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Miss Pennsylvania USA
Beauty pageant competition
Beauty pageant competition
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Miss Pennsylvania USA |
| formation | 1952 |
| type | Beauty pageant |
| headquarters | Cincinnati |
| location | Ohio |
| membership | Miss USA |
| language | English |
| key_people | Melissa Proctor-Pitchford, State Pageant Director |
| website |
The Miss Pennsylvania USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Pennsylvania in the Miss USA pageant. It has been previously known as Miss Pennsylvania Universe. This pageant is independently conducted and produced by Proctor Productions based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was produced by Sanders & Associates, Inc., dba- Pageant Associates based in Buckhannon, West Virginia from 2001 to 2020. Since 2020 the pageant based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The annual competition is currently held in Johnstown and has previously been hosted by Harrisburg, Greensburg, Monroeville, and Pittsburgh.
Michele McDonald, Miss USA 1971, is the only woman from Pennsylvania to win the Miss USA title. At eighteen, she was the youngest competitor ever to win the crown. Their most recent placement came in 2023 when Jasmine Daniels placed 3rd runner-up.
The current titleholder is Rica Clements of York was crowned on August 2, 2025, at Richland Performing Arts Center in Johnstown. She represented Pennsylvania at Miss USA 2025.
Gallery of titleholders
File:Michele McDonald poses on beach.jpg|Michele McDonald, Miss Pennsylvania USA 1971 & Miss USA 1971 File:Kimmarie DickClark.JPG|Kimmarie Johnson, Miss Pennsylvania USA 1993 File:TanyaLehman.jpg|Tanya Lehman, Miss Pennsylvania USA 2006 File:Lindsey Nelsen.jpg|Lindsey Nelsen, Miss Pennsylvania USA 2009
Results summary
- Miss USA: Michele McDonald (1971)
- 3rd runner-up: Jasmine Daniels (2023)
- 4th runners-up: LauRen Merola (2008)
- Top 6: Kimmarie Johnson (1993)
- Top 10/12: Sandy Dell (1978), Julie Page (1983), Denise Epps (1989), Brenda Brabham (2005)
- Top 15/16/20: Jeri Bauer (1953), Margaret Lineman (1962), Barbara Ann Woronko (1967), Gina Cerilli (2010), Jessica Billings (2013), Valerie Gatto (2014), Kailyn Marie Perez (2019)
Pennsylvania holds a record of 15 placements at Miss USA.
Awards
- Best State Costume: Julie Page (1983)
- Best in Swimsuit: Barbara Ann Woronko (1967)
- Best in Evening Gown: Jasmine Daniels (2023)
- Miss Photogenic: Sydney Robertson (2021)
Winners
;Color key
- Winner
- Runner-up or Finalist
- Semifinalist
| Year | Name | City | Age | Local title | Placement at Miss USA | Special awards at Miss USA | Notes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Rica Clements | York | 29 | Miss York | |||||||||
| 2024 | Noni Diarra | Philadelphia | 23 | Miss Philadelphia | |||||||||
| 2023 | Jasmine Daniels | Collegeville | 26 | Miss Collegeville | 3rd runner-up | Best in Evening Gown | |||||||
| 2022 | Billie LaRaé Owens | Phoenixville | 25 | Miss Upper Providence | Daughter of former basketball player Billy Owens | ||||||||
| 2021 | Sydney Robertson | Williamsport | 23 | Miss Williamsport | Miss Photogenic | ||||||||
| 2020 | Victoria Piekut | Irwin | 23 | ||||||||||
| 2019 | Kailyn Marie Perez | Camp Hill | 27 | Top 15 | |||||||||
| 2018 | url=http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2017/12/03/paegant-winners-mars-belle-vernon-natives/ | title=Pittsburgh-Area Natives Named Miss Pa. USA, Miss Pa. Teen USA | date=3 December 2017 | work=CBS Pittsburgh}} | Belle Vernon | 21 | |||||||
| 2017 | Cassandra Lee Angst | Philadelphia | 22 | ||||||||||
| 2016 | Elena Flora LaQuatra | Pittsburgh | 23 | title=Deaf teen tapping her way to fame | date=2007-07-26 | access-date=2007-08-02 | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07207/804281-55.stm | publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | first=Mary | last=Niederberger}} | |||
| 2015 | Elizabeth Lee Cardillo | Pittsburgh | 24 | ||||||||||
| 2014 | url=http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Miss-Pennsylvania-USA-Says-Shes-a-Product-of-Rape-262320361.html | title=Miss Pennsylvania USA Says She's a Product of Rape | last=Glover | first=Sarah | date=8 June 2014 | work=NBC Pittsburgh}} | Pittsburgh | 24 | Top 20 | ||||
| 2013 | Jessica Billings | Berwyn | 26 | Top 15 | |||||||||
| Title vacant}} | |||||||||||||
| 2012 | Sheena Monnin | Pittsburgh | 26 | ||||||||||
| 2011 | Amber-Joi Watkins | Philadelphia | 26 | Former Sixers Dancer | |||||||||
| 2010 | Gina Domenica Cerilli | Greensburg | 23 | Top 15 | Former Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader | ||||||||
| 2009 | Lindsey Nelsen | Stewartstown | 21 | ||||||||||
| 2008 | LauRen Merola | Pittsburgh | 23 | 4th runner-up | Former Miami Dolphins Cheerleader | ||||||||
| 2007 | Samantha Johnson | Philadelphia | 22 | ||||||||||
| 2006 | Tanya Lehman | York | 22 | ||||||||||
| 2005 | Brenda Brabham | Philadelphia | 24 | Top 10 | |||||||||
| 2004 | Nicole Georghalli | East Stroudsburg | 25 | ||||||||||
| 2003 | Camille Young | Philadelphia | 23 | ||||||||||
| 2002 | Nicole Bigham | Belle Vernon | 25 | ||||||||||
| 2001 | Jennifer Ann Watkins | Monongahela | |||||||||||
| 2000 | Angela Patla | Sweet Valley | 26 | ||||||||||
| 1999 | Melissa Godshall | Philadelphia | 25 | ||||||||||
| 1998 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11501453/indiana_gazette/ | title=Miss Pennsylvania USA Entered Pageant on a Whim | last=McAndrew | first=Meghan | date=14 March 1997 | work=Indiana Gazette}} | Indiana | ||||||
| 1997 | Cara Bernosky | Whitehall | |||||||||||
| 1996 | Susan Barnett | Levittown | |||||||||||
| 1995 | Stephanie Fallat | Murrysville | |||||||||||
| 1994 | Linda Chiaraluna | Evans City | 23 | ||||||||||
| 1993 | Kimmarie Johnson | Pittsburgh | Top 6 | ||||||||||
| 1992 | Catherine Weber | Philadelphia | |||||||||||
| 1991 | Adrienne Romano | Philadelphia | |||||||||||
| 1990 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11501762/news_record/ | title=Crowning Glory: Pitt student set for Miss USA pageant | last=Opalka | first=William | date=9 February 1990 | work=News Record | page=1}} | Ross | 23 | ||||
| 1989 | Denise Epps | Lansdale | 22 | Semi-finalist | |||||||||
| 1988 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11524924/ | title=Lansdale coed new Miss PA | date=6 April 1987 | work=Indiana Gazette | page=8}} | Lansdale | 20 | ||||||
| 1987 | Lisa Rynkiewicz | Clarksville | |||||||||||
| 1986 | Sherri Fitzpatrick | Quakertown | 23 | 1983 & 1984 Professional Cheerleader for the USFL Philadelphia Stars Football Team; 1985 Professional Cheerleader for the Philadelphia Eagles | |||||||||
| 1985 | Sandra Ferguson | Pittsburgh | 18 | Played Amanda Cory on Another World | |||||||||
| 1984 | Tina Albright | Lansford | |||||||||||
| 1983 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11501639/the_gettysburg_times/ | title=Miss Pennsylvania Crowned | date=7 March 1983 | work=The Gettysburg Times | page=10}} | Belle Vernon | 18 | Semi-finalist | Best State Costume | ||||
| 1982 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11524974/ | title=Rosa wins beauty pageant | date=1 March 1982 | work=The Gettysburg Times | page=13}} | North Versailles | |||||||
| 1981 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11501960/indiana_gazette/ | title=Miss Pennsylvania USA Leads Exercise Program and Models | date=5 May 1981 | work=Indiana Evening Gazette}} | Bethel Park | 21 | |||||||
| 1980 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11525087/ | title=Dancer becomes Miss PA | date=4 March 1980 | work=Indiana Evening Gazette | page=4}} | Connellsville | |||||||
| 1979 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11524798/the_laredo_times/ | title=State police typist wins Miss Pennsylvania pageant | date=6 March 1979 | work=Indiana Evening Gazette}} | Monongahela | 23 | |||||||
| 1978 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11501887/the_kane_republican/ | title=New Miss Pennsylvania chosen from 77 contestants | date=6 March 1978 | work=The Kane Republican | page=7}} | Latrobe | 22 | Semi-finalist | |||||
| 1977 | Lorraine Lincoski | Daisytown | Miss Daisytown | ||||||||||
| 1976 | Marcy Zambelli | Newcastle | |||||||||||
| 1975 | Pat Hurley | Wilkes-Barre | |||||||||||
| 1974 | Dorisann Gatalski | Bethel Park | |||||||||||
| 1973 | Jill Unbewust | Benton | |||||||||||
| 1972 | Jeanie Zadrozny | Pittsburgh | Miss Allegheny | ||||||||||
| 1971 | Michele McDonald | Butler | Miss USA 1971 | ||||||||||
| 1970 | Carol Cerully | Altoona | |||||||||||
| 1969 | Marlene Vaughn | Philadelphia | 21 | ||||||||||
| 1968 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11525632/the_oil_city_derrick/ | title=Pitt coed wins Queen contest | date=29 April 1968 | work=The Oil City Derrick}} | White Oak | 20 | |||||||
| 1967 | Barbara Ann Woronko | Edwardsville | 17 | Miss Wilkes-Barre | Semifinalist | Swimsuit Winner | Former Radio City Rockette. | ||||||
| 1966 | Susan Joanne Fennell | Philadelphia | |||||||||||
| 1965 | Beverly Rudolph | Philadelphia | |||||||||||
| 1964 | Maryann Reilly | Philadelphia | |||||||||||
| 1963 | Deborah Cardonick | Philadelphia | |||||||||||
| 1962 | Margaret Lineman | Philadelphia | Semi-finalist | ||||||||||
| 1961 | Gayle Nelson | Philadelphia | Miss Chester | ||||||||||
| 1960 | Betsy Reeves | Philadelphia | |||||||||||
| 1959 | Rhoda Mae Kachilo | Philadelphia | |||||||||||
| 1958 | Natalie Dee | Philadelphia | |||||||||||
| 1957 | Rosalie Culp | Philadelphia | |||||||||||
| 1956 | Serena Kifer | Philadelphia | |||||||||||
| 1955 | Marianne Marcus | Philadelphia | |||||||||||
| 1954 | Helen Vidovich | Philadelphia | |||||||||||
| 1953 | title=Delegate from Pennsylvania | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-delegate-from-pennsylva/129182473/ | access-date=31 July 2023 | work=The Morning Call | date=9 July 1953 | pages=1}} | Hatboro | Semi-finalist | |||||
| 1952 | Miriam Smith | Philadelphia |
;Notes
References
References
- (9 March 1967). "Miss Pennsylvania Pageant to be Held in Harrisburg". The Daily Notes.
- "Who We Are: Pageant Associates".
- (7 December 1993). "Deadline Set for Miss PA USA Entrants". The Titusville Herald.
- (22 November 1980). "Deadline Set for Pageant Applications". The Daily News.
- (24 May 1971). "First push from mother helps teen-age winner". The Manhattan Mercury.
- Koteski, Rena Lynn. (3 July 1971). "'I still feel the same', Michelle: Miss Saxonburg to Miss USA". North Hills News Record.
- (January 19, 2014). "Williamsport Native named Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA 2014". Williamsport Sun Gazette.
- Larussa, Tony. (September 23, 2015). "North Huntingdon's Piekut wins international title". [[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]].
- (3 December 2017). "Pittsburgh-Area Natives Named Miss Pa. USA, Miss Pa. Teen USA". CBS Pittsburgh.
- McDermott, Maeve. (5 June 2016). "This Miss USA contestant overcame losing her hearing to compete for the crown". USA Today.
- Niederberger, Mary. (2007-07-26). "Deaf teen tapping her way to fame". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- Zapf, Karen. (2007-08-02). "East Young Achiever: Elena LaQuatra". Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
- Wiggin, Sally. (December 7, 2015). "4 the 412 team member Elena LaQuatra wins Miss Pennsylvania USA". WTAE News.
- Pennello, Toni. (December 24, 2015). "Elena LaQuatra is the new Miss Pennsylvania USA". The Almanac.
- Ganster, Kathleen. (8 January 2015). "Resume: A newsmaker you should know / Hampton alumnae Elizabeth Cardillo named Miss Pennsylvania USA". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- Glover, Sarah. (8 June 2014). "Miss Pennsylvania USA Says She's a Product of Rape". NBC Pittsburgh.
- Krupnick, Ellie. (2012-06-05). "Miss Pennsylvania USA 2012 Resigns Over Alleged Pageant Fraud". Huffington Post.
- McAndrew, Meghan. (14 March 1997). "Miss Pennsylvania USA Entered Pageant on a Whim". Indiana Gazette.
- Opalka, William. (9 February 1990). "Crowning Glory: Pitt student set for Miss USA pageant". News Record.
- (14 March 1989). "Ross model wins state pageant". North Hills News Record.
- (1988-03-07). "Miss Pennsylvania-USA selected". The Harrisburg Patriot.
- Fricker, Dan. (16 April 1988). "Giving IUP Friend a Ride Leads to Beauty Title". Indiana Gazette.
- (6 April 1987). "Lansdale coed new Miss PA". Indiana Gazette.
- Stefanik, Regis M.. (March 11, 1985). "Senior here wins beauty pageant". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
- Novakovich, Lilana. (1988-03-14). "Ex-teen queen looks like Ivory gal". The Toronto Star.
- Bianco, Robert. (June 19, 1987). "If children's TV turns you off, try 'Kids America' on radio". [[The Pittsburgh Press]].
- (7 March 1983). "Miss Pennsylvania Crowned". The Gettysburg Times.
- (7 March 1983). "Belle Vernon teen wins Miss Pennsylvania title". Indiana Gazette.
- (1 March 1982). "Rosa wins beauty pageant". The Gettysburg Times.
- (5 May 1981). "Miss Pennsylvania USA Leads Exercise Program and Models". Indiana Evening Gazette.
- (4 March 1980). "Dancer becomes Miss PA". Indiana Evening Gazette.
- Bryant, Jean. (1998-09-22). "Connellsville Beauty Queen weds Fabian". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- (6 March 1979). "State police typist wins Miss Pennsylvania pageant". Indiana Evening Gazette.
- (6 March 1978). "New Miss Pennsylvania chosen from 77 contestants". The Kane Republican.
- (29 April 1968). "Pitt coed wins Queen contest". The Oil City Derrick.
- (9 July 1953). "Delegate from Pennsylvania". The Morning Call.
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