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Miss Alabama USA

Beauty pageant competition

Field	Value
name	Miss Alabama USA
formation	1952
type	Beauty pageant
headquarters	Birmingham
location	Alabama
membership	Miss USA
language	English
key_people	Janice McDonald
Paula Miles
website

Paula Miles Miss Alabama USA, previously known as Miss Alabama Universe, is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of Alabama in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by its winner. The pageant is directed by RPM Productions.

Alabama's most successful placement was in 1967, when Sylvia Hitchcock was crowned Miss USA. She later went on to be crowned Miss Universe 1967 as well. Alabama's most recent placement was in 2023, when Sophie Burzynski placed Top 20.

The current Miss Alabama USA is Kennedy Whisenant of Birmingham, who was crowned on September 20, 2025 at Bologna Performing Arts Center in Cleveland. Whisenant represented Alabama at Miss USA 2025.

Gallery of titleholders

File:Sylvia Hitchcock, 1968 Indy 500 (cropped).jpg|Sylvia Hitchcock, Miss Alabama USA 1967, Miss USA 1967, and Miss Universe 1967 File:Tara Darby 2009.jpg|Tara Darby, Miss Alabama USA 2004 File:HaleighStidham.jpg|Haleigh Stidham, Miss Alabama USA 2006 File:Keisha Walding headshot.png|Keisha Walding, Miss Alabama USA 2008 File:Katherine_Webb_2012.jpg|Katherine Webb, Miss Alabama USA 2012 File:Hannah Brown 2018.jpg|Hannah Brown, Miss Alabama USA 2018

Results summary

Placements in Miss USA

Miss USA: Sylvia Hitchcock (Miss Universe 1967)
1st Runners-Up: Pamela Flowers (1975), Candace Brown (1992), Michelle Arnette (2003), Mary-Margaret McCord (2013)
2nd Runners-Up: Doris Edwards (1953), Judith Carlson (1958), Margaret Gordon (1960), Jina Mitchell (2000), Madeline Mitchell (2011)
3rd Runner-Up: Pamela "Pam" Rigas (1980)
4th Runner-Up: Suellen Robinson (1961), Kelly Hutchinson (2020)
Top 5: Peyton Brown (2016)
Top 10/11/12: JoAnne Henderson (1981), Candy Carley (1991), Autumn Smith (1997), Tara Tucker (2002), Tara Darby (2004), Haleigh Stidham (2006), Audrey Moore (2010), Katherine Webb (2012), Madison Guthrie (2015), Kennedy Whisenant (2025)
Top 15/20: Pat Sullivan (1959), Dinah "Diana" Armstrong (1963), Pamela Jean Borgfeldt (1964), Leigh Sanford (1965), Claudia Robinson (1968), Hitsy Parnell (1969), Jesica Ahlberg (2014), Sophie Burzynski (2023)

Alabama has a record of 32 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

Miss Congeniality: Peyton Brown (2016)
Miss Photogenic: Pamela Flowers (1975), Rebecca Moore (2007), Audrey Moore (2010)

Titleholders

;Color key

Winner
Runner-up
Semi-finalist

Year	Name	Hometown	Age	Local title	Placement at Miss USA	Special awards at Miss USA	Notes
2025	Kennedy Whisenant	Birmingham	24	Miss North Central	Top 10
2024	Diane Westhoven	Vestavia	21	Miss Southern Plains
2023	date=29 January 2023	title=Miss Auburn-Opelika crowned Miss Alabama USA 2023	url=https://www.al.com/life/2023/01/miss-alabama-usa-2023-miss-auburn-opelika-wins-the-crown.html	accessdate=29 January 2023	website=AL.com}}	Auburn	21	Miss Auburn-Opelika	Top 20
2022	Katelyn Vinson	Dothan	21	Miss Dothan
2021	Alexandria Flanigan	Cullman	24	Miss Cullman
2020	Kelly Hutchinson	Auburn	22	Miss Auburn-Opelika	4th runner-up
2019	Hannah McMurphy	Tuscaloosa	20	Miss Indian Hills
2018	Hannah Brown	Northport	23	Miss West Alabama
2017	url=http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/11/baylee_smith_of_pike_county_cr.html	title=Baylee Smith, of Pike County, crowned Miss Alabama USA 2017	last=Moore	first=Tamika	date=5 November 2016	newspaper=AL.com	access-date=8 February 2017}}	Tuscaloosa	19	Miss Pike County
2016	last=Sutton	first=Amber	date=7 November 2015	title=Peyton Brown, of Eufaula, crowned Miss Alabama USA 2016	newspaper=The Huntsville Times	publisher=Advance Publications	location=Huntsville, AL	url=http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2015/11/peyton_brown_of_eufaula_crowne.html	access-date=11 November 2015}}	Eufaula	21	Miss Eufaula	Top 5	Miss Congeniality
2015	Madison Guthrie	Hoover	20	Miss Hoover	Top 11
2014	Jesica Ahlberg	Birmingham	23	Miss Central Alabama	Top 20
2013	last=Shapiro	first=Dmitriy	date=10 December 2012	title=Gadsden native crowned Miss Alabama USA 2013 in Montgomery aims to help young women with self-confidence	url=http://blog.al.com/montgomery/2012/12/gadsden_native_crowned_miss_al.html	publisher=AL.com}}	Gadsden	23	Miss Gadsden	1st runner-up
2012	Katherine Elizabeth Webb	Phenix City	22	Miss East Alabama	Top 10
2011	Madeline Grace Mitchell	Russellville	21	Miss Tuscaloosa	2nd runner-up
2010	Audrey Moore	Hoover	20		Top 10	Miss Photogenic
2009	Rachel Philippona	Dothan	19
2008	Keisha Walding	Dothan	24
2007	Rebecca Moore	Vestavia Hills	19			Miss Photogenic
2006	Haleigh Stidham	Birmingham	23		Top 10
2005	Jessica Tinney	Birmingham	21
2004	Tara Darby	Birmingham	22		Top 10
2003	Michelle Arnette	Dothan	25		1st runner-up
2002	Tara Tucker	Birmingham	23		Top 12
2001	Laura Hoffman	Birmingham	20
2000	Jina Mitchell	Trussville	22		2nd runner-up
1999	Doree Walker	Gardendale	24
1998	Paige Brooks	Mobile	26
1997	url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/106479111/?terms=%22miss%2Balabama%2Busa%22	title=Racer's Daughter Named Miss Alabama USA	last=Associated Press	date=7 May 1996	newspaper=The Anniston Star	page=2A	via=Newspapers.com}}	Chelsea	22		Top 10
1996	url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/106475399/?terms=miss%2Balabama%2Bteen%2Busa	title=Beauty Pageants Announce Victors	last=Associated Press	date=10 May 1996	newspaper=The Anniston Star	page=13A	via=Newspapers.com}}	Huntsville	25
1995	Anna Mingus	Enterprise	-
1994	url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/106691137/?terms=%22miss%2Balabama%2Busa%22	title=Alabama-USA crown goes to Malaea Nelms	date=19 December 1993	newspaper=The Anniston Star	page=12A	via=Newspapers.com}}	Alexandria	-
1993	Toni Johnson	Montgomery	22
1992	Candace Michelle Brown	Auburn	23		1st runner-up
1991	Candy Carley	Mobile	25		Top 11
1990	Natalie Moore	Hoover
1989	Sheri Mooney	Pelham	20
1988	Rhonda Mooney	Pelham	21
1987	Rhonda Leigh Garrett	Birmingham	21
1986	Heather Howard	Huntsville	20
1985	Allison Sawyer	Birmingham	-
1984	Kelly Flowers	Hueytown	20
1983	Terri Lane	Birmingham	20
1982	Lisa Wheeler	Birmingham	19
1981	JoAnne Henderson	Tuscaloosa	21		Top 12
1980	Pamela Helena "Pam" Rigas	Troy	19		3rd runner-up
1979	Rose Burch	Mobile	20
1978	Eva Jo Stancil	Birmingham	22
1977	Cheryl Burgess	Alexandria	18
1976	Kyle Ellis	Decatur	22
1975	Pamela Renee Flowers	Headland	19		1st runner-up	Miss Photogenic
1974	Iva Wyna Lavis	Birmingham	19
1973	Diane Fouilhe	Enterprise	19
1972	Elaine Barnhill	Robertsdale	21
1971	Renee Smith	Mobile	18
1970	Kathleen "Kathy" Bryant	Bay Minette	19
1969	Hitsy Parnell	Thomasville	20		Top 15
1968	Claudia Robinson	Mobile	18		Top 15	Top 15 Best in Swimsuit
1967	Sylvia Louise Hitchcock	Tuscaloosa	21		Miss USA 1967
1966	Susan Scott	Clanton	19
1965	Leigh Stanford	Montgomery	18		Top 15
1964	url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/107589848/?terms=%22miss%2Balabama%2Busa%22	title=Pam has been there, done that	last=Smith	first=George	date=2 August 2012	page=2A	via=Newspapers.com}}	Anniston	21		Top 15
1963	Dinah "Diana" Irene Armstrong	Montgomery	19		Top 15
1962	Jerolyn Ridgeway	Fort Payne	20
1961	Suellen Robinson	Fairfax	19		4th runner-up
1960	Margaret Gordon	Homewood	21		2nd runner-up
1959	Pat Sullivan	Birmingham	21		Top 15
1958	Judith Lucille Carlson	Birmingham	18		2nd runner-up
Did not compete between 1954 and 1957}}
1953	Doris Edwards	Birmingham	25		2nd runner-up
1952	Gadsden	24

Notes

References

(16 February 1977). "Alexandria Girl Will Compete for Miss USA Title". The Anniston Star.
(21 May 1967). "Miss Alabama is Miss USA". The Independent Record.
Colurso, Mary. (1 June 2024). "Miss Alabama USA 2024: Miss Southern Plains wins the crown". AL.com.
(29 January 2023). "Miss Auburn-Opelika crowned Miss Alabama USA 2023".
(15 January 2022). "Miss Dothan USA wins the crown".
(11 January 2021). "Cullman's Alexandria Flanigan crowned Miss Alabama USA". The Cullman Tribune.
Colurso, Mary. (6 October 2019). "Miss Alabama USA 2020: Miss Auburn-Opelika takes the crown". AL.com.
Thrash, Rodney. (24 June 2013). "Cobb Contestants Shine at Miss Georgia Pageant". Marietta Patch.
Sison, Bree. (18 November 2018). "University of Alabama students win Miss Alabama USA, Miss Teen Alabama USA". [[WBRC]].
Sison, Bree. (8 November 2017). "New Miss Alabama USA wants to talk about mental health". Fox 6 News.
Moore, Tamika. (5 November 2016). "Baylee Smith, of Pike County, crowned Miss Alabama USA 2017". AL.com.
Sutton, Amber. (7 November 2015). "Peyton Brown, of Eufaula, crowned Miss Alabama USA 2016". [[Advance Publications]].
(2012). "Alabama - Peyton Brown". [[Miss Teen USA]].
Walden, Rebecca. (19 December 2014). "Get to know Miss Alabama USA, Miss Hoover's own Madison Guthrie". Hoover Sun.
Watkins, Mia. (26 November 2013). "Miss Alabama USA 2014 Jesica Ahlberg on Katherine Webb, her movie cameos and her new title (gallery, video)".
Shapiro, Dmitriy. (10 December 2012). "Gadsden native crowned Miss Alabama USA 2013 in Montgomery aims to help young women with self-confidence". AL.com.
Watkins, Mia. (10 January 2013). "Miss Alabama, Miss Alabama USA: What's the big difference? (gallery and video)".
(16 June 2011). "Miss Alabama USA Madeline Mitchell Overcomes Horrific Injuries, Heads to Miss USA Beauty Pageant".
Seale, Kathy. (16 May 2010). "Miss Alabama USA Audrey Moore sets sights on winning Miss USA crown".
Garcia, Oskar. (17 May 2010). "Arab-American Crowned Miss USA". The Call-Leader.
(26 January 2009). "Wiregrass Newsroom: Dothan native competes for Miss USA".
Lee, Carla. (23 November 2007). "Dothan woman head to Miss USA pageant".
Associated Press. (7 May 1996). "Racer's Daughter Named Miss Alabama USA". The Anniston Star.
Associated Press. (10 May 1996). "Beauty Pageants Announce Victors". The Anniston Star.
(19 December 1993). "Alabama-USA crown goes to Malaea Nelms". The Anniston Star.
(9 February 1992). "Miss USA had quit pageants after error". [[The San Bernardino County Sun]].
(8 February 1988). "HOPEFUL QUEENS". [[The Press of Atlantic City]].
(25 January 1987). "Pageant Contestants Arrive". [[Albuquerque Journal]].
Jones, Jimmy. (25 April 1986). "Miss Alabama USA ready to represent state at pageant". Birmingham Post-Herald.
(10 May 1982). "People". Birmingham Post-Herald.
(3 March 1981). "Miss Alabama-U.S.A.". Alabama Journal.
(16 May 1980). "South Carolina coed is new Miss USA". [[Hattiesburg American]].
(13 June 1983). "UC Law Student Named Miss Ohio". The Cincinnati Enquirer.
(21 April 1979). "River pirates". [[Tampa Times]].
(21 April 1978). "Miss Alabama to continue in pageant". [[The Montgomery Advertiser]].
(9 February 1976). "ALL SMILES". [[Pensacola News Journal]].
(14 May 1975). "SOMETHING TO WHOOP ABOUT". [[The Buffalo News]].
(12 May 1972). "Beauty's birthday". [[The Montgomery Advertiser]].
(18 May 1971). "Southern Miss USA Beauties". [[The Tampa Tribune]].
(12 May 1970). "SOUTHERN BEAUTIES". [[Tallahassee Democrat]].
(1 May 1969). "Hitsy Parnell Wins Crown". [[Birmingham Post-Herald]].
(16 May 1968). "SWIMSUIT WINNERS". [[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]].
(21 May 1967). "Miss Alabama is Miss USA". The Independent Record.
(17 May 1966). "Beauty, Southern Style, Preps For Miss U.S.A.". [[The Miami News]].
Smith, George. (2 August 2012). "Pam has been there, done that".
(12 July 1963). "DIXIE BEAUTIES IN MIAMI". [[Birmingham Post-Herald]].
(18 July 1963). "MISS U.S.A. AND 14 RUNNERS-UP". [[Iowa City Press-Citizen]].
(7 July 1962). "Getting Acquainted". [[Pensacola News]].
(14 July 1961). "Alabama girl runner-up in Miami Beach contest". [[The Tuscaloosa News]].
(27 June 1959). "FBI beauty state 'Miss Universe'". The Birmingham News.
(16 July 1958). "Miss Universe". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
(27 June 1952). "Miss Universe Contest near final event". Arizona Republic.

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