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Miss Pennsylvania USA

Beauty pageant competition

Beauty pageant competition

FieldValue
nameMiss Pennsylvania USA
formation1952
typeBeauty pageant
headquartersCincinnati
locationOhio
membershipMiss USA
languageEnglish
key_peopleMelissa 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.

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
YearNameCityAgeLocal titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2025Rica ClementsYork29Miss York
2024Noni DiarraPhiladelphia23Miss Philadelphia
2023Jasmine DanielsCollegeville26Miss Collegeville3rd runner-upBest in Evening Gown
2022Billie LaRaé OwensPhoenixville25Miss Upper ProvidenceDaughter of former basketball player Billy Owens
2021Sydney RobertsonWilliamsport23Miss WilliamsportMiss Photogenic
2020Victoria PiekutIrwin23
2019Kailyn Marie PerezCamp Hill27Top 15
2018url=http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2017/12/03/paegant-winners-mars-belle-vernon-natives/title=Pittsburgh-Area Natives Named Miss Pa. USA, Miss Pa. Teen USAdate=3 December 2017work=CBS Pittsburgh}}Belle Vernon21
2017Cassandra Lee AngstPhiladelphia22
2016Elena Flora LaQuatraPittsburgh23title=Deaf teen tapping her way to famedate=2007-07-26access-date=2007-08-02url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07207/804281-55.stmpublisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazettefirst=Marylast=Niederberger}}
2015Elizabeth Lee CardilloPittsburgh24
2014url=http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Miss-Pennsylvania-USA-Says-Shes-a-Product-of-Rape-262320361.htmltitle=Miss Pennsylvania USA Says She's a Product of Rapelast=Gloverfirst=Sarahdate=8 June 2014work=NBC Pittsburgh}}Pittsburgh24Top 20
2013Jessica BillingsBerwyn26Top 15
Title vacant}}
2012Sheena MonninPittsburgh26
2011Amber-Joi WatkinsPhiladelphia26Former Sixers Dancer
2010Gina Domenica CerilliGreensburg23Top 15Former Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader
2009Lindsey NelsenStewartstown21
2008LauRen MerolaPittsburgh234th runner-upFormer Miami Dolphins Cheerleader
2007Samantha JohnsonPhiladelphia22
2006Tanya LehmanYork22
2005Brenda BrabhamPhiladelphia24Top 10
2004Nicole GeorghalliEast Stroudsburg25
2003Camille YoungPhiladelphia23
2002Nicole BighamBelle Vernon25
2001Jennifer Ann WatkinsMonongahela
2000Angela PatlaSweet Valley26
1999Melissa GodshallPhiladelphia25
1998url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11501453/indiana_gazette/title=Miss Pennsylvania USA Entered Pageant on a Whimlast=McAndrewfirst=Meghandate=14 March 1997work=Indiana Gazette}}Indiana
1997Cara BernoskyWhitehall
1996Susan BarnettLevittown
1995Stephanie FallatMurrysville
1994Linda ChiaralunaEvans City23
1993Kimmarie JohnsonPittsburghTop 6
1992Catherine WeberPhiladelphia
1991Adrienne RomanoPhiladelphia
1990url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11501762/news_record/title=Crowning Glory: Pitt student set for Miss USA pageantlast=Opalkafirst=Williamdate=9 February 1990work=News Recordpage=1}}Ross23
1989Denise EppsLansdale22Semi-finalist
1988url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11524924/title=Lansdale coed new Miss PAdate=6 April 1987work=Indiana Gazettepage=8}}Lansdale20
1987Lisa RynkiewiczClarksville
1986Sherri FitzpatrickQuakertown231983 & 1984 Professional Cheerleader for the USFL Philadelphia Stars Football Team; 1985 Professional Cheerleader for the Philadelphia Eagles
1985Sandra FergusonPittsburgh18Played Amanda Cory on Another World
1984Tina AlbrightLansford
1983url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11501639/the_gettysburg_times/title=Miss Pennsylvania Crowneddate=7 March 1983work=The Gettysburg Timespage=10}}Belle Vernon18Semi-finalistBest State Costume
1982url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11524974/title=Rosa wins beauty pageantdate=1 March 1982work=The Gettysburg Timespage=13}}North Versailles
1981url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11501960/indiana_gazette/title=Miss Pennsylvania USA Leads Exercise Program and Modelsdate=5 May 1981work=Indiana Evening Gazette}}Bethel Park21
1980url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11525087/title=Dancer becomes Miss PAdate=4 March 1980work=Indiana Evening Gazettepage=4}}Connellsville
1979url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11524798/the_laredo_times/title=State police typist wins Miss Pennsylvania pageantdate=6 March 1979work=Indiana Evening Gazette}}Monongahela23
1978url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11501887/the_kane_republican/title=New Miss Pennsylvania chosen from 77 contestantsdate=6 March 1978work=The Kane Republicanpage=7}}Latrobe22Semi-finalist
1977Lorraine LincoskiDaisytownMiss Daisytown
1976Marcy ZambelliNewcastle
1975Pat HurleyWilkes-Barre
1974Dorisann GatalskiBethel Park
1973Jill UnbewustBenton
1972Jeanie ZadroznyPittsburghMiss Allegheny
1971Michele McDonaldButlerMiss USA 1971
1970Carol CerullyAltoona
1969Marlene VaughnPhiladelphia21
1968url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11525632/the_oil_city_derrick/title=Pitt coed wins Queen contestdate=29 April 1968work=The Oil City Derrick}}White Oak20
1967Barbara Ann WoronkoEdwardsville17Miss Wilkes-BarreSemifinalistSwimsuit WinnerFormer Radio City Rockette.
1966Susan Joanne FennellPhiladelphia
1965Beverly RudolphPhiladelphia
1964Maryann ReillyPhiladelphia
1963Deborah CardonickPhiladelphia
1962Margaret LinemanPhiladelphiaSemi-finalist
1961Gayle NelsonPhiladelphiaMiss Chester
1960Betsy ReevesPhiladelphia
1959Rhoda Mae KachiloPhiladelphia
1958Natalie DeePhiladelphia
1957Rosalie CulpPhiladelphia
1956Serena KiferPhiladelphia
1955Marianne MarcusPhiladelphia
1954Helen VidovichPhiladelphia
1953title=Delegate from Pennsylvaniaurl=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-delegate-from-pennsylva/129182473/access-date=31 July 2023work=The Morning Calldate=9 July 1953pages=1}}HatboroSemi-finalist
1952Miriam SmithPhiladelphia

;Notes

References

References

  1. (9 March 1967). "Miss Pennsylvania Pageant to be Held in Harrisburg". The Daily Notes.
  2. "Who We Are: Pageant Associates".
  3. (7 December 1993). "Deadline Set for Miss PA USA Entrants". The Titusville Herald.
  4. (22 November 1980). "Deadline Set for Pageant Applications". The Daily News.
  5. (24 May 1971). "First push from mother helps teen-age winner". The Manhattan Mercury.
  6. Koteski, Rena Lynn. (3 July 1971). "'I still feel the same', Michelle: Miss Saxonburg to Miss USA". North Hills News Record.
  7. (January 19, 2014). "Williamsport Native named Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA 2014". Williamsport Sun Gazette.
  8. Larussa, Tony. (September 23, 2015). "North Huntingdon's Piekut wins international title". [[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]].
  9. (3 December 2017). "Pittsburgh-Area Natives Named Miss Pa. USA, Miss Pa. Teen USA". CBS Pittsburgh.
  10. McDermott, Maeve. (5 June 2016). "This Miss USA contestant overcame losing her hearing to compete for the crown". USA Today.
  11. Niederberger, Mary. (2007-07-26). "Deaf teen tapping her way to fame". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  12. Zapf, Karen. (2007-08-02). "East Young Achiever: Elena LaQuatra". Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
  13. Wiggin, Sally. (December 7, 2015). "4 the 412 team member Elena LaQuatra wins Miss Pennsylvania USA". WTAE News.
  14. Pennello, Toni. (December 24, 2015). "Elena LaQuatra is the new Miss Pennsylvania USA". The Almanac.
  15. Ganster, Kathleen. (8 January 2015). "Resume: A newsmaker you should know / Hampton alumnae Elizabeth Cardillo named Miss Pennsylvania USA". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  16. Glover, Sarah. (8 June 2014). "Miss Pennsylvania USA Says She's a Product of Rape". NBC Pittsburgh.
  17. Krupnick, Ellie. (2012-06-05). "Miss Pennsylvania USA 2012 Resigns Over Alleged Pageant Fraud". Huffington Post.
  18. McAndrew, Meghan. (14 March 1997). "Miss Pennsylvania USA Entered Pageant on a Whim". Indiana Gazette.
  19. Opalka, William. (9 February 1990). "Crowning Glory: Pitt student set for Miss USA pageant". News Record.
  20. (14 March 1989). "Ross model wins state pageant". North Hills News Record.
  21. (1988-03-07). "Miss Pennsylvania-USA selected". The Harrisburg Patriot.
  22. Fricker, Dan. (16 April 1988). "Giving IUP Friend a Ride Leads to Beauty Title". Indiana Gazette.
  23. (6 April 1987). "Lansdale coed new Miss PA". Indiana Gazette.
  24. Stefanik, Regis M.. (March 11, 1985). "Senior here wins beauty pageant". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
  25. Novakovich, Lilana. (1988-03-14). "Ex-teen queen looks like Ivory gal". The Toronto Star.
  26. Bianco, Robert. (June 19, 1987). "If children's TV turns you off, try 'Kids America' on radio". [[The Pittsburgh Press]].
  27. (7 March 1983). "Miss Pennsylvania Crowned". The Gettysburg Times.
  28. (7 March 1983). "Belle Vernon teen wins Miss Pennsylvania title". Indiana Gazette.
  29. (1 March 1982). "Rosa wins beauty pageant". The Gettysburg Times.
  30. (5 May 1981). "Miss Pennsylvania USA Leads Exercise Program and Models". Indiana Evening Gazette.
  31. (4 March 1980). "Dancer becomes Miss PA". Indiana Evening Gazette.
  32. Bryant, Jean. (1998-09-22). "Connellsville Beauty Queen weds Fabian". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  33. (6 March 1979). "State police typist wins Miss Pennsylvania pageant". Indiana Evening Gazette.
  34. (6 March 1978). "New Miss Pennsylvania chosen from 77 contestants". The Kane Republican.
  35. (29 April 1968). "Pitt coed wins Queen contest". The Oil City Derrick.
  36. (9 July 1953). "Delegate from Pennsylvania". The Morning Call.
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