interview question at the national pageant.[1] Pageant organisers claimed she was fired due to contractual violations.[2]

California has produced a Miss USA every decade (except the 2000s) and is ranked second highest among states in terms of placements, after Texas.

Shauna Gambill, who won the national Miss Teen USA crown in 1994, is the only Miss California USA who has previously held the Miss California Teen USA title. As Miss California USA in 1998, Gambill placed 1st Runner-Up to Shawnae Jebbia of Massachusetts. Three Miss California USA titleholders have also competed in the Miss America pageant while two were former winners of the Miss Teenage California Scholarship Pageant.

Results summary

  • Miss USAs: Terry Huntingdon (1959), Maria Remenyi (1966), Summer Bartholomew (1975), Julie Hayek (1983), Shannon Marketic (1992), Alyssa Campanella (2011)
  • 1st Runners-Up: Pamela Stettler (1961), Susan Bradley (1967), Diana Magaña (1988), Shauna Gambill (1998), Brittany Hogan (2005), Tamiko Nash (2006), Carrie Prejean (2009)
  • 2nd Runners-Up: Kim Hobson (1972), Diane Schock (1991), Angelique Breaux (1999)
  • 3rd Runners-Up: Donna Schurr (1955), Marilyn Tindall (1962), Gayle Gorrell (1974), Pamela Gergley (1977), Cynthia Kerby (1981), Meagan Tandy (2007)
  • 4th Runners-Up: Francine Herack (1963), Troas Hayes (1969), Kelly Parsons (1986)
  • Top 5: Nadia Mejía (2016)
  • Top 10/12: Karin Morrell (1971), Carol Herrema (1973), Joni Pennock (1976), Donna Adrain (1978), Linda Fogarty (1979), Christina Faust (1989), Jane Olvera (1993), Tarah Peters (2002), Nicole Johnson (2010), Cassandra Kunze (2014), India Williams (2017), Kelley Johnson (2018), Allyshia Gupta (2020)
  • Top 15/16/20: Marcella Roulette (1953), Sandra Constance (1954), Peggy Jacobson (1957), Donna Brooks (1958), Teri Janssen (1960), Jeanne Venables (1964), Kathryn Hage (1965), Suzanne Fromm (1968), Linda Hall (1970), Raquel Beezley (2008), Mabelynn Capeluj (2013), Tiffany Johnson (2022), Tianna Clark (2023)

California holds a record of 52 placements at Miss USA, second overall behind Texas and ahead of South Carolina.

Awards

  • Miss Congeniality: Jeanne Venables (1964), Cynthia Kerby (1981), Lori Dickerson (1987)
  • Miss Photogenic: Maria Remenyi (1966), Cynthia Kerby (1981), Shannon Marketic (1992), Cassandra Kunze (2014)
  • Best State Costume: Suzanne Fromm (1968)

Winners

Color key
  •   Winner
  •   Runner-Up
  •   Semifinalist
Year Name Hometown Age[lower-alpha 4] Local Title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes
2023 Tianna Clark Perris 27 Miss Perris Top 20
2022 Tiffany Johnson Lancaster 26 Miss Lancaster Top 16 Former Los Angeles Clippers professional dancer[3]
2021 Sabrina Lewis Berkeley 23 Miss Berkeley Later Miss California 2023
2020 Allyshia Gupta Los Angeles 25 Miss Los Angeles Top 10
2019 Erica Dann San Francisco 27 Miss San Francisco
2018 Kelley Johnson[4] Los Angeles 24 Miss Redondo Beach Top 10
2017 India Williams[6] Lafayette 20 Miss Santa Monica Top 10
2016 Nadia Mejia Diamond Bar 20 Miss Corona Del Mar Top 5
2015 Natasha Martinez Chino Hills 23 Miss Santa Anita Park
2014 Cassandra Kunze San Diego 20 Miss Beverly Hills Top 10 Miss Photogenic
2013 Mabelynn Capeluj San Diego 21 Miss Greater San Diego Top 15
2012 Natalie Pack[8] Palos Verdes 22 Miss Hoag Hospital
2011 Katie Blair Los Angeles 23 Miss Laurel Canyon did not compete
Alyssa Campanella[9] Los Angeles 20 Miss Hillsbourough Miss USA 2011
2010 Nicole Johnson Westlake Village 24 Miss Sherwood Top 10 Married to swimmer Michael Phelps[10]
2009 Tami Farrell Los Angeles 25 Miss Malibu did not compete
Carrie Prejean San Diego 21 Miss La Jolla 1st Runner-Up
2008 Raquel Beezley Barstow 21 Miss Barstow Top 15
2007 Meagan Tandy Fontana 21 Miss Inland Empire 3rd Runner-Up
2006 Tamiko Nash Los Angeles 26 Miss North Los Angeles 1st Runner-Up
2005 Brittany Hogan Escondido 20 Miss City of San Diego 1st Runner-Up
2004 Ellen Chapman San Jose 22 Miss San Francisco-Bay Area
2003 Candice Sanders La Habre 26 Miss Greater Los Angeles
2002 Tarah Peters San Diego 21 Miss Greater San Diego Top 12
2001 Jennifer Glover Castro Valley 21 Miss Bay City
2000 Rebekah Ann Keller Lakewood 25 Miss Greater Lakewood
1999 Angelique Breaux San Diego 21 Miss Vista 2nd Runner-Up
1998 Shauna Gambill Acton 21 Miss Acton 1st Runner-Up
1997 Alisa Kimble Lake Elsinore 27 Miss Lake Elsinore
1996 Shauna Lyn Searles Tustin 26 Miss Tustin
  • Previously Miss California USA 1992, after Shannon Marketic was crowned Miss USA 1992
1995 Deana Avila Laguna Niguel Miss Laguna Niguel
1994 Toay Lynn Foster Oxnard Miss Tulare County
1993 Jane Olvera Fresno 23 Miss Central Valley Top 12
1992 Shauna Lyn Searles Los Angeles Miss Sacramento Valley did not compete
Shannon Marketic[11] Malibu 21 Miss West Los Angeles Miss USA 1992 Miss Photogenic
1991 Diane Schock Fontana 24 Miss Claremont 2nd Runner-Up
1990 Cynthia Nelson Gilroy Miss Gilroy
1989 Christina Maria Faust San Fernando Valley 23 Miss San Fernando Valley Top 10
1988 Diana Magaña[12][13] Rancho Palos Verdes 22 Miss Los Angeles County 1st Runner-Up
1987 Lori Dickerson[14] Lodi Miss San Joaquin County Miss Congeniality[15]
1986 Kelly Parsons Los Angeles 22 Miss Northridge 4th Runner-Up
1985 Zina Ponder Long Beach Miss Long Beach
1984 Theresa Ring San Diego Miss Greater San Diego 1987 Star Search spokesmodel
1983 Julie Lynne Hayek[16] Westwood 22 Miss Westwood Miss USA 1983
1982 Suzanne Dewames Thousand Oaks Miss Ventura County
1981 Cynthia Kerby Westlake Village Miss Las Virgenes 3rd Runner-Up Miss Photogenic
Miss Congeniality
1980 Kari Lloyd Thousand Oaks
1979 Linda Fogarty Fullerton Top 12
1978 Donna Adrain Anaheim Top 12
1977 Pamela Gergely San Rafael 3rd Runner-Up
1976 Joni Pennock[17] Fullerton 20 Top 12
1975 Summer Bartholomew Merced 23 Miss USA 1975
1974 Gayle Gorrell Los Angeles 3rd Runner-Up
1973 Carol Herrema Artesia Top 12
1972 Kim Hobson San Mateo 2nd Runner-Up
1971 Karin Morrell Auburn Top 12
1970 Linda Hall Los Angeles Top 15
1969 Troas Hayes Sacramento 4th Runner-Up
1968 Suzanne Fromm Los Angeles Top 15 Best State Costume
1967 Susan Bradley Tustin 1st Runner-Up
1966 Maria Remenyi El Cerrito 20 Miss USA 1966 Miss Photogenic
1965 Kathryn Lee Hage Santa Monica Top 15
1964 Jeanne Venables Sacramento Top 15 Miss Congeniality
1963 Francine Herack Encino 4th Runner-Up
1962 Marilyn Tindall Los Angeles 3rd Runner-Up
1961 Pamela Stettler San Rafael 1st Runner-Up
1960 Teri Janssen Los Angeles Top 15
1959 Terry Lynn Huntingdon Mount Shasta 19 Miss USA 1959
1958 Donna Kay Brooks Los Angeles Top 15
1957 Peggy Jacobson Los Angeles Top 15
1956 Shirlee Witty Los Angeles
1955 Donna Schurr Los Angeles 3rd Runner-Up
1954 Sandra Constance Los Angeles Top 20
1953 Marcella Roulette Los Angeles Top 20
1952 Gloria Maxwell Los Angeles

Notes

  1. ↑ Blair was originally the first runner-up, but inherited the title of Miss California USA 2011 when Alyssa Campanella was crowned Miss USA 2011. The two titles cannot be held simultaneously.
  2. ↑ Farrell was originally the first runner-up, but inherited the title of Miss California USA 2009 when Carrie Prejean was dethroned during her reign.
  3. ↑ Prejean was dethroned by the Miss California USA Organization and did not complete her reign.
  4. ↑ Age at the time of crowning

References

  1. ↑ "Carrie Prejean stripped of Miss California title". Today. 11 June 2009.
  2. ↑ McKinley, Jesse (10 June 2009). "Donald Trump Fires Miss California".
  3. ↑ "Miss California USA Tiffany Johnson shares her success beyond the glamour". Rolling Out Magazine. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  4. ↑ Harding, Todd (December 4, 2017). "Former Miss Colorado Wins Miss California USA Pageant". K99 News.
  5. ↑ Udell, Erin (2 January 2018). "Former Windsor resident mocked by 'The View' co-host named Miss California". The Coloradoan.
  6. ↑ Taylor, Evelyn (17 January 2017). "Miss California: LMU Junior Represents Santa Monica and Takes Coveted Crown". Westside Today. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  7. ↑ Gore, Leada (6 June 2016). "'Rico Suave's' daughter: Miss California is Nadia Mejia, daughter of '90s pop star Gerardo". AL.com.
  8. ↑ Gruszecki, Debra (9 January 2012). "Miss California USA crowned". The Desert Sun.
  9. ↑ "Glitz, glamour, gowns". The Desert Sun. November 22, 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  10. ↑ "Who Is Michael Phelps' Wife? All About Nicole Johnson". People. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Miss USA crowned". Dallas Morning News. Associated Press. February 8, 1992. Retrieved 4 November 2010. Shannon La Rhea Marketic, Miss California USA, was crowned Miss USA 1992 Friday night in Wichita, Kan. The 22-year-old Pepperdine University student, a native of Malibu, looked upward when she realized she had won. She then made a thank-you gesture to the audience and judges.
  12. ↑ "New Miss California". The San Francisco Chronicle. 1987-08-31. p. 6.
  13. ↑ "Bringing Up Beauty / In the months before the Miss USA Pageant, advisers work on Miss California". The San Francisco Chronicle. 1987-10-01. p. 6.
  14. ↑ "Miss California-USA". The San Francisco Chronicle. 1986-10-30. p. 6.
  15. ↑ "Personal Mention". Houston Chronicle. 1987-02-13.
  16. ↑ "Would-be dentist wears a crown". Philadelphia Daily News. May 13, 1983. Retrieved 4 November 2010. Miss California, Julie Lynne Hayek, a green-eyed student model who wants to be a dentist, was crowned Miss USA last night.
  17. ↑ "Sharing Gospel is Great Joy for Miss California". The Deseret News. 1976-11-06.
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