The Miss Delaware competition is the
pageant that selects the representative of
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
in the
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 ...
pageant. The event takes place annually in the month of June and has previously been held in
Rehoboth Beach at Convention Hall, in the state capital of
Dover, Delaware
Dover ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and the List of municipalities in Delaware, second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is also the county seat of Kent County, Delaware, Kent County and the princ ...
at the
Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, and in
Milton at the Milton Theatre. Miss Delaware serves as the official hostess to the state of
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
.
Nova Rae Gaffney of
Milford was crowned Miss Delaware on June 15, 2024, at the Independence School in Newark. She will compete for the title of
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 ...
2025, in Orlando, Florida.
Results summary
The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Delaware 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
*Top 10: Lois Anne Alava (1954), Catherine Lawton (1973),
Debora Rica Lipford (1977),
Kayla Martell (2011)
* Top 15: Peggy Insolo (1940), Galen Giaccone (2009)
Awards
Preliminary awards
*
Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Janice Anne Albro (1979)
*
Preliminary Talent: Lois Anne Alava (1954), Catherine Lawton (1973), Junnie Cross (2001), Galen Giaccone (2009)
Non-finalist awards
* Non-finalist Talent: Robin Jane Whemper (1962), Elaine Campanelli (1976), Sandra Louise Aiken (1978), Lisa Marie Munzert (1991), Jennifer Lin Kaczmarczyk (1994), Alison White (1998), Rebecca Bledsoe (2006), Maria Cahill (2012), Rebecca Jackson (2014), Brooke Mitchell (2016)
* Non-finalist Interview: Alyssa Murray (2013)
Other awards
*
Miss Congeniality: Paula Kusmer (1972)
*Equity and Justice Finalist: Sophie Phillips (2022)
* George Cavalier Talent Award: Anne Marie Jarka (1988)
* Bernie Wayne Scholarship for the Performing Arts: Junnie Cross (2001)
* Bert Parks Talent Award: Michelle Harris (1996), Junnie Cross (2001)
*
Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up:
Kayla Martell (2011),
Brittany Lewis (2015)
* Quality of Life Award Finalists: Junnie Cross (2001), Linda Kurtz (2005), Alyssa Murray (2012)
* Forever Miss Americas Scholarship: Grace Otley (2023)
Winners
External links
Miss Delaware Official Website
References
{{Miss America state
Beauty pageants in Delaware
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
Women in Delaware
Annual events in Delaware