Miss America Winners List From 1921 To 2024

Since 1921, the Miss America pageant has celebrated outstanding women from across the United States. Today we will share the list of winners from 1921 to 2024 highlighting the achievements and diversity of the women who have won this prestigious title. We will also see the history of this iconic event and find out the remarkable individuals who have been crowned Miss America over the years.

History of Miss America Pageant

Origins and Early Years

Miss America is a beauty pageant that originated in 1921 as a bathing beauty revue. It was created by Atlantic City businessmen as a way to extend the summer tourism season. The first Miss America pageant was held on September 8, 1921, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Sixteen-year-old Margaret Gorman from Washington, D.C., was crowned the first Miss America.

In the early years, the Miss America pageant was a simple bathing suit competition. However, over time, the pageant evolved into a more formal competition with contestants competing in various categories such as talent, interview, and evening gowns.

Evolution and Milestones

Throughout its history, the Miss America pageant has undergone many changes and milestones. In 1938, the pageant began awarding scholarships to its winners, making it one of the largest scholarship providers for women in the world.

In 1945, Bess Myerson became the first Jewish woman to win the Miss America title. In 1968, the first African American contestant, Cheryl Browne, competed in the pageant. It was not until 1983 that Vanessa Williams became the first African American woman to win the title.

In 1984, Suzette Charles became the first runner-up to assume the title of Miss America after Vanessa Williams was forced to resign over the unauthorized publication of nude photos. In January 2018, the Miss America organization increased the maximum age of titleholders to 25 years old, from 24.

Over the years, the Miss America pageant has also faced criticism and controversy. In recent years, the pageant has undergone significant changes, including the elimination of the swimsuit competition and a greater emphasis on contestants’ talents and achievements.

Overall, the Miss America pageant has a rich history and has played an important role in promoting women’s education and empowerment.

List of Miss America Winners

The Miss America pageant is one of the most celebrated traditions in the United States, highlighting the talent, intellect, and beauty of women from across the nation since 1921. Here’s a list of Miss America winners from 1921 to 2024, showcasing the evolution of this iconic event over more than a century:

1. 1921 – Margaret Gorman, Washington, D.C.
2. 1922 – Mary Katherine Campbell, Ohio (also won in 1923)
3. 1923 – Mary Katherine Campbell, Ohio
4. 1924 – Ruth Malcomson, Pennsylvania
5. 1925 – Fay Lanphier, California
6. 1926 – Norma Smallwood, Oklahoma
7. 1927 – Lois Delander, Illinois
8. 1928-1932 – No pageant held
9. 1933 – Marian Bergeron, Connecticut
10. 1934 – Henrietta Leaver, Pennsylvania
11. 1935 – Henrietta Leaver, Pennsylvania
12. 1936 – Rose Coyle, Pennsylvania
13. 1937 – Bette Cooper, New Jersey
14. 1938 – Marilyn Meseke, Ohio
15. 1939 – Patricia Donnelly, Michigan
16. 1940 – Frances Marie Burke, Pennsylvania
17. 1941 – Rosemary LaPlanche, California (also won in 1942)
18. 1942 – Jo-Carroll Dennison, Texas
19. 1943 – Jean Bartel, California
20. 1944 – Venus Ramey, District of Columbia
21. 1945 – Bess Myerson, New York
22. 1946 – Marilyn Buferd, California
23. 1947 – Barbara Jo Walker, Tennessee
24. 1948 – BeBe Shopp, Minnesota
25. 1949 – Jacque Mercer, Arizona
26. 1950 – Yolande Betbeze, Alabama
27. 1951 – Colleen Kay Hutchins, Utah
28. 1952 – Neva Jane Langley, Georgia
29. 1953 – Evelyn Ay, Pennsylvania
30. 1954 – Lee Meriwether, California
31. 1955 – Sharon Ritchie, Colorado
32. 1956 – Marian McKnight, South Carolina
33. 1957 – Marilyn Van Derbur, Colorado
34. 1958 – Mary Ann Mobley, Mississippi
35. 1959 – Lynda Lee Mead, Mississippi
36. 1960 – Nancy Fleming, Michigan
37. 1961 – Nancy Anne Fleming, Michigan
38. 1962 – Maria Fletcher, North Carolina
39. 1963 – Jacquelyn Mayer, Ohio
40. 1964 – Donna Axum, Arkansas
41. 1965 – Vonda Kay Van Dyke, Arizona
42. 1966 – Deborah Bryant, Kansas
43. 1967 – Jane Anne Jayroe, Oklahoma
44. 1968 – Debra Dene Barnes, Kansas
45. 1969 – Judith Ford, Illinois
46. 1970 – Pamela Eldred, Michigan
47. 1971 – Phyllis George, Texas
48. 1972 – Laurie Lea Schaefer, Ohio
49. 1973 – Terry Anne Meeuwsen, Wisconsin
50. 1974 – Rebecca Ann King, Colorado
51. 1975 – Shirley Cothran, Texas
52. 1976 – Tawny Godin, New York
53. 1977 – Dorothy Kathleen Benham, Minnesota
54. 1978 – Susan Perkins, Ohio
55. 1979 – Kylene Barker, Virginia
56. 1980 – Cheryl Prewitt, Mississippi
57. 1981 – Susan Powell, Oklahoma
58. 1982 – Elizabeth Ward, Arkansas
59. 1983 – Debra Maffett, California
60. 1984 – Vanessa Williams, New York (resigned), Suzette Charles, New Jersey
61. 1985 – Sharlene Wells, Utah
62. 1986 – Susan Akin, Mississippi
63. 1987 – Kellye Cash, Tennessee
64. 1988 – Kaye Lani Rae Rafko, Michigan
65. 1989 – Gretchen Carlson, Minnesota
66. 1990 – Debbye Turner, Missouri
67. 1991 – Marjorie Vincent, Illinois
68. 1992 – Carolyn Sapp, Hawaii
69. 1993 – Leanza Cornett, Florida
70. 1994 – Kimberly Aiken, South Carolina
71. 1995 – Heather Whitestone, Alabama
72. 1996 – Shawntel Smith, Oklahoma
73. 1997 – Tara Holland, Kansas
74. 1998 – Kate Shindle, Illinois
75. 1999 – Nicole Johnson, Virginia
76. 2000 – Heather French, Kentucky
77. 2001 – Angela Perez Baraquio, Hawaii
78. 2002 – Katie Harman, Oregon
79. 2003 – Erika Harold, Illinois
80. 2004 – Ericka Dunlap, Florida
81. 2005 – Deidre Downs, Alabama
82. 2006 – Jennifer Berry, Oklahoma
83. 2007 – Lauren Nelson, Oklahoma
84. 2008 – Kirsten Haglund, Michigan
85. 2009 – Katie Stam, Indiana
86. 2010 – Caressa Cameron, Virginia
87. 2011 – Teresa Scanlan, Nebraska
88. 2012 – Laura Kaeppeler, Wisconsin
89. 2013 – Mallory Hagan, New York
90. 2014 – Nina Davuluri, New York
91. 2015 – Kira Kazantsev, New York
92. 2016 – Betty Cantrell, Georgia
93. 2017 – Savvy Shields, Arkansas
94. 2018 – Cara Mund, North Dakota
95. 2019 – Nia Franklin, New York
96. 2020 – Camille Schrier, Virginia
97. 2021 – No national pageant was held due to the COVID-19 pandemic[
98. 2022 – Emma Broyles, Alaska
99. 2023 – Grace Stanke, Wisconsin
100. 2024 – Madison Marsh, Colorado

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the recent winners of Miss America?

The most recent Miss America is Madison Marsh, a 22-year-old US Air Force officer who won the title in January 2024. She was crowned Miss Colorado 2023 before becoming Miss America 2024.

Which states have produced the most Miss America winners?

The state with the most Miss America winners is New York, with a total of seven winners. Following New York is California, with six winners, and Oklahoma and Alabama, each with five winners.

Are there any states that have never had a Miss America winner?

Yes, there are several states that have never had a Miss America winner, including Alaska, Delaware, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming.

Who is considered the most famous Miss America winner?

There have been many famous Miss America winners throughout the years, including Vanessa Williams, Lee Meriwether, Phyllis George, and Bess Myerson. However, Vanessa Williams is perhaps the most well-known Miss America winner, as she was the first African American woman to win the title in 1983.

What is the prize for winning the Miss America pageant?

The titleholder is awarded a significant scholarship, currently at $50,000, to use towards their educational pursuits at the institution of their choice. Winning Miss America offers the opportunity to travel the country for a year, advocating for a social cause they are passionate about. It’s a chance to become a role model for young women and make a positive impact.