The Miss Florida USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of
Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
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.
Up until the 2017 pageant, both Miss and Teen state pageants were held separately in different months. In recent years, the organization was decided that both pageants would compete at the same time from 2018 onwards, just like the most of state pageants in the Miss USA system.
While Florida has had number of runners-up, finalists, and semi-finalists, the state has yet to win the Miss USA title. Although
Cheryl Patton
Cheryl Ann Patton (born October 23, 1949) is an American beauty pageant titleholder who has held the Miss USA 1967 title.
Biography
In 1966 Patton was a runner-up in the Miss Florida World pageant. The following year she won the Miss Florida US ...
, who placed 2nd runner-up in
Miss USA 1967, became Miss USA after
Sylvia Hitchcock
Sylvia Louise Hitchcock-Carson (January 31, 1946 – August 16, 2015) was an American model and beauty queen who held the title of Miss Alabama United States and Miss United States, and was crowned Miss Universe 1967.
Personal life
Hitchcock was ...
won
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 ...
. The most recent placement was Caroline Dixon who placed Top 20 in 2023.
Three former
Miss Florida Teen USA
The Miss Florida Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Florida in the Miss Teen USA pageant.
Florida ties with Illinois and North Carolina for most Miss Teen USA Special Awards#Miss Photogenic, Mis ...
titleholders have won this competition, and five titleholders 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 ...
.
In 2019, contestant
Madison Anderson
Madison Sara Anderson Berríos (born November 10, 1995) is a Puerto Rican-American model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2019. She represented Puerto Rico at Miss Universe 2019 competition where she fin ...
(who finished first runner-up in that pageant) would go on to become
Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2019
Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2019 was the 64th Miss Universe Puerto Rico pageant, held at the Luis A. Ferré Fine Arts Center in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, on June 13, 2019
Kiara Ortega of Rincón, Puerto Rico, Rincó ...
, and then competed in
Miss Universe 2019
Miss Universe 2019 was the 68th Miss Universe pageant, held at Stage 1 of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, United States on 8 December 2019.
At the end of the event, Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa was crowned as Miss Universe 2019 by ...
, placed first runner-up to
Zozibini Tunzi
Zozibini "Zozi" Tunzi (born 18 September 1993) is a South African model, actress, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe 2019. Tunzi had previously been crowned Miss South Africa 2019. She is the third woman from South Af ...
of South Africa.
On 11 August 2022, contestant
Ashley Cariño
Ashley Ann Cariño Barreto (born August 3, 1994) is a Puerto Rican model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022. Cariño was the second Afro-Puerto Rican to win the title. She represented Puerto Rico at Mi ...
(who finished second runner-up at
Miss USA 2021
Miss USA 2021 was the 70th Miss USA pageant, held at the Paradise Cove Theater of River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma on November 29, 2021. The edition marked the first year of the competition under Crystle Stewart's directorship.
At ...
) was crowned
Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022 and represented Puerto Rico at
Miss Universe 2022
Miss Universe 2022 was the 71st Miss Universe pageant, held at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States on 14 January 2023. This was the first edition held under the ownership of JKN Global Group.
At th ...
, ultimately placing in the Top 5
The current titleholder is Lou Schieffelin of
Winter Park and was crowned on May 25, 2025, at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in
Orlando
Orlando commonly refers to:
* Orlando, Florida, a city in the United States
Orlando may also refer to:
People
* Orlando (given name), a masculine name, includes a list of people with the name
* Orlando (surname), includes a list of people wit ...
. She will represent Florida at
Miss USA 2025.
Gallery of titleholders
File:Monique Evans at Miss America 2015.jpg, Monique Evans
Monique Evans (born Monique Rezende Nery da Fonseca on 5 July 1956) is a Brazilian television personality. She was a participant on seasons third and fourth of '' A Fazenda''.
''A Fazenda''
On 28 September 2010, Monique Evans was officiall ...
, Miss Florida USA 2020
File:Génesis Dávila profile.jpg, Génesis Dávila
Génesis María Dávila Pérez (born November 18, 1990) is a Puerto Rican model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss World Puerto Rico 2014 and represented Puerto Rico at Miss World 2014 in London.
She was crowned Miss Florida ...
, Miss Florida USA 2018
File:Megan Clementi Washington at Orlando 004.jpg, Megan Clementi, Miss Florida USA 2010
File:Jessica Rafalowski.jpg, Jessica Rafalowski, Miss Florida USA 2008
File:JennaEdwards.jpg, Jenna Edwards
Jenna Edwards (born July 29, 1981) is an American beauty queen from Brandon, Mississippi who has held the titles Miss Florida and Miss Florida USA. Edwards represented Florida at the Miss America 2005 pageant and the Miss USA 2007 pageant.
Edward ...
, Miss Florida USA 2007
File:Melissa Witek.jpg, Melissa Witek
Melissa Ann Witek (born April 9, 1981) is an American actress, model, television personality, and beauty queen who competed in the Miss USA pageant and appeared on the reality television show '' Treasure Hunters''.
Biography
Witek was born in Ro ...
, Miss Florida USA 2005
File:Kristen Berset headshot.png, Kristen Berset, Miss Florida USA 2004
File:Julie Donaldson.jpg, Julie Donaldson, Miss Florida USA 2001
File:Shannon Bream crop.jpg, Shannon Dupuy Bream, Miss Florida USA 1995
Results summary
Placements
*1st runners-up: Marcia Valibus (1958), Clo Cabrera (1987)
*2nd runners-up: Nanita Greene (1959),
Cheryl Patton
Cheryl Ann Patton (born October 23, 1949) is an American beauty pageant titleholder who has held the Miss USA 1967 title.
Biography
In 1966 Patton was a runner-up in the Miss Florida World pageant. The following year she won the Miss Florida US ...
(1967), Barbara Bowser (1980),
Ashley Cariño
Ashley Ann Cariño Barreto (born August 3, 1994) is a Puerto Rican model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022. Cariño was the second Afro-Puerto Rican to win the title. She represented Puerto Rico at Mi ...
(2021)
*3rd runners-up: Connie Ensor (1972), Mary-Margaret Humes (1975), Monica Farrell (1988)
*4th runners-up: Nancy Wakefield (1960), Randy Beard (1966),
Melissa Witek
Melissa Ann Witek (born April 9, 1981) is an American actress, model, television personality, and beauty queen who competed in the Miss USA pageant and appeared on the reality television show '' Treasure Hunters''.
Biography
Witek was born in Ro ...
(2005),
Cristin Duren (2006), Brittany Oldehoff (2014)
*Top 5/6: Shannon Depuy (1995), Angelia Savage (1997),
Génesis Dávila
Génesis María Dávila Pérez (born November 18, 1990) is a Puerto Rican model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss World Puerto Rico 2014 and represented Puerto Rico at Miss World 2014 in London.
She was crowned Miss Florida ...
(2018)
*Top 10/12: Susan Aileen Deaton (1971), Stacy Evans (1973), Cynthia Zach (1974), April Shaw (1978), Kristen Berset (2004), Jessica Rafalowski (2008), Nicolette Jennings (2019)
*Top 15/16/20: Kay Duggar (1953), Mariles Gessler (1955), Maria Junquera (1969), Cheryl Johnson (1970),
Lissette Garcia (2011), Caroline Dixon (2023)
Florida holds a record of 30 placements at
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. ...
.
Awards
*Miss Photogenic: Shannon Ford (2002),
Cristin Duren (2006)
*Miss Congeniality: Linda LeFevre (1977)
*Best State Costume: Nancy England (1963)
Winners
;Color key
Notes
References
External links
Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miss Florida Usa
Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
Florida culture
Women in Florida
1952 establishments in Florida
Recurring events established in 1952
Annual events in Florida