| Miss New Hampshire | |
| Formation: | 1925 |
| Type: | Scholarship Program |
| Headquarters: | Derry |
| Location: | New Hampshire |
| Membership: | Miss America |
| Language: | English |
| Website: | Official website |
The Miss New Hampshire is the scholarship program that selects the representative for the state of New Hampshire in the Miss America competition.
The Miss New Hampshire program was conducted by the Union Leader newspaper for more than 50 years. In the early years of Miss America, it was city newspapers that sponsored the young women to go to Atlantic City as the Miss America Organization originally allowed city titleholders to compete. The Union Leader conducted the pageant from 1947 until 2001. The newspaper held the pageant from at least 1985 to 2001 at the Manchester Central High School auditorium.
In 2000, a non-profit corporation formed and was granted the license by the Miss America Organization to conduct the state program from 2002 through today. Originally run by former Miss Greater Derry local chapter leaders, the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program, Inc. is now a 501(c)(4) civic organization while the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Foundation, which grants the scholarships, is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Brenda Keith of Derry served as Board President and Executive Director until she joined the Board of Directors of the Miss America Organization in September 2018 for a two-year term. William Haggerty served as president until her return on January 1, 2021. Lynne Ulaky and Claudette Jolin serve as the Co-Executive Directors. The competition was moved to Derry in 2003 and is held annually at Pinkerton Academy's Stockbridge Theatre.
The Miss New Hampshire scholarship program grants more scholarships than most other states in the Miss America Program. In 2021, the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Foundation granted $100,000 in scholarships to the 26 contestants who competed after winning their local titles. Prior to the State competition, the NH local programs grant another $80,00-$85,000 a year at the local level. The local programs are all non-profit corporations with group 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.
Emily Spencer of Bedford was crowned Miss New Hampshire on April 27, 2024, at the Stockbridge theater in Derry, New Hampshire. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.
The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss New Hampshire 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.
| Year | Name | Hometown | Age | Local Title | Miss America Talent | Placement at Miss America | Special scholarships at Miss America | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Emily Spencer[1] | Bedford | 23 | Miss Winnipesaukee | Dance, "One Moment in Time" | TBA | TBA | |
| 2023 | Brooke Mills[2] | Concord | 23 | Miss Bedford | Vocal, "Come Rain or Come Shine" | Daughter of Miss New Hampshire 1995, Stephanie Foisy Mills Sister of Miss New Hampshire Teen USA 2021, Emilee Mills | ||
| 2022 | Sarah White[3] | Hooksett | 23 | Miss Winnipesaukee | Tap Dance | |||
| 2021 | Ashley Marsh[4] | Laconia | 26 | Tap Dance | ||||
| 2019–20 | Sarah Tubbs[5] | Sandown | 25 | Miss Stratham | Lyrical Dance | |||
| 2018 | Marisa Moorhouse[6] | Manchester | 18 | Miss Manchester | Jazz Dance, "Respect" | STEM Scholarship Finalist[7] | ||
| 2017 | Lauren Percy[8] | Bow | 23 | Miss Auburn | Broadway Jazz Dance, "Another Day in the Sun" from La La Land | Dr. Marcia L. Leek Scholarship | Previously Miss New Hampshire's Outstanding Teen 2011[9] | |
| 2016 | Caroline Carter[10] | Dover | 18 | Miss Winnipesaukee | Vocal, "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables | Non-finalist Talent Award | Sister of Miss Vermont USA 2011, Lauren Carter[11] Previously Miss New Hampshire's Outstanding Teen 2014[12] | |
| 2015 | Holly Blanchard[13] | Derry | 23 | Miss Rockingham County | Baton Twirling, "Fireball" | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant | ||
| 2014 | Megan Cooley[14] | Auburn | 19 | Miss Greater Derry | Vocal, “On My Way" from Violet | |||
| 2013 | Samantha Russo[15] | Nashua | 22 | Miss Souhegan Valley | Vocal, "Don't Rain on My Parade" | Preliminary Talent Award Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 2012 | Megan Lyman[16] | Gilford | 21 | Miss Lakes Region | Tap Dance, "Edge of Glory" | Previously Miss New Hampshire's Outstanding Teen 2008[17] Contestant at National Sweetheart 2010 pageant | ||
| 2011 | Regan Hartley[18] | Dover | 20 | Miss Keene Area | Vocal, "Let Him Fly" | Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up | 1st runner-up at Miss Massachusetts USA 2013 pageant[19] | |
| 2010 | Krystal Muccioli | Nashua | 20 | Miss Greater Derry | Vocal, "On the Sunny Side of the Street" | |||
| 2009 | Lindsey Graham | Sandown | 22 | Miss Seacoast Region | Vocal / Piano, "Hallelujah" | Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up | ||
| 2008 | Natalie Shaw | Manchester | 23 | Miss Hooksett | Vocal, "If I Loved You" | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2007 pageant | ||
| 2007 | Rachel Barker[20] | Amherst | 20 | Miss Seacoast | Ballet en Pointe, "Someone Like You" from Jekyll & Hyde | Pyramid Scholarship for Public Relations & Marketing | ||
| 2006 | Emily Hughes | Gilmanton | 23 | Miss Winnipesaukee | Tap Dance, "Dancing in the Light" | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2003 pageant | ||
| 2005 | Audra Paquette | Merrimack | 24 | Miss Lakes Region | Lyrical Ballet, "Deliverance" | Contestant at National Sweetheart 1999 pageant Previously Miss New Hampshire USA 2002 | ||
| 2004 | Alyssa Spellman | Derry | 21 | Miss Hooksett | Vocal, "If I Had My Way" | Non-finalist Interview Award | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2001 pageant | |
| 2003 | Candace Glickman | Manchester | 21 | Miss Deerfield Fair | Vocal, "Half a Moment" from By Jeeves | Top 10 | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | Later Miss New Hampshire USA 2005 |
| 2002 | Mary Catherine Morin | Bedford | 24 | Miss Greater Derry | Classical Piano, Rapsodie espagnole | |||
| 2001 | Katherine Lise Pike | Hooksett | 24 | Miss Winnipesaukee | Vocal, "You Are My Home" from The Scarlet Pimpernel | |||
| 2000 | Lauren Meehan | Nashua | 19 | Miss Lakes Region | Vocal, "It's Time" | |||
| 1999 | Brandee Helbick | Atkinson | 24 | Miss Goffstown | Jazz Dance, "Proud Mary" | Quality of Life Award | Contestant at National Sweetheart 1998 pageant | |
| 1998 | Heidi Marie Noyes | Laconia | 24 | Miss Winnipesaukee | Tap Dance, "Fascinating Rhythm" | Contestant at National Sweetheart 1997 pageant | ||
| 1997 | Michelle Lamontagne | Goffstown | 22 | Miss Merrimack | Vocal, "Route 66" | |||
| 1996 | Michelle Tolson | Manchester | 22 | Miss Winnipesaukee | Jazz Dance, "Hit Me With a Hot Note" from Sophisticated Ladies | |||
| 1995 | Stephanie Foisy | Concord | 18 | Miss Merrimack | Tap Dance, "You Do Something to Me" | Later Mrs. New Hampshire America 2004 under married name, Stephanie Mills[21] Mother of Miss New Hampshire Teen USA 2021 Emilee MillsMother of Miss New Hampshire 2023 Brooke Mills [22] | ||
| 1994 | Shannon Hastings | Newport | 21 | Miss Kingston | Vocal, "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from Sunset Boulevard | |||
| 1993 | Tricia Ann-Regan McEachern | Hampton | 20 | Miss Deerfield Fair | Classical Vocal, "Torna a Surriento" | Bernie Wayne Scholarship Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Talent Award | ||
| 1992 | Rachel Alice Petz | Sanbornton | 23 | Miss Plymouth State Fair | Semi-classical Vocal, "Love Is Where You Find It" | |||
| 1991 | Deborah Jean Howard | Concord | 24 | Miss Derry | Vocal, "The Glory of Love" | |||
| 1990 | Melanie Denise Bridges | Derry | 23 | Vocal, "Let's Hear It For Me" from Funny Lady | ||||
| 1989 | Jennifer Ann Landry | Manchester | 22 | Miss Newmarket | Classical Ballet | |||
| 1988 | Laura Lourette | Sandown | 26 | Miss Derry | Irish Festival Dance | |||
| 1987 | Kristen Gamans | Manchester | 23 | Miss New Hampshire College | Gymnastics Character Dance | |||
| 1986 | Lisa Vandecasteele | Salem | 22 | Miss Manchester | Dance / Baton Twirling | |||
| 1985 | Tami Jean Brisebois | Deerfield | 24 | Miss Deerfield Fair | Modern Dance | |||
| 1984 | Corinne Lucier | Hooksett | 20 | Miss New Hampshire College | Vocal, "The Simple Joys of Maidenhood" from Camelot | |||
| 1983 | Monica Rastallis | Newport | 22 | Miss Winnipesaukee | Ballet, Theme from Summer of '42 | |||
| 1982 | Amy Bowker | Amherst | 21 | Miss Londonderry | Jazz Dance, "The Music and the Mirror" from A Chorus Line | |||
| 1981 | Natalie Oliver | Manchester | 21 | Miss Heart of New Hampshire | Vocal, "Home" from The Wiz | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1980 | Diane McGarry | 19 | Miss Winnipesaukee | Magic / Modern Dance, "Come To Me" | ||||
| 1979 | Monica Skiathitis | 20 | Miss New Hampshire College | Tap Dance, "Sweet Georgia Brown" | Previously New Hampshire's Junior Miss 1976 | |||
| 1978 | Belinda Bridgeman | Merrimack | 20 | Miss Merrimack | Jazz Dance, Rhapsody in Blue | Previously Miss New Hampshire USA 1977 Mother of Miss New Hampshire Teen USA 2004, Brittany Freeman | ||
| 1977 | Jamie Rotwitt | Weirs Beach | 20 | Miss Plymouth State College | Organ Medley, "Bim Bam Boom" & "Oye Negra" | |||
| 1976 | Margaret Spellacy | Hampton | 21 | Miss Winnipesaukee | Comedy Dance, "The Yankee Doodle Boy" | |||
| 1975 | Catherine Burnham | Goffstown | 21 | Miss Manchester | Comedic Vocal, "Queen Lucy" from You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown | Previously New Hampshire's Junior Miss 1972 | ||
| 1974 | Cynthia Erb | Manchester | 18 | Gymnastic Dance, Theme from Midnight Cowboy | Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship | |||
| 1973 | Michelle Cote | 22 | Classical Vocal, "Steal Me, Sweet Thief" from The Old Maid and the Thief | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||||
| 1972 | Jane Badler | 18 | Popular Vocal, "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" | Starred on NBC's V series from 1983 to 1985 and on ABC's V series in 2011 | ||||
| 1971 | Kristi Carlson | Nashua | 19 | Miss Keene | Vocal, "What About Today?" | Neat as a Pin Award (tie)[23] | ||
| 1970 | Deborah Ann Merrill | Portsmouth | 19 | Miss Plymouth State College | Vocal / Dance, "I Want to Be Happy" & "Happiness Is" | |||
| 1969 | Catherine Zanichkowsky | Nashua | 19 | Miss Nashua | Vocal Medley, "Go Tell It on the Mountain" & "Blowin' in the Wind" | |||
| 1968 | Michelle Godfrey | Portsmouth | 18 | Miss Portsmouth | Modern Interpretive Dance, "Tabu" | |||
| 1967 | Sheila Scott | North Hampton | 19 | Miss North Hampton | Vocal, "We Need a Little Christmas" | Miss Congeniality (tie) | Assumed the Miss New Hampshire title after the original winner, Deborah Fuller, relinquished her title five days after she won in order to get married[24] | |
| 1966 | Nancy Anne Naylor | Portsmouth | 19 | Miss Portsmouth | Vocal, "I Enjoy Being a Girl" | 4th runner-up | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |
| 1965 | Cheryl-Leigh Buffum | Manchester | 21 | Miss Keene State College | Musical Comedy Sketch, "I Ain't Down Yet" from The Unsinkable Molly Brown | |||
| 1964 | Elizabeth Emerson | Somersworth | 22 | Miss University of New Hampshire | Comedy Reading | |||
| 1963 | Georgia Taggart | Westport, Connecticut | Miss Laconia | Dramatic Reading | Eligible as a student at New England College | |||
| 1962 | Margaret Wass | Barrington, Rhode Island | 19 | Miss Keene | Comedy Routine | Miss Congeniality | Eligible as a student at Keene Teachers College | |
| 1961 | Annette Lambert | Claremont | 18 | Saxophone, "Valse Vanite" by Rudy Wiedoeft | ||||
| 1960 | Drina Bouchard | Rochester | 18 | Miss Rochester | Cha-cha-cha Interpretation | |||
| 1959 | Diane Harris | Manchester | 18 | Interpretive Dance | ||||
| 1958 | Mary Morin | Pantomime Routine | Non-finalist Talent Award | |||||
| 1957 | Holly Arnel | New London | Drama | |||||
| 1956 | Margaret Doyon | Littleton | Percussion | |||||
| 1955 | Margaret Johnson | Dover | Dramatic Monologue | |||||
| 1954 | Mae Allen | Epping | Drama | |||||
| 1953 | Elaine Ruggles | New Castle | Vocal | |||||
| 1952 | Barbara Temperly | Goffstown | ||||||
| 1951 | Coleen Gallant | Laconia | Water Skiing | Top 15 | ||||
| 1950 | Betty Laurie | Concord | ||||||
| 1949 | Flora Sleeper | Laconia | ||||||
| 1948 | Betty Taylor | Rochester | Dramatic Monologue | |||||
| 1947 | Bernice Loiselle | Manchester | Rumba Dance | |||||
| 1946 | No New Hampshire representative at Miss America pageant[25] | |||||||
| 1945 | Lee Corey | Spofford | ||||||
| 1944 | Jackie Edson | Plaistow | ||||||
| 1943 | No New Hampshire representative at Miss America pageant[26] [27] [28] [29] | |||||||
| 1942 | ||||||||
| 1941 | ||||||||
| 1940 | ||||||||
| 1939 | Lois Marjorie Truax | Nashua | ||||||
| 1938 | No New Hampshire representative at Miss America pageant[30] [31] | |||||||
| 1937 | ||||||||
| 1936 | Edna Jones | Roxbury | Top 15 | |||||
| 1935 | No New Hampshire representative at Miss America pageant[32] | |||||||
| 1934 | No national pageant was held[33] | |||||||
| 1933 | Letha Erlene Langley | Caribou, Maine | 19 | Letha was chosen as Miss Eastern Maine in 1933, and for unknown reasons, she was appointed the Miss New Hampshire title to compete in the 1933 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, N.J. where she was a non-finalist contestant. This information was finally discovered in October 2023 contained in two newspaper articles from the Bangor Daily News. Letha Erlene Langley Karwowski died at age 88 on Dec. 17, 2002 in Chapin, South Carolina. | ||||
| 1932 | No national pageants were held | |||||||
| 1931 | ||||||||
| 1930 | ||||||||
| 1929 | ||||||||
| 1928 | ||||||||
| 1927 | No New Hampshire representative at Miss America pageant[34] [35] | |||||||
| 1926 | ||||||||
| 1925 | Helen Kanehl | Manchester | Miss Manchester | |||||
| 1924 | No New Hampshire representative at Miss America pageant[36] [37] [38] [39] | |||||||
| 1923 | ||||||||
| 1922 | ||||||||
| 1921 |