Miss Arkansas USA explained

Miss Arkansas USA
Formation:1952
Type:Beauty pageant
Headquarters:Shawnee
Location:Kansas
Membership:Miss USA
Language:English
Key People:John M. Vannatta
Jason Vannatta
Jennifer Vannatta-Fisher
Website:Official website

Miss Arkansas USA, previously known as Miss Arkansas Universe,[1] [2] is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arkansas in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is directed by Vanbros and Associates.[3] [4] [5] [6]

Arkansas's most successful placement was in 1982, when Terri Utley was crowned Miss USA. The most recent placement was Mackenzie Hinderberger in 2023 who placed in the Top 20. Eight Miss Arkansas USA titleholders were former Miss Arkansas Teen USA titleholders who competed at Miss Teen USA. The longest reigning titleholder was Haley Rose Pontius in 2020, having held the title for 18 months, while the shortest titleholder was Stephanie Barber in 2021, having held the title for 10 months and 18 days.

The state pageant was directed by Premier Pageants from 2002 to 2007 before becoming part of the Vanbros organization, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas. In 2018, Vanbros chose Fort Smith, Arkansas as the new host city of the pageant. Other host cities for the pageant have included Bentonville, Little Rock, Magnolia, and West Memphis.[7] [8] [9]

The current Miss Arkansas USA is Madeline Bohlman of Fayetteville who was crowned on April 14, 2024 at the OCCC Performing Arts Center in Oklahoma City. She will represent Arkansas at Miss USA 2024.

Results summary

Placements

Arkansas holds a record of 15 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

Winners

Color key
  • Winner
  • Runner-Up
  • Semifinalist
width=5% Yearwidth=15%Namewidth=15%Hometownwidth=3%Agewidth=12%Local titlewidth=14%Placement at Miss USAwidth=17%Special awards at Miss USAwidth=31%Notes
2024Madeline BohlmanFayetteville22Miss Northwest ArkansasMiss Congeniality
2023Mackenzie HinderbergerFarmington23Miss FarmingtonTop 20
2022Rylie WagnerOzark21Miss Ozark
2021Stephanie BarberFayetteville22Miss Northwest Arkansas
  • Shortest reigning Miss Arkansas USA
2020Haley Rose PontiusHouston23Miss Richland Hills
  • Previously Miss Teen International 2013 and IJM International Miss 2017
  • Longest reigning Miss Arkansas USA
2019Savannah Skidmore[10] Calico Rock23Miss White RiverTop 5
2018Lauren WeaverGreenwood21Miss Greenwood
2017Arynn JohnsonHot Springs19Miss Hot Springs
2016Abby Floyd[12] Searcy19Miss Searcy Top 10
2015Leah BlefkoFayetteville21Miss White River
2014Helen WisnerFayetteville25Miss White River
2013Hannah BillingsleyFranklin22Miss North Arkansas
2012Kelsey DowJonesboro21Miss Craighead CountyTop 16
2011Lakynn McBride20Miss Central Arkansas
2010Adrielle Churchill Dover24 Miss White River Top 15
2009Chanley PainterConway24Miss Conway Top 10
2008Rachel HowellsAlma21Miss Washington County
2007Kelly GeorgeSherwood24
2006Kimberly ForsythCabot26
2005Jessica FurrerConway22Top 15
2004Jennifer SherrillSherwood19Miss Photogenic
2003Taylor CarlisleJacksonville21
2002Amber BoatmanNorphlet23
2001Jessie DavisHarrison
2000Whitney MooreCabot22
1999Allison Heavener
1998Kami TiceHuntsville
1997Tamara HenryLittle Rock25
1996Tiffany Parks20
1995Kristen Bettis
1994Hannah HilliardLittle Rock
1993Kati FishHot Springs
1992Jona Garner
1991Angela Rockwell
1990Kathryn HarrisPine Bluff18
1989Paige YandellGreenwood
1988Melissa StaplesCalion
1987Sheri SmeltzerSmackover
1986Rhonda BlaylockSpringdale
1985Susan DeanOsceola
1984Shelly BoydManila
1983Debra BaltzParis
1982Terri Utley[14] Cabot20Miss USA 1982
1981Lynnanne DerryberryJerusalem
1980Susie OwensJacksonville
1979Cynthia CaldwellJacksonville
1978Donna FunderburkEl Dorado
1977Debra DureeTexarkana
1976Sonia Kay JinesConway
1975Robin FieldsHot Springs
1974Gina Huddle
1973Christal PhifferTexarkana
1972Susan Tichenor[15] Pine Bluff21
1971Paula Keith[16] Little Rock20
1970Mary Dial[17] Malvern21Top 15
1969Leonette Reed
1968Ann SmithwickJacksonville19Top 15
1967Katy Wurst[18] [19] Fort Smith19
1966Peggy Jones
1965Jeri HaynieEl Dorado
1964Barbara McGlothlin
1963Cheryl Bechtelheimer
1962Linda RigganLeola
  • 2nd runner up at Miss American Beauty 1964 (Title for US Rep to Miss International pageant)
1961Mickey Lambert
1960Gene Chambers
1959Donna NeedhamTop 15
1958Nancy Hill
1957Helen GarrottTop 15
1956Nancy McCollum2nd Runner-Up[20]
1955Margaret HaywoodJonesboro1st Runner-Up
1954Waydine Nesbitt[21] [22] Magnolia21Top 21
1953Jackie Stucker
1952Barbara Wathen

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Pageant Winners. April 3, 1973. Hope Star. August 20, 2016. Newspapers.com.
  2. News: March 24. March 24, 1969. The Courier News. 1. August 20, 2016. Newspapers.com.
  3. News: Pageant Company Selects Bentonville For Events. Prudenti. Richard Dean. The Morning News. 2007-04-25. 2007-04-26.
  4. News: To Perform. April 4, 1967. El Dorado Daily News. 15. Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Named at ASU. May 6, 1968. Northwest Arkansas Times. 8. August 20, 2016. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Miss Universe for State to Be Named. February 18, 1971. Northwest Arkansas Times. 2. August 20, 2016. Newspapers.com.
  7. News: April 4, 1967 . To Perform . 15 . El Dorado Daily News . Newspapers.com.
  8. News: May 6, 1968 . Named at ASU . 8 . Northwest Arkansas Times . August 20, 2016 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: February 18, 1971 . Miss Universe for State to Be Named . 2 . Northwest Arkansas Times . August 20, 2016 . Newspapers.com.
  10. Web site: Jennifer . Christman . PAPER TRAILS: Former Miss Arkansas wins Miss Arkansas USA crown . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . November 25, 2018.
  11. News: New Miss Arkansas named after Shields wins Miss America . September 12, 2016 . Arkansas Online.
  12. News: Searcy woman named Miss Arkansas USA. Rolf. Carol. December 13, 2015. Arkansas Online. August 20, 2016.
  13. Web site: Sarah . Michaud . Brianne . Tracy . Dan + Shay's Shay Mooney Marries Hannah Billingsley — All the Wedding Details! . . October 21, 2017.
  14. News: Coghlan . Curtis . May 14, 1982 . Miss Arkansas Crowned Miss USA . 4 . The Daily Journal . May 20, 2016 . Newspapers.com.
  15. News: Miss Arkansas Universe named. Associated Press. April 17, 1972. Hope Star. 6. August 20, 2016. Newspapers.com.
  16. News: Shorts. May 11, 1971. The Camden News. 2. August 20, 2016. Newspapers.com.
  17. News: Arkansas Beauty. May 1, 1970. Northwest Arkansas Times. 18. Newspapers.com.
  18. News: UA Freshman Places Second in Contest. May 1, 1967. Northwest Arkansas Times. 8. August 20, 2016. Newspapers.com.
  19. News: Magnolia Girl Wins Contest. May 1, 1967. Hope Star. 1. August 20, 2016. Newspapers.com.
  20. News: Clergyman's daughter may be Miss Universe. July 19, 1956. Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. 17. Newspapers.com.
  21. News: Pick Finalists for Miss USA . 22 April 2023 . The Philadelphia Inquirer . 22 July 1954.
  22. News: Gives Up Title, Seeks New Crown . 22 April 2023 . Tulsa Daily World . 24 June 1954.