The Miss Alabama competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

in the annual

Miss America Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 18 and 28. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is judged on competition segments with scoring percentages: ''Priva ...

Competition. Alabama has won four Miss America titles:

Abbie Stockard Abbie Stockard (born July 26, 2002) is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss America 2025. Stockard was previously crowned Miss Alabama 2024, making her the fourth woman from Alabama to be crowned Miss America. Early life ...

in 2025,

Deidre Downs Deidre Downs Gunn (born July 7, 1980) is an American physician and former beauty pageant titleholder. Downs was Miss Alabama 2004 and later was crowned Miss America 2005. Education After graduating from Pelham High School in 1998, Downs atten ...

in 2005,

Heather Whitestone Heather Leigh Whitestone McCallum (born February 24, 1973) is an American conservative activist and beauty queen who was the first deaf Miss America title holder, having lost most of her hearing at 18 months. Early life and education Whitestone ...

(the first deaf woman to win the Miss America crown) in 1995, and

Yolande Betbeze Yolande Margaret Betbeze Fox (November 28, 1928 – February 22, 2016) was an American singer, feminist activist, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss America 1951. Early life Betbeze was born on November 28, 1928, in Mobile, Al ...

in 1951. Betbeze is also known as the contestant who refused to pose in a swimsuit, causing swimsuit sponsor

Catalina Swimwear Catalina is a brand of women's swimwear. It was once one of the oldest clothing manufacturers in California. Their history began in 1907, as Bentz Knitting Mills, a small manufacturer of underwear and sweaters. The name was changed to Pacific Kni ...

to pull out and ultimately start the

Miss USA Miss USA is an American beauty pageant that has been held annually since 1952 to select the entrant from United States in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operated both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA, until 2020. ...

pageant.

of Vestavia Hills was crowned Miss Alabama 2024 on June 29, 2024, at Samford University's Wright Center in

Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of Alabama, United States. It is the county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama, Jefferson County. The population was 200,733 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List ...

. She competed for the title of Miss America 2025 and later won the title, succeeding

Madison Marsh Madison Isabella Marsh (born August 2, 2001) is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss America 2024. She had previously been crowned Miss Colorado 2023, and was both the fourth woman representing Colorado and the first member ...

of Colorado.

Gallery of past titleholders

File:Yolande_Betbeze_NYWTS.jpg,

,
Miss Alabama 1950 and

1951 File:Heatherphilippinevisit.jpg,

,
Miss Alabama 1994 and

Miss America 1995 Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 18 and 28. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is judged on competition segments with scoring percentages: ''Priva ...

File:Deidre Downs.jpg,

,
Miss Alabama 2004 and Miss America 2005 File:Abbie Stockard 03.jpg,

,
Miss Alabama 2024 and

Miss America 2025 Miss America 2025 was the 97th edition of the Miss America pageant, held inside the Walt Disney Theater, located at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida, alongside the Miss America's Teen 2025 competition on Janu ...

Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Alabama 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:

(

1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the Uni ...

(

1995 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...

(

2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...

(

2025 So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...

) * 1st runners-up:

Teresa Cheatham Teresa Ann Cheatham-Crosby (née Cheatham) is a vocal instructor from Wellington, Alabama who was named Miss Alabama 1978 and finished first runner-up at Miss America 1979. Early life She attended Jacksonville State University, graduating in 197 ...

(1979), Paige Phillips (1981), Scarlotte Deupree (2003), Lauren Bradford (2022) * 2nd runners-up: Frances Dorn (1945), Martha Ann Ingram (1948), Anne Stuart Ariail (1957), Pam Battles (1984), Alexa Jones (2006) * 3rd runners-up: Peggy June Elder (1947), Gwen Harmon (1953), Virginia McDavid (1954), Yolanda Fernandez (1983), Alison McCreary (1997) * 4th runners-up: Gloria Levinge (1936), Betty Jane Rase (1944), Angela Tower (1986), Jenny Jackson (1989), Melinda Toole (2007), Meg McGuffin (2016) * Top 7: Jessica Procter (2018), Tiara Pennington (2020) * Top 10: Marie Duncan (1942), Jeanne Moody (1952), Marilyn Tate (1955), Patricia Huddleston (1956), Lee Thornberry (1959), Teresa Rinaldi (1961), Delores Hodgens (1962), Judy Short (1964), Vickie Powers (1965), Linda Folsom (1966), Angie Grooms (1967), Dellynne Catching (1969), Angela Callahan (1987),

Kalyn Chapman Kalyn Chapman James is an American model, television host, and beauty pageant title of honor, titleholder from Mobile, Alabama, who was crowned Miss Alabama in 1993, the first African American to win the pageant. She competed for the Miss America ...

(1994), Leigh Sherer (1996), Julie Smith (2000), Jana Sanderson (2001),

Caitlin Brunell Caitlin Brunell (born May 17, 1992) is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Great Falls, Virginia who won the Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 title in August 2007. In 2014, she was crowned Miss Alabama and represented the state at t ...

(2015), Callie Walker (2019) * Top 12: Anna Laura Bryan (2013) * Top 13: Courtney Porter (2012) * Top 15: Tommy Marie Peck (1936), Mildred Oxford (1938), Florine Holt (1939), Virginia McGraw (1941),

Catherine Crosby The Miss Alabama competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Alabama in the annual Miss America Competition. Alabama has won four Miss America titles: Abbie Stockard in 2025, Deidre Downs in 2005, Heather Whitest ...

(2004),

Amanda Tapley The Miss Alabama competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Alabama in the annual Miss America Competition. Alabama has won four Miss America titles: Abbie Stockard in 2025, Deidre Downs in 2005, Heather Whites ...

(2009)

Awards

Preliminary awards

* Preliminary Evening Gown: Brianna Burrell (2024) * Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Marie Duncan (1942), Betty Jane Rase (1944), Peggy Elder (1947),

(1951), Gwen Harmon (1953), Judy Short (1964), Dellynne Catching (1969),

(1979), Angela Tower (1986),

(1995),

Ashley Davis The Miss Alabama competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Alabama in the annual Miss America Competition. Alabama has won four Miss America titles: Abbie Stockard in 2025, Deidre Downs in 2005, Heather Whitesto ...

(2011) * Preliminary Talent: Gloria Levinge (1936), Virginia McGraw (1941), Betty Jane Rase (1944), Frances Dorn (1945), Emma Dale Nunnally (1946), Jeanne Moody (1952), Patricia Huddleston (1956), Anne Stuart Ariail (1957), Lee Thornberry (1959), Teresa Rinaldi (1961), Judy Short (1964), Vickie Powers (1965), Linda Folsom (1966), Suzanne Dennie (1971),

(1979), Paige Phillips (1981),

(1995)

Non-finalist awards

* Non-finalist Talent: Anna Stange (1958), Betty Lindstrom (1960), Patricia Bonner (1963), Kathy Pickett (1980), Tammy Little (1985), Chandler Champion (2014) * Non-finalist Interview: Resha Riggins (1991)

Other awards

Miss Congeniality Miss Congeniality may refer to: * ''Miss Congeniality'' (film), 2000 film, directed by Donald Petrie, starring Sandra Bullock and Benjamin Bratt **'' Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous'', a 2005 sequel *A special award, the "Miss Congeniality A ...

: Toula Hagestratou (1943),

Melinda Toole The Miss Alabama competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Alabama in the annual Miss America Competition. Alabama has won four Miss America titles: Abbie Stockard in 2025, Deidre Downs in 2005, Heather Whitesto ...

(2007) * Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Miracle Maker Award: Hayley Barber (2017) * CMN Miracle Maker Award 2nd runners-up: Jamie Langley (2008), Callie Walker (2019) *Jean Bartel Social Impact Initiative Winner: Lauren Bradford (2022) *Jean Bartel Social Impact Initiative Finalists: Lindsay Fincher (2022) * Quality of Life Award Winners:

Kim Wimmer Kimberly Marie Wimmer (born December 25, 1970) is an American actress, singer, and educator from Mobile, Alabama, who was crowned Miss Alabama 1992. She competed for the Miss America 1993 title and won the pageant's Quality of Life Award. She co- ...

(1993), Alison McCreary (1997),

(2004),

(2005), Anna Laura Bryan (2013),

(2015), Hayley Barber (2017), Jessica Procter (2018) * Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up:

(1995), Scarlotte Deupree (2000) Scarlotte Deupree (2003) Lindsay Fincher (2022) * Quality of Life Award 2nd runners-up: Julie Smith (2000), Alexa Jones (2006),

(2007),

(2009), Meg McGuffin (2016) * Quality of Life Award Finalists: Resha Riggins (1991), Leigh Sherer (1996), Jamie Langley (2008),

Liz Cochran The Miss Alabama competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Alabama in the annual Miss America Competition. Alabama has won four Miss America titles: Abbie Stockard in 2025, Deidre Downs in 2005, Heather Whit ...

(2010) * STEM Scholarship Award Winners: Hayley Barber (2017); Lauren Bradford (2022) *Top Fundraiser 1st runner-ups: Lauren Bradford (2022) * Women in Business Scholarship Award Finalists: Lauren Bradford (2022) * AHA Go Red for Women Leadership Award Regional Winner:

(2025)

Winners

Notes

References

External links

Miss Alabama official website
{{Miss America state Alabama culture

Women in Alabama 1935 establishments in Alabama Recurring events established in 1935 Annual events in Alabama