The Miss Kansas USA pageant is a competition that selects the representative for the state of
Kansas
Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
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. The pageant is directed by Vanbros and Associates, headquartered in
Lenexa, Kansas
Lenexa is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States, and part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 57,434. making it the ninth-most populated city in Kansas. It is bordered by the ...
. In 1992, the state joined the Vanbros group, under the directorship of
Miss Kansas
The Miss Kansas competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the US state of Kansas in the Miss America pageant. Kansas has won the Miss America crown on three occasions.
Alexis Smith was crowned Miss Kansas 2024 on June 8, 2 ...
1998 Jennifer Vannatta-Fisher.
Kansas did not place 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. ...
until 1973, the third-to-last state to make their first placement. From then, no delegate from Kansas made the cut until 1991, when
Kelli McCarty
Kelli Rachelle McCarty Oseen (born September 6, 1969) is an American actress, model, photographer and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 1991. She then reached the Top 6 at Miss Universe 1991, representing the United States. M ...
won the crown. McCarty's win makes
Wichita,
Kansas
Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
the only state to host one Miss USA and Miss Teen USA to win in their home state. This included two first runners-up, including
Danielle Boatwright, winner of ''
Survivor: Guatemala'', one second runner-up, one third runner-up, and one fourth runner-up, among others. The most recent placement was Bella Whitlock, placing Top 20.
Seven former
Miss Kansas Teen USA
The Miss Kansas Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Kansas in the Miss Teen USA pageant. This pageant has been part of the Vanbros organisation since 1992, and in 2006, they celebrated their ...
s went on to win the Miss title, and also two
Miss Missouri Teen USA
The Miss Missouri Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Missouri in the Miss Teen USA pageant. It is directed by Vanbros and Associates, based in Shawnee, Kansas. In 1993, Missouri joined the Vanbr ...
s (Missouri is also a Vanbros state).
Asia Cymone Smith
Wichita was crowned Miss Kansas USA 2025 on March 23, 2025, at Polsky Theater in
Overland Park
Overland Park ( ) is the largest city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States, and the second-most populous city in the state of Kansas. It is one of four principal cities in the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the pop ...
. She will represent Kansas at
Miss USA 2025.
Gallery of titleholders
File:Kelli McCarty 2010.jpg, Kelli McCarty
Kelli Rachelle McCarty Oseen (born September 6, 1969) is an American actress, model, photographer and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 1991. She then reached the Top 6 at Miss Universe 1991, representing the United States. M ...
, Miss Kansas USA 1991 & Miss USA 1991
Miss USA 1991 was the 40th anniversary of the Miss USA pageant, televised live from the Century II Convention Center in Wichita, Kansas, Wichita, Kansas on February 22, 1991. At the conclusion of the final competition, Kelli McCarty of Miss Kansas ...
File:DanniBoatwright.jpg, Danielle Boatwright, Miss Kansas USA 1996
File:Alexis Railsback - Miss Kansas 2015.jpg, Alexis Railsback, Miss Kansas USA 2015
Results summary
Placements
*Miss USAs:
Kelli McCarty
Kelli Rachelle McCarty Oseen (born September 6, 1969) is an American actress, model, photographer and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 1991. She then reached the Top 6 at Miss Universe 1991, representing the United States. M ...
(1991)
*1st runners-up:
Danielle Boatwright (1996), Lindsay Douglas (2002)
*2nd runners-up: Tavia Shackles (1993),
Cara Gorges (2007)
*Top 5/6: Kimberlee Girrens (1992), Tiffany Meyer (2000)
*Top 10/12: Brenda Kopmeyer (1973),
Carol Hovenkamp (1994), Alyssa Klinzing (2019), Elyse Noe (2022)
*Top 15/16: Bethany Gerber (2010), Gracie Hunt (2021)
*Top 20: Bella Whitlock (2024)
Kansas holds a record of 14 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
*Best State Costume: Tavia Shackles (1993)
*Most Beautiful Eyes: Tavia Shackles (1993)
*Best in Swimsuit:
Danielle Boatwright (1996)
Titleholders
;Color key
Notes
External links
*
References
Kansas
Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
Kansas culture
Women in Kansas
Recurring events established in 1952
1952 establishments in Kansas
Annual events in Kansas
Long stubs with short prose
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