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

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

in 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. Virginia has been only moderately successful in terms of number of semi-finalists. They have had two Miss USAs. They are one of only four states to have had two Miss USAs in succession (the others being

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

, and

District of Columbia Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...

). Virginia's greatest success came from the late 1960s to early 1980s. Virginia should have had the first Miss USA crown in 1954, as Ellen Whitehead finished 1st runner-up, and Miss USA 1954,

Miriam Stevenson Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson (born July 4, 1933) is an American former actress, television host, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 1954. She was the first American to win the title and had previously been crowned Miss USA 195 ...

, became

Miss Universe Miss Universe is an annual international major beauty pageant that is run by a Thailand and Mexican-based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stree ...

1954. However, there was no rule until the 1960s that the 1st runner-up became Miss USA after the winner won Miss Universe. If that was true, 2nd runner-up,

Miss New York USA The Miss New York USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the State of New York in the Miss USA pageant. It is directed by D&D Productions. The current titleholder is Marizza Delgado of New York City who was crowned ...

, Karin Hultman would have become Miss USA 1954, as Whitehead was disqualified due to being underage. Eleven Miss Virginia USA winners have previously held the

Miss Virginia Teen USA The Miss Virginia Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Virginia in the Miss Teen USA pageant. Virginia is one of the more successful states at Miss Teen USA, and is placed in the top twenty in te ...

title and competed at

Miss Teen USA Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant that has been run since 1983 by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19 years old as of January 1st of the competition year. They must be US citizens, and cannot have been married, pregnant, or ...

and three were previously competed in other states (

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

and

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

), at thirteen.

also currently holds the record for the most Miss Teen USA state winners to win a

state title from the same state. Two Miss winners have also competed at

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 ...

. The current titleholder is Erin Houston of Tysons was crowned on February 16, 2025, at Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington. She will represent Virginia for the title of Miss USA 2025.

Gallery of titleholders

File:Donna Dixon at the 62nd Annual Academy Awards.jpg, Donna Dixon (pictured in 1990), Miss Virginia USA 1976 and Miss District of Columbia World 1977 File:Julielaipply.jpg, Julie Laipply, Miss Virginia USA 2002 File:Kristi Glakas headshot.png, Kristi Lauren Glakas, Miss Virginia USA 2004 File:Amber Copley 2006.jpg, Amber Copley, Miss Virginia USA 2006 File:Samantha Casey.jpg, Samantha Casey, Miss Virginia USA 2010 File:Catherine Muldoon 2012.jpg, Catherine Muldoon, Miss Virginia USA 2012 File:Desiree Williams.jpg, Desiree Williams,

Miss Virginia The Miss Virginia competition is a scholarship pageant for women, with the titleholder representing Virginia in the Miss America pageant. The competition was founded in 1953 as a scholarship contest for young women, although women had represente ...

2013 and Miss Virginia USA 2016

Results summary

*Miss USAs:

Wendy Dascomb Wendy Jane Dascomb (born January 7, 1950) is an American model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 1969. As Miss USA, she represented the United States at Miss Universe 1969, placing in the top fifteen. Dascomb had previously b ...

(1969),

Deborah Shelton Deborah Shelton is an American actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 1970. She is also known for her appearances on ''Dallas'' for three seasons, with a special guest return in 2013. Pageants In 1970, Shelton competed ...

(1970) *1st runners-up: Ellen Whitehead (1954),

Patricia Southall Patricia "Pat" Annette Southhall Smith (née Southall; born December 17, 1970) is an American founder and spokesperson of Treasure You, ex-wife of comedian Martin Lawrence and current wife of former Dallas Cowboys running back and Pro Football H ...

(1994) *2nd runners-up: Samantha Casey (2010) *4th runners-up: Sheryl Lynn Herring (1977) *Top 10: Meredith Blankenship (1998), Kellie Lightbourn (1999),

Lauren Barnette Lauren Elizabeth Barnette (born April 10, 1985) is an American model and beauty pageant contestant from Wise, Virginia who has competed in the Miss Teen USA pageant and competed for the Miss USA title in 2007. Barnette won her first pageant titl ...

(2007), Desiree Williams (2016), Himanvi Panidepu (2024) *Top 11/12: Brenda Joyce Miller (1971), Linda McKee (1975), Robin Shadle (1978), Betsy Bott (1979), Pam Hutchens (1981), Sondra Dee Jones (1982), Marsha Ralls (1987), Brandi Bottorff (1992) *Top 15/16/20: Elizabeth "Betty" Karen Kallmyer (1967), Laurie Burke (1968), Maegan Phillips (2009), Arielle Rosmarino (2014),

Laura Puleo The Miss Virginia USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Virginia in the Miss USA pageant. Virginia has been only moderately successful in terms of number of semi-finalists. They have had two Miss USAs. ...

(2015), Christina Thompson (2021), Ashley Williams (2023) Virginia holds a record of 26 placements at

Awards

*Miss Congeniality: Kimberly Nicewonder (1989) *Miss Photogenic: Elizabeth "Betty" Karen Kallmyer (1967),

(1970), Brenda Joyce Miller (1971), Sondra Dee Jones (1982),

(1994), Audra Wilks (1997) * Best in Swimsuit:

(1994)

Winners

;Color key

References

External links

Official Website
{{Miss USA state

Virginia culture Women in Virginia Recurring events established in 1952 1952 establishments in Virginia Annual events in Virginia