Miss Washington

History

Washington first sent delegates to Miss America in 1926 with Leona Fengler, Miss Seattle. She was sponsored by the Seattle Times newspaper, a practice common in the early days of Miss America pageants. She was pictured in the paper leaving in a biplane for her cross-country flight to Atlantic City, where she was voted "Prettiest Girl in an Evening Gown." In 1987, Fendler was featured again in the newly-revived Miss Seattle Pageant.

The Depression and war years caused sporadic participation by Washington contestants in the Miss America pageant, but the Miss Washington pageant was revived in 1948 and held in Ephrata, with a $1000 scholarship offered to the winner. In 1949 the pageant was a "financial flop" and the winner had to seek community donations to fund her appearance at Miss America. At the time the organization was so deeply in debt that the titleholder's tiara was nearly repossessed by the manufacturer.

From 1961 to 1997 the pageant was hosted by Vancouver, under a number of executive directors before moving to the Tri-Cities under the directorship of Chamber President, Dorothy Schoeppach. Under the direction of Schoeppach the local programs again grew from 9 to 22. Two years later the pageant moved to Tacoma under the directorship of Joan Dehn and Mike Shinkle.

The competition was held in Renton or Des Moines, WA beginning in 2008 under the directorship of Charlie VanTramp and then Peggy Miller and Patti Belik, except for 2021, which was held at Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton, WA, due to pandemic restrictions. . In 2023, the competition as well as all of its annual events moved to the Capital High School Performing Arts Center in Olympia.

The Miss Washington Scholarship Organization is a 501(c)4 organization, and its scholarship arm, MWSO Miracle, Inc. is a 501(c)3, where donations are tax deductible.

Gallery of past titleholders

File:Susan Buckner, When the Whistle Blows front.jpg| File:Miss Washington 1978.jpg| File:Elyse Umemoto.png|

Results summary

Following is a summary of the results of Miss Washington titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.

Placements

• 2nd runners-up: Anna Mae Schoonover (1939), Sharon Vaughn (1960), Sharon Rogers (1983), Elyse Umemoto (2008)
• 3rd runners-up: Honey Castro (1986), Jacquie Brown (2011), Alicia Cooper (2017)
• 4th runners-up: Laurie Nelson (1979)
• Top 10: Lauren Waddleton (1965), Susan Buckner (1972), Leslie Mays (1974), Kathleen Moore (1975), Doris Hayes (1981), Jennifer Wall (1990), SoYoung Kwon (1992), Kristen Eddings (2007), Mandy Schendel (2013)
• Top 15: Leona Natalia Fengler (1926), Amanda Beers (2003), Danamarie McNicholl (2019)
• Top 16: Karlyne Abele (1951)
• Top 18: Gladine Sweetser (1933)

Awards

Preliminary awards

• Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Sharon Vaughn (1960), Susan Buckner (1972), Leslie Mays (1974), Kristine Weitz (1982), Mandy Schendel (2013)
• Preliminary Talent: Doris Hayes (1981) (tie)

Non-finalist awards

• Non-finalist Interview: Fianna Dickson (2004)
• Non-finalist Talent: Mardi Hagen (1964), Kippy Lou Brinkman (1966), Kristine Weitz (1982), Brittney Henry (2012)

Other awards

• Miss Congeniality: N/A
• Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship: Honey Castro (1986)
• Miss America Scholar: Mariana Loya (1999)
• Quality of Life Award Finalists: Mandy Schendel (2013)
• STEM Scholarship Award Winners: Lizzi Jackson (2016)

Winners

• Declared as winner
• Ended as a runner-up
• Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist}}

References

References

1. (1948-06-23). "Ephrata greets state beauties". The Spokesman-Review.
2. (1949-08-29). "Miss Washington's Crown in Danger". Eugene Register-Guard.
3. (1949-08-30). "Kelso-Longview affair to help Miss Washington". Ellensburg Daily Record.
4. (1949-08-11). "Miss Washington Winners to Get Fine Scholarships".
5. "Miss Washington Pageant to Change Site".
6. (2000-07-04). "Despite loss, Miss Tri-Cities eager to cheer on new Miss Washington". Tri City Herald.
7. Molina, Emily. (2021-07-07). "Maddie Louder Crowned as Miss Washington".
8. Hewitt, Scott. (July 1, 2019). "Miss Clark County new Miss Washington". The Columbian.
9. (July 1, 2018). "KREM 2's Danamarie McNicholl crowned Miss Washington 2018". KREM 2.
10. Serpico, Erin. (September 8, 2018). "Miss New York crowned Miss America 2019 in Atlantic City". Press of Atlantic City.
11. (July 2, 2017). "Photos: Meet Nicole Renard, our new Miss Washington!". Seattle Refined.
12. Probert, Cameron. (July 21, 2017). "Kennewick native earns Miss Washington crown". Tri-City Herald.
13. (June 30, 2013). "Meet Nicole Renard, Distinguished Young Woman of America 2013". AL.com.
14. Mathieu, Stevie. (September 11, 2016). "Alicia Cooper of Clark County third runner-up for Miss America". The Columbian.
15. (February 26, 2012). "Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2011 Crowning". krzy4krs.
16. Barksdale, Dave. (July 4, 2015). "Lizzi Jackson is crowned Miss Washington 2015". Miss Washington Scholarship Organization.
17. Hoang, Mao. (July 16, 2013). "Yakima native crowned Miss Washington". Yakima Herald.
18. (July 12, 2013). "West Valley's Reina Almon ready to take national stage". Yakima Herald.
19. (2008-01-28). "Miss Washington is second runner-up for Miss America". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
20. (2008-01-28). "Miss Washington snags 2nd runner-up spot". kimatv.com.
21. Culverwell, Wendy. (1998-06-21). "Stunned Miss Pierce wins state title". Tri City Herald.
22. (June 23, 1989). "Issaquah Woman is Miss Washington". Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
23. (1985-06-24). "Miss Washington Crowned". Spokane Daily Chronicle.
24. (August 15, 1985). "Miss Washington is second runner-up for Miss America". Tri City Herald.
25. (June 27, 1983). "Dancer Crowned Miss Washington". Spokane Chronicle.
26. (1980-09-05). "Miss Washington ties in pageant talent test". The Spokesman-Review.
27. (1978-06-25). "Gig Harbor Girl Miss Washington". Tri City Herald.
28. (July 12, 1976). "Title Resigned". The Deseret News.
29. (1973-09-07). "Search for swimsuit pays off for Miss Washington". Tri City Herald.
30. (1964-07-20). "Seattle Miss Wins State's Beauty Title". Ellensburg Daily Record.
31. (1959-05-11). "Co-ed is Miss Washington". Spokane Daily Chronicle.
32. (1959-09-10). "3 Tie in Talent Competition of Miss America Contest". Toledo Blade.
33. "1958 Candidates".
34. "1956 Candidates".
35. "1953 Candidates".
36. (1951-08-01). "Miss Washington is Ex-Idahoan". Spokesman-Review.
37. (August 8, 1950). "Des Moines Miss is 1950 Miss Washington". Ellensburg Daily Record.
38. "1947 Candidates".
39. "1946 Candidates".
40. "1945 Candidates".
41. "1944 Candidates".
42. "1943 Candidates".
43. "1942 Candidates".
44. "1941 Candidates".
45. "1938 Candidates".
46. "1936 Candidates".
47. "1935 Candidates".
48. "Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950". [[PBS]].
49. "1924 Candidates".
50. "1923 Candidates".
51. (September 5, 1922). "Reporter, Dazzled by Beauty of Six Pageant Entrants - Sees Hard Job Ahead for Judges". The Indianapolis Times.
52. "1921 Candidates".