Miss USA special awards
The following tables list the winners of the special awards given to candidates at the Miss USA pageant.
Current awards[edit]
Miss Congeniality[edit]
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.
Only one Miss Congeniality won the award on both the state and national levels: Dana Mintzer (Iowa 1983).
In 2015 there was a tie in the result between Miss Delaware and Miss Alaska resulting in both winning Miss Congeniality.
| 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
|
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| Bonnie Perkins (tie) |  Tennessee
|
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| 1966 | Linda Leafdale |  Wyoming
|
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| 1967 | Sandra Baldwin |  Idaho
|
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| 1968 | Julia Pinkley |  Kentucky
|
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| 1969 | Mary Verdiana |  Vermont
|
1st runner-up | |
| 1970 | Diane Swendeman |  Texas
|
Top 15 semifinalist | |
| 1971 | Diane Knaub |  Colorado
|
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| 1972 | Peggy Moore |  Utah
|
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| 1973 | Kiki Kirkland |  South Carolina
|
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| 1974 | Donna Thornton | Vermont
|
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| 1975 | Constance Crabtree | Vermont
|
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| 1976 | Connie Clark (tie) | Kentucky
|
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| Dorothy Westphal (tie) |  South Dakota
|
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| 1977 | Linda LeFevre |  Florida
|
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| 1978 | Nancy Wierzbicki | Vermont
|
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| 1979 | Pam Williams | Wyoming
|
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| 1980 | Robbin English |  Montana
|
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| 1981 | Cynthia Ann Kerby | California
|
3rd runner-up | Also won Miss Photogenic. |
| 1982 | Toni McFadden |  Alaska
|
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| 1983 | Dana Ruth Mintzer |  Iowa
|
Also won Miss Congeniality at state level | |
| 1984 | Diane Gadoury |  New Hampshire
|
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| 1985 | Marty Browning | Tennessee
|
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| 1986 | Lisa Summerour-Perry |  New Jersey
|
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| 1987 | Lori Lynn Dickerson[1] | California
|
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| 1988 | Elva Anderson[2] |  District of Columbia
|
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| 1989 | Kimberly Nicewonder |  Virginia
|
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| 1990 | Janet Tveita[3] | Minnesota
|
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| 1991 | Charlotte Ray[4] | New Jersey
|
1st runner-up | |
| 1992 | Alesia Prentiss[5] |  Nevada
|
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| 1993 | Stacey Blaine[6] |  Massachusetts
|
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| 1994 | Denise White |  Oregon
|
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| 1995 | Chelsi Smith | Texas
|
Miss USA 1995 | MISS UNIVERSE 1995 |
| 1996 | Ku'ualoha Taylor |  Hawaii
|
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| 1997 | Napiera Groves[7] | District of Columbia
|
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| 1998 | Vera Morris[8] |  North Carolina
|
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| 1999 | Cara Jackson |  Arizona
|
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| 2000 | Michele Kaplan | Hawaii
|
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| 2001 | Monica Palumbo[9] | North Carolina
|
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| 2002 | Meredith McCannel | Montana
|
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| 2003 | Breann Parriott[10] |  Washington
|
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| 2004 | Michelle Fongemie[11] | Vermont
|
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| 2005 | Melissa Young[12] |  Wisconsin
|
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| 2006 | Dottie Cannon[13] | Minnesota
|
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| 2007 | Stephanie Trudeau | Montana
|
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| 2008 | Monica Day |  Ohio
|
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| 2009 | Cynthia Pate | Wyoming
|
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| 2010 | Belinda Wright |  Nebraska
|
Top 15 semifinalist | |
| 2011 | Kia Hampton | Kentucky
|
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| 2012 | Rebecca Hodge | Iowa
|
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| 2013 | Gabrielle Neilan | Oregon
|
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| 2014 | Christina Palavra |  Rhode Island
|
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| 2015 | Kimberly Agron (tie) | Alaska
|
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| Renee Bull (tie) |  Delaware
|
Top 11 | ||
| 2016 | TBA | TBA | ||
^ Denotes winner of Miss Congeniality when the award was given to either a Miss USA or Miss Universe contestant.
Miss Photogenic[edit]
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
|
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| 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
|
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| 1978 | Suzanna Timberlake | Tennessee
|
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| 1979 | Michele Maria Sandoval |  New Mexico
|
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| 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
|
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| 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
|
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| 1999 | Elyzabeth Pham | Wisconsin
|
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| 2000 | Paige Swenson | Minnesota
|
Previously Miss Minnesota Teen USA 1994. | |
| 2001 | Katee Doland | Colorado
|
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| 2002 | Shannon Ford[17] | Florida
|
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| 2003 | Sarah Cahill[10] | Minnesota
|
Previously Miss Minnesota Teen USA 1996. | |
| 2004 | Jennifer Sherrill[11] |  Arkansas
|
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| 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
|
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| 2008 | Courtney Carroll | Alaska
|
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| 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 |
| 2012 | Alaina Bergsma | Oregon
|
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| 2013 | Marissa Powell | Utah
|
3rd runner-up | |
| 2014 | Cassandra Kunze | California
|
Top 10 | |
| 2015 | Gretchen Reece |  Indiana
|
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| 2016 | TBA | TBA | ||
^ Denotes winner of Miss Photogenic when the award was given to either a Miss USA or Miss Universe contestant.
Former awards[edit]
Best State Costume[edit]
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
|
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| 1964 | Pat Kerr | Tennessee
|
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| 1965 | Carla Sullivan | Alaska
|
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| 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
|
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| 1970 | Vickie Lynn Chesser | South Carolina
|
1st runner-up | |
| 1971 | Katherine Hartman | Alaska
|
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| 1972 | Patricia Lane | Alaska
|
Top 12 semifinalist | |
| 1973 | Lavon McConnell (tie) | Texas
|
Top 12 semifinalist | |
| Diane Modrow (tie) | Wisconsin
|
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| 1974 | Charlesy Gulick | Kentucky
|
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| 1975 | Gayla Bryan | Oklahoma
|
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| 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
|
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| 1982 | Kim Ann Weeda | Ohio
|
3rd runner-up | |
| 1983 | Julie Page |  Pennsylvania
|
Top 12 semifinalist | |
| 1984 | Daria Sparling | Arizona
|
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| 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
|
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| 1989 | Kelly Holub | Illinois
|
Top 10 semifinalist | |
| 1990 | NO AWARD | |||
| 1991 | Maricarroll Verlinde[4] | Arizona
|
Top 11 semifinalist | |
| 1992 | Heather Gray[5] | Indiana
|
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| 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[edit]
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 Michelle 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; 2nd Runner-up at Miss 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 Semi-Finalist at Miss Teen USA 1993. |
| Angelique Breaux | California
|
2nd Runner-up | Became Miss World USA 2000; Top 10 Semi-Finalist at Miss World 2000. | |
| 2000 | Lynnette Cole | Tennessee
|
Miss USA 2000 | Previously Miss Tennessee Teen USA 1995; Top 6 Finalist & Miss Photogenic 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[edit]
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
|
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| 1996 | Becca Lee | Tennessee
|
2nd runner-up | |
| 1997-1998 | NO AWARD | |||
| 1999 | Kellie Lightbourn | Virginia
|
Top 10 semifinalist | |
| 2000 | Kristin Ludecke | Florida
|
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| 2001 | Megan Gunning | Maryland
|
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References[edit]
- ↑ "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. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Detroit's Carole Gist Is Miss USA". Washington Post. 1990-03-03. p. d.09.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Curtright, Bob (1991-02-23). "Homegrown Beauty Miss Kansas wins Miss USA title". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lewis, Diane (1992-02-05). "Stepping out with Glitz - State Icons". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 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. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Miss Massachusetts USA, Susie Castillo, Crowned Miss USA 2003 During Live NBC Telecast on March 24" (Press release). Miss Universe Organization. 2003-03-24. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Miss Missouri, Crowned Miss USA(R) 2004 During Live NBC Telecast on April 12". PR Newswire. 2004-04-13.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Miss North Carolina USA, Chelsea Cooley Crowned MISS USA 2005 During Live NBC Telecast On April 11th". Patriot News. 2005-04-11. 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. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ↑ Conconi, Chuck (1990-12-10). "Personalities". The Washington Post. p. d.03. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ↑ Little, Robert (1994-02-13). "Mom's Death Inspired Miss USA contestant". The Virginian Pilot. p. B3. 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. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ↑ Conconi, Chuck (1990-12-10). "Personalities". The Washington Post. p. d.03. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
External links[edit]
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