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Miss United States

American beauty pageant

Miss United States

American beauty pageant

FieldValue
typeBeauty pageant
headquartersRochester, New York
languageEnglish
leader_titlePresident
leader_nameTony Ilacqua
nameMiss United States
locationUnited States
website
Miss United States 2025 - [[Madison Hickman

Miss United States is a pageant held in the United States for unmarried women between the ages of 20 and 29. The pageant includes women selected to represent all 50 states, District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Miss United States pageant's mission is to "celebrate intelligent women of all walks of life." The Miss United States pageant includes the following competition segments: Private Interview (a 3-minute private interview with judges about the delegate's career, academic, and charitable accomplishments), Evening Gown (a runway walk in formalwear to demonstrate the delegate's poise), Swimsuit (a runway walk in swimwear to display the delegate's physical fitness and on-stage confidence), and Personal Platform Promise (a 60-second 'pitch' of the delegate's chosen charitable cause followed by an onstage question). All four competition segments are worth 25% of the delegate's overall score.

Miss United States is part of the pageant system known as Mrs. United States Pageant, Inc. (DBA United States National Pageants) which has eight divisions: Little Miss United States, Miss Pre-Teen United States, Miss Jr. Teen United States, Miss Teen United States, Miss United States, Ms. United States, Ms. Woman United States, and Mrs. United States. United States National Pageants is the official and exclusive owner of the "Miss United States" trademark. In 2016, Miss United States organizers held the national pageant in Las Vegas, where it initially was held, for a 30th anniversary celebration. The upcoming 2025 pageant will be returning to Las Vegas.

The reigning Miss United States is Madison Hickman, who was crowned on November 4, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Notable recent Miss United States titleholders include Miss United States 2013 Candiace Dillard, who was a reality television personality on Bravo's Real Housewives of Potomac; Miss United States 2022 Lily K. Donaldson, who was the first Miss United States to visit all 50 states during her reign; and Miss United States 2014 Elizabeth Safrit, who also represented the United States at Miss World 2014 in London, England on December 14, 2014, where she placed as 2nd runner-up and earned the title of Continental Queen of Beauty of the Americas.

Titleholders

YearMiss United StatesState RepresentedHost cityNotes
2025Madison HickmanTexasLas Vegas, Nevada
2024Lindsey LangstonFloridaMemphis, Tennessee
2023Addison Grace HadleyTennesseeMemphis, TennesseeHadley was previously Miss Mississippi US.
2022Lily K. DonaldsonNew YorkMemphis, TennesseeDonaldson was previously Miss Tennessee US 2021. She is the first Miss United States to visit all 50 states during her reign.
2021Samantha Keene AndersonArizonaLas Vegas, NevadaAnderson also held the following pageant titles: Miss Teen Arizona US 2014, Miss Vermont US 2018, Miss Virginia US 2019, Miss Arizona US 2021.
2020Tiffany Ann ReaCaliforniaPalm Beach, FloridaRea also held the title of Miss Washington USA 2024.
2019Alexia RobinsonMissouriLas Vegas, NevadaRobinson was one of six African-American beauty pageant competitors to win major titles in 2019, the others including Miss Universe, Miss America, Miss USA, Miss Earth USA and Miss Teen USA.
2018Andromeda PetersVirginiaOrlando, FloridaLater appointed as Miss Universe Ghana 2025.
2017Rachael ToddFloridaOrlando, FloridaTodd also held the title of Miss Florida 2010 (Miss America system).
2016Alayah BenavidezTexasLas Vegas, Nevada
2015Summer PriesterSouth CarolinaWashington, District of Columbia
2014Elizabeth SafritNorth CarolinaWashington, District of ColumbiaMiss World 2014 – 2nd Runner-up
*Miss Multimedia
*Top 5 Performing Talent
*Top 19 Interview Scores
2013Candiace DillardDistrict of ColumbiaWashington, District of ColumbiaPreviously appeared on The Real Housewives of Potomac
2012Whitney MillerTexasWashington, District of Columbia
2011Ashley SmithVirginiaLas Vegas, Nevada
2010Jessica BlackGeorgiaLas Vegas, Nevada
2009Erin GrizzleGeorgiaLas Vegas, Nevada
2008Brittany WilliamsNevadaLas Vegas, Nevada
2007Ashley KazianSouth CarolinaRaleigh, North Carolina
2006Shannon HaggardNorth CarolinaRaleigh, North Carolina
2005Nicole FalsoneArizonaLos Angeles, California
2004Brandy BahamLouisianaHouston, Texas
2003Lacie LybrandSouth CarolinaNew York City
2001date=2001-10-10title=Warm welcome for Miss United Statesurl=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/5765456.warm-welcome-for-miss-united-states/access-date=2023-06-20website=Watford Observerlanguage=en}}AlabamaNew York CitySmith was also Miss Teen United States 2000. This is the first Miss United States pageant held by the current owners, Mrs. United States Pageant, Inc., and followed the release of the 2000 film Miss Congeniality.
Organizers of the pageant that chooses the U.S. representative to Miss World used the title "Miss United States" from 1958 to 1961 and the American contestant sent to Miss Universe was known as "Miss United States of America" from 1952 to 1962. From 1962 to 1999, the Miss Universe organization held the trademark to "Miss United States", but did not hold a "Miss United States" pageant, instead calling their representative to Miss Universe "Miss USA".
1940*Barbara Deanunknownunknown
1939*Hilda WilliamsGeorgiaVirginia Beach, Virginia
1938*unknownunknownunknownSeveral newspaper articles say that R.H. Thompson, promoter of the Miss United States 1937 pageant, would hold another Miss United States pageant along with a Miss Universe pageant during Labor Day weekend 1938, whether these pageants were actually held is unknown. One source says the pageant is to take place in Biloxi, and another says Thompson plans to hold the 1938 pageant in Miami, instead.
1937*Margaret SmithTennesseeBiloxi, Mississippidate=September 6, 1937title=Senator Pat Harrison To Crown Miss United Statespages=1work=The Daily Heraldurl=https://newspaperarchive.com/biloxi-daily-herald-sep-06-1937-p-1/}} Smith received a crown, diamond-encrusted watch, and a trip to Hollywood as prizes. The pageant was held by promoter R.H. Thompson.
1936*unknownunknownIdaho Falls, Idahodate=August 4, 1936title=Queens and Attendants to be Selected Tonightpages=1work=The Post Registerurl=https://newspaperarchive.com/idaho-falls-post-register-aug-04-1936-p-1/}}
1935Louise LymanNew YorkappointedLyman (originally from New York) was appointed to be the United States representative to Miss Universe (International Pageant of Pulchritude) after she participated in Miss Europe 1934 as Miss Atlantique.
1934*unknownunknownMiamidate=August 31, 1934title=Chincoteague Beauty Show Most Successfulpages=2work=The Worcester Democraturl=https://newspaperarchive.com/worcester-democrat-aug-31-1934-p-2/}}
1933*last=O.R.P.date=May 11, 1933title=Crack Stage Band to Appearpages=5work=The Big Spring, Texas, Daily Heraldurl=https://newspaperarchive.com/big-spring-daily-herald-may-11-1933-p-5/}}TexasBig Spring, Texasdate=April 21, 1933title=West Texas Cities Invited to Have Young Lady Representative In WTCC Revue At Annual Competition Herepages=1work=The Big Spring Heraldurl=https://newspaperarchive.com/big-spring-herald-apr-21-1933-p-1/}} Handley is named in one source as the daughter of the pageant organizer, Mrs. Lee Weathers.
1932Helen CantNew YorkBuffalo, New YorkHeld as part of the International Pageant of Pulchritude. Cant was selected represent the U.S. at Miss Universe 1932 which was held in Spa, Belgium.
1931title=Beauty Crown Goes to Miss Belgium!url=https://texasarchive.org/2006_00098access-date=2023-06-20website=texasarchive.orglanguage=en}}KentuckyGalveston, TexasHeld as part of the International Pageant of Pulchritude. Patterson was crowned as Miss Northern Kentucky.
1930Dorothy Dell GoffLouisianaGalveston, TexasHeld as part of the International Pageant of Pulchritude. Goff was crowned as Miss New Orleans.
1929Irene AhlbergNew YorkGalveston, TexasHeld as part of the International Pageant of Pulchritude. Ahlberg was crowned as Miss Greater New York.
1928Ella Van HuesonIllinoisGalveston, TexasHeld as part of the International Pageant of Pulchritude. Hueson was crowned as Miss Chicago.
1927date=May 24, 1927title=New York Girl Is Winnernewspaper=Galveston Daily Newsurl=https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news/1927-05-24accessdate=January 26, 2013}}New YorkGalveston, TexasHeld as part of the International Pageant of Pulchritude. Britton was crowned as Miss New York.
1926Catherine MoylanTexasGalveston, TexasHeld as part of the International Pageant of Pulchritude. Britton was crowned as Miss Dallas.
1880date=1988-09-09title=The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jerseyurl=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/222947047/access-date=2023-06-20website=Newspapers.comlanguage=en}}PennsylvaniaRehoboth Beach, Delawarelast=Riverolfirst=A. R.date=1983title=Myth America and Other Misses: A Second Look at the American Beauty Contestsurl=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42576603journal=ETC: A Review of General Semanticsvolume=40issue=2pages=207–217jstor=42576603issn=0014-164X}}''

*From 1933 to 1952 (with the exception of 1935), "Miss United States" pageants may have been held by different organizations across the U.S., but there was no centralized organization or trademark.

History

Rehoboth Beach 1880 pageant

The very first use of the title "Miss United States" allegedly goes back as far as 1880, when Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, held the first recorded "beauty pageant" in the United States searching for "the most beautiful unmarried woman in our nation" and awarding her the title of 'Miss United States'. Some attribute this 1880 pageant to P.T. Barnum, although, this may be confused with P.T. Barnum's unsuccessful effort in the 1850s to start a live beauty contest. Several sources, including PBS and the History Channel, cite Thomas Edison as a judge of the 1880 Miss United States pageant. However, the very existence of this 1880 pageant is contested.

1920s–1930s

Many news articles about the current Miss United States organization cite the first Miss United States pageant as taking place in 1937 with the title being award to Miss California, however, other sources point to the first Miss United States title as being awarded in 1925 to Miss California. A 1937 Albuquerque newspaper names the 1937 Miss United States winner as Margaret Smith of Tennessee. One source says the pageant was put on hold during World War 1, and then re-established in 1937, however, the Boston Globe published a 1929 article naming Irene Ahlberg as Miss United States 1929 and Universal Newsreel footage from 1931 shows Miss United States 1931, Ann Lee Patterson. Some of this confusion stems from the conflation of the original Miss Universe (International Pageant of Pulchritude) which also selected a 'Miss United States' and the modern Miss Universe pageant which began in 1952 and where from 1952 to 1961, the U.S. representative was called 'Miss United States of America' before the title was renamed to 'Miss USA' in 1962. The International Pageant of Pulchritude, which existed from 1920 to 1935, was the first international beauty pageant and crowned both a 'Miss United States' and 'Miss Universe'.

Additionally, national "Miss United States" pageants were held after 1935 by several different entities across the United States including American Legion auxiliaries and Biloxi event promoter R.H. Thompson. Patriotic festivals/parades also often had a young woman play "Miss United States" for the festivities, unrelated to a pageant or competition.

1950s–1990s

The title "Miss United States" was trademarked by Catalina Swimwear (which founded the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants) in 1957. Catalina Swimwear's competitions, which began in 1952, included both "Miss Universe" and "Miss United States of America", which would be renamed to "Miss USA" in 1962. The "Miss United States" trademark was then transferred in accordance with the change of Miss USA ownership, including to Donald Trump's pageant business "Trump Pageants, L.P." in 1996 and to the Miss Universe organization in 1997, although the pageant never used the title "Miss United States" or "Miss United States of America" after 1962. Organizers of the pageant that chooses the U.S. representative to Miss World used the title "Miss United States" from 1958 to 1961.

2000s–current

In December 2000 (one year after the expiration of the 'Miss United States' trademark), the film Miss Congeniality (which was centered around a 'Miss United States' pageant) was released grossing $212 million worldwide against its $45 million budget. The following year, Mrs. United States Pageant, Inc. (who previously held 'Mrs. United States' and 'Miss Teen United States' pageants) held a "Miss United States" pageant for the first time, with their former Miss Teen United States, Starla Smith, taking the crown. Mrs. United States Pageant, Inc. currently owns the "Miss United States" trademark which was applied for in 2005, and registered in 2008. In 2012, the Mrs. United States Pageant, Inc. sued organizers of a "Miss United States of America" pageant for trademark infringement, and won.

The "Miss United States" pageant is held annually alongside the corporation's Little Miss United States, Miss Pre-Teen United States, Miss Jr. Teen United States, Miss Teen United States, Ms. United States, Ms. Woman United States, and Mrs. United States pageants.

References

References

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  4. "2025 National Pageant in Las Vegas".
  5. (2025-11-01). "2025 National Pageant {{!}} United States National Pageants".
  6. (2025-12-02). "Miss United States is from San Antonio! Here's the one thing she missed from home".
  7. Gorenstein, Ben. (2023-10-30). "Miss United States from RPI passes crown after whirlwind year".
  8. "Mississippi Divisions {{!}} United States National Pageants".
  9. (October 27, 2021). "Memphis woman named 2nd runner up at Miss United States 2021 pageant".
  10. (2024-07-11). "Tiffany Rea crowned Miss Washington USA".
  11. (2019-12-09). "All major pageant titles crowned to black women".
  12. (2009-07-12). "UCF Alumna Rachael Todd Wins Miss Florida Pageant". University of Central Florida.
  13. "Home – Ashley Kazian crowned Miss United States 2007".
  14. "Home – Greer's Ashley Kazian crowned Miss United States".
  15. (2001-10-10). "Warm welcome for Miss United States".
  16. "A Backstreet Boy Rocks! The 2000 Miss United States Teen Competition".
  17. (June 2, 1940). "Ready! Get Set! Cut the Tape!". The Hill County Sunday Journal.
  18. (October 14, 1939). "Kathryn Hill Wins Title as Timmonsville Beauty". Florence Morning News.
  19. "Obituaries in Daytona Beach, FL {{!}} Daytona Beach News-Journal".
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  23. (September 6, 1937). "Senator Pat Harrison To Crown Miss United States". The Daily Herald.
  24. (January 3, 1938). "R.H. Thompson Gives His Views of Miss Perfect Beauty 1938". The Daily Herald.
  25. (August 4, 1936). "Queens and Attendants to be Selected Tonight". The Post Register.
  26. ''Le Petit journal'' 7 July 1929, S. 2, retrieved from [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k631837c/f2.image.r=%22miss%20atlantique%22?rk=128756;0 ''Gallica''] 7 June 2017.
  27. (August 31, 1934). "Chincoteague Beauty Show Most Successful". The Worcester Democrat.
  28. O.R.P.. (May 11, 1933). "Crack Stage Band to Appear". The Big Spring, Texas, Daily Herald.
  29. (April 21, 1933). "West Texas Cities Invited to Have Young Lady Representative In WTCC Revue At Annual Competition Here". The Big Spring Herald.
  30. "2 Ağustos 1932 Tarihli Hakimiyet-i Milliye Gazetesi Sayfa 3".
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