| Miss Georgia | |
| Formation: | 1922 |
| Type: | Miss America state pageant |
| Headquarters: | Columbus |
| Location: | Georgia |
| Membership: | Miss America |
| Language: | English |
| Website: | Official website |
The Miss Georgia competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Georgia in the Miss America pageant.
Georgia has won the Miss America crown twice - Neva Jane Langley of Lakeland, Florida who won the 1953 Miss America title, and in 2015, when Betty Cantrell of Warner Robins was named Miss America 2016, making her the first native-born Miss Georgia to hold the Miss America title.
In the fall of 2018, the Miss America Organization (MAO) terminated Miss Georgia organization's license as well as licenses from Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia.[1] [2] On December 22, 2018; the MAO reinstated the license for the Miss Georgia organization to Trina Pruitt.[3]
Ludwidg Louizaire of Rome was crowned Miss Georgia 2024 on June 15, 2024 at River Center for the Performing Arts in Columbus. She will represent Georgia and compete for the title of Miss America 2025.
The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Georgia 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 | Ludwidg "Lulu" Louizaire | Rome | 26 | Miss Rome | Vocal | TBA | TBA | Fourth black woman to hold the Miss Georgia title |
| 2023 | Tara Schiphof | King | 25 | Miss Capital City | Dance | |||
| 2022 | Kelsey Hollis | Warner Robins | 23 | Miss Capital City | Vocal | 4th Runner-Up | Preliminary Social Impact Pitch | Previously Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen 2016, 2nd runner-up at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2017[4] |
| 2021 | Karson Pennington[5] | Augusta | 23 | Miss University of Georgia | Tap Dance | Equity and Justice 1st runner-up | 1st runner-up at Miss Georgia Teen USA 2016 and 4th runner-up at Miss Georgia Teen USA 2017[6] Later 2nd runner-up at Miss Georgia USA 2023 | |
| 2020 | No pageant held | |||||||
| 2019 | Victoria Hill[7] | Canton | 20 | Miss Capital City | Classical Vocal, "Chacun le sait" from La fille du régiment | 1st runner-up[8] | Preliminary On Stage Interview Award[9] Preliminary Talent Award[10] | |
| 2018 | Annie Jorgensen[11] | Athens | 22 | Miss International City | Jazz Dance, "Feeling Good" by Michael Bublé | Quality of Life Award Finalist[12] | Previously Miss Wisconsin's Outstanding Teen 2011[13] Previously Miss High School America 2013[14] Later a contestant on season 3 of Joe Millionaire | |
| 2017 | Alyssa Beasley[15] | Brunswick | 19 | Miss Southeast Georgia | Lyrical Dance, "When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground" | Top 12[16] | Later Miss Georgia USA 2020[17] Top 16 at Miss USA 2020 pageant[18] | |
| 2016 | Patricia Ford[19] | Johns Creek | 22 | Miss Capital City | Ballet en Pointe, "Explosive" by Bond | Women in Business Scholarship Award[20] | 1st runner-up at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant | |
| 2015 | Adeline Kenerly[21] | Jesup | 21 | Miss Capital City | Dance/Twirl | colspan=3 | ||
| Betty Cantrell[22] [23] | Warner Robins | 20 | Miss Warner Robins | Classical Vocal, "Tu Tu Piccolo Iddio" from Madame Butterfly | Winner[24] | Preliminary Talent Award[25] | ||
| 2014 | Maggie Bridges[26] | Brinson | 21 | Miss Capital City | Vocal, "Bridge over Troubled Water" | CMN Miracle Maker 1st runner-up[27] STEM Scholarship Award | ||
| 2013 | Carly Mathis[28] | Leesburg | 22 | Miss Atlanta | Vocal, "On My Own" | Top 10 | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2012 pageant |
| 2012 | Leighton Jordan[29] | Suwanee | 19 | Miss Capital City | Ballet en Pointe, "Malagueña" | |||
| 2011 | Michaela Lackey[30] | Marietta | 21 | Miss Heart of Lakes | Classical Ballet En Pointe, "Tournament Gallop" by Louis Moreau Gottschalk | Previously Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen 2007 | ||
| 2010 | Christina McCauley[31] | Marietta | 21 | Miss Southern Heartland | Classical Vocal, "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen" | Quality of Life Award Finalist | ||
| 2009 | Emily Cook | Marietta | 21 | Miss Cobb County | Oboe, Gershwin's Prelude No. 1 | 1st runner-up at Miss Georgia 2009 pageant, assumed title when Higgins resigned[32] | ||
| Kristina Higgins | Dacula | Miss Capital City | N/A | Less than 24 hours after winning the crown, Higgins stepped down from her role as Miss Georgia due to her responsibilities as a middle school teacher | ||||
| 2008 | Chasity Hardman[33] | Columbus | 24 | Miss Capital City | Vocal, "Home" from The Wiz | 1st runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | Received a "Golden Sash" and automatic Top 15 placement at Miss America 2009 pageant on Miss America: Countdown to the Crown |
| 2007 | Leah Massee | Fitzgerald | 24 | Miss Capital City | Vocal, "If I Had My Way" | Top 10 | ||
| 2006 | Amanda Kozak | Warner Robins | 22 | Miss Valdosta | Tap Dance, "Baby I'm a Star" | 2nd runner-up | 1st runner-up at National Sweetheart 2005 pageant Later Miss Georgia USA 2008 | |
| 2005 | Monica Pang | Atlanta | 25 | Miss Lake Lanier | Classical Piano, "Polonaise in G Sharp Minor" by Frédéric Chopin | 1st runner-up | Previously National Sweetheart 2004 | |
| 2004 | Danica Tisdale | Atlanta | 24 | Miss Atlanta | Vocal, "Please Send Me Someone to Love" | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 2003 | Andrea Bailey | Evans | 24 | Miss Savannah | Vocal, "Sometimes I Dream" | Top 15 | Previously National Sweetheart 1999 | |
| 2002 | Amy Mulkey | Gainesville | 23 | Miss Atlanta | Classical Piano, "Toccata" by Aram Khachaturian | Preliminary On-Stage Question Award | ||
| 2001 | Emily Foster | Cornelia | 23 | Miss Northwest Georgia | Piano, "Majesty" | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | ||
| 2000 | Pamela Kennedy | LaGrange | 23 | Miss Atlanta | Vocal, "Vienna" | |||
| 1999 | Osjha Anderson | Glennville | 24 | Miss University of Georgia | Vocal, "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1998 | April Brinson | Bainbridge | 20 | Miss Greater Southwest Georgia | Vocal, "Tell Him" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1997 | Candice Little | Hartwell | 23 | Miss Lake Lanier | Tap Dance, "Jump 'N Jive" | |||
| 1996 | Shea Olliff | Augusta | 24 | Miss Northeast Georgia | Popular Vocal, "Can You Read My Mind" | Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship | ||
| 1995 | Rachel English | Thomaston | 21 | Miss University of Georgia | Tap Dance, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" | |||
| 1994 | Andrea Krahn | Calhoun | 20 | Miss West Coast Georgia | Vocal, "I Fall to Pieces" | 3rd runner-up | Assumed Miss Georgia title when Grogan resigned | |
| Joanne Grogan[34] | Marietta | 21 | Miss University of Georgia | N/A | Resigned within 24 hours of winning title to pursue career opportunities Currently a meteorologist for Fox 5 Atlanta under married name, Joanne Feldman[35] | |||
| 1993 | Kara Martin | Statesboro | 23 | Miss Southeast Georgia | Tap Dance, "Mack the Knife" | 1st runner-up | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | Contestant at National Sweetheart 1991 pageant |
| 1992 | Stephanie Michels | Marietta | 24 | Miss Southeast Georgia | Vocal / Dance, "The Phantom of the Opera" | Appeared in Broadway productions of The Life and Contact | ||
| 1991 | Kimberly Hardee | Lilburn | 20 | Miss Stone Mountain | Vocal selections from The Phantom of the Opera | Reality TV pageant coach on Lifetime's Kim of Queens | ||
| 1990 | Darla Pruett | Canton | 22 | Miss Northeast Georgia | Vocal, "Some Enchanted Evening" from South Pacific | Non-finalist Interview Award (tie) | ||
| 1989 | Jamie Price | Tucker | 22 | Miss DeKalb County | Popular Vocal, "When You Wish upon a Star" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1988 | Frances Woodbury Frazier | Rome | 26 | Miss Peachtree City | Popular Vocal, "Amen" | Shed died at age 28 on May 8, 1991 after having a heart attack during a workout at a local gym. | ||
| 1987 | Kelly Ann Jerles | Perry | 20 | Miss Cobb County | Vocal, "Where the Boys Are" | Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Swimsuit Award | Previously Miss Georgia Teen USA 1983 3rd runner-up at Miss Teen USA 1983 pageant | |
| 1986 | Marlesa Ball[36] | Thomasville | 23 | Miss Southeast Georgia | Vocal, "Amazing Grace" | Top 10 | ||
| 1985 | Samantha Mohr[37] | Columbus | 23 | Miss Columbus | Popular Vocal, "Wind Beneath My Wings" | |||
| 1984 | Camille Bentley | Thomasville | 19 | Miss Thomasville | Popular Vocal, "Until Now" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1983 | Tammy Fulwider | Columbus | 24 | Miss Southeast Georgia | Tap Dance / Vocal, "42nd Street" | |||
| 1982 | Bobbie Eakes | Warner Robins | 21 | Miss University of Georgia | Vocal, "Let's Hear It For Me" from Funny Lady | Top 10 | Sister of Miss Georgia 1979, Sandra Eakes Later starred as Macy Alexander on The Bold and the Beautiful | |
| 1981 | Kristl Evans | Atlanta | 21 | Miss West Central Georgia | Vocal, "Ring Them Bells" | 2nd runner-up | ||
| 1980 | Lynn Smith | Savannah | 23 | Miss Savannah | Vocal Medley, "Get Happy" & "Hallelujah" | |||
| 1979 | Sandra Eakes | Warner Robins | 22 | Miss Macon | Popular Vocal, "The Trolley Song" & "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" | Non-finalist Talent Award | Sister of Miss Georgia 1982, Bobbie Eakes | |
| 1978 | Deborah Mosely | Atlanta | 21 | Miss Dekalb County | Vocal, "Summertime" & "I Got Plenty of Nothing" from Porgy and Bess | |||
| 1977 | Pam Souders | Thomasville | 18 | Miss Thomasville | Classical Vocal, "Sempre Libera" from La traviata | |||
| 1976 | Sandy Adamson | Atlanta | 20 | Miss South Cobb | Tap Dance, "I Can Do That" | Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship | ||
| 1975 | Seva Day | Thomasville | 19 | Miss Thomasville | Vocal, "My Man" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1974 | Gail Nelson | Atlanta | 22 | Miss Atlanta | Vocal Medley, "So Long, Dearie," "Put on Your Sunday Clothes," & "Before the Parade Passes By" from Hello, Dolly! | |||
| 1973 | Gail Bullock | Thomasville | 19 | Miss West Georgia College | Ballet, Theme from Summer of '42 | |||
| 1972 | Lisa Lawalin | Rome | 20 | Miss Cedar Valley | Vocal, "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady | |||
| 1971 | Cynthia Cook | Smyrna | 20 | Miss Cobb County | Ventriloquist Act, Singing & Interpretations | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1970 | Nancy Carr | Midland | 22 | Miss Hamilton on the Square | Popular Vocal, "I Wish You Love" | |||
| 1969 | Marilyn Olley | Marietta | 19 | Miss Cobb County | Dramatic Interpretation & Dance, Music from Romeo and Juliet | |||
| 1968 | Burma Davis | Warner Robins | 20 | Miss Warner Robins | Vocal, "This Is My Country" | |||
| 1967 | Sandra McRee | Atlanta | 19 | Miss Atlanta | Classical Vocal, "Caro Mio Ben" | |||
| 1966 | Maudie Walker | Tifton | 20 | Miss Tifton | Interpretive Dance | |||
| 1965 | Mary Jane Yates | Savannah | 20 | Miss Coffee County | Semi-classical Vocal, "With a Song In My Heart" | |||
| 1964 | Vivian Davis | Augusta | 19 | Miss Augusta | Skit & Vocal | |||
| 1963 | Nancy Middleton | Macon | Miss Macon | Semi-classical Vocal | ||||
| 1962 | Jeannie Cross | Albany | 18 | Miss Albany | Jazz Dance | Top 10 | ||
| 1961 | Glenda Brunson | Savannah | 18 | Miss Savannah | Spanish Dance | |||
| 1960 | Sandra Tally | Homerville | 18 | Miss Pierce County | Piano, "Deep Purple" | |||
| 1959 | Kayanne Shoffner | Calhoun | 19 | Miss Gordon County | Dramatic Reading | |||
| 1958 | Jeanette Ardell | Marietta | 18 | Miss Cobb County | Archery | |||
| 1957 | Jody Shattuck | Atlanta | 20 | Miss Athens | Vocal & Dance "Namely You" from Li'l Abner | 1st runner-up | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |
| 1956 | Jane Morris | East Point | 18 | Miss East Point | Ballet | |||
| 1955 | Jeanine Parris | Atlanta | 22 | Miss Glenwood | Dramatic Monologue | |||
| 1954 | Mary Jane Doar | Macon | 19 | Miss Macon | Vocal Medley of songs by George Gershwin | |||
| 1953 | Lucia Hutchinson | Macon | 22 | Miss Macon | Operatic Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" from Samson et Dalila & "Love Is Where You Find It" from The Kissing Bandit | |||
| 1952 | Neva Jane Langley | Macon | 19 | Miss Macon | Classical Piano, "Toccata" | Winner | Preliminary Swimsuit Award Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1951 | Carol Frances Taylor | Alma | 20 | Monologue | ||||
| 1950 | Louise Thomas | Fitzgerald | Miss Fitzgerald | |||||
| 1949 | Dorothy Johnston | LaGrange | Miss Troup County | Vocal from H.M.S. Pinafore | ||||
| 1948 | Jerry Long | Atlanta | Miss Atlanta | Tap Dance, "Cherokee" | Top 15 | |||
| Gwendolyn West | Statesboro | Miss Georgia | ||||||
| 1947 | Joy Elizabeth Smith | Atlanta | Miss Atlanta | Vocal, "Eccentric Dance" | Multiple Georgia representatives Competed under local title at Miss America pageant | |||
| Robbie Sauls | Cuthbert | Miss Georgia | Vocal, "Smilin' Through" | |||||
| 1946 | Janey Miller | Atlanta | Miss Atlanta | Classical Vocal, "Vissi d'arte" | 2nd runner-up | Preliminary Swimsuit Award Preliminary Talent Award | Multiple Georgia representatives Competed under local title at Miss America pageant | |
| Mary Lou Henderson | Columbus | Miss Columbus | ||||||
| 1945 | Pauline Walker | Miss Atlanta | Multiple Georgia representatives Competed under local title at Miss America pageant | |||||
| Doris Coker | Columbus | Miss Columbus | Vocal, "Candy" | |||||
| 1944 | Mary Ann Linane | Miss Atlanta | Multiple Georgia representatives Competed under local title at Miss America pageant | |||||
| Trudie Hayward | Atlanta | Miss Georgia | ||||||
| 1943 | Barbara Britton | Miss Atlanta | Competed under local title at Miss America pageant | |||||
| 1942 | No Georgia representative at Miss America pageant[38] | |||||||
| 1941 | Esther Shepard | Griffin | Miss Georgia | Top 15 | Multiple Georgia representatives Competed under local title at Miss America pageant | |||
| Gladys Collins | Savannah | Miss Savannah | ||||||
| 1940 | No Georgia representative at Miss America pageant[39] | |||||||
| 1939 | Mary Durrance | Glennville | Miss Georgia | Vocal | Competed under local title at Miss America pageant | |||
| 1938 | Alice Talton | Atlanta | Miss Atlanta | Top 15 | ||||
| 1937 | Lorraine Mayfield | Atlanta | Miss Atlanta | Multiple Georgia representatives Competed under local title at Miss America pageant | ||||
| Olga Strickland | Miss Augusta | |||||||
| Carolyn Cumbie | Miss Savannah Beach | |||||||
| 1936 | Ora York | Atlanta | Miss Atlanta | Multiple Georgia representatives Competed under local title at Miss America pageant | ||||
| Hilda Veale | Watkinsville | Miss Georgia | ||||||
| 1935 | LaRue Wilson | Atlanta | Miss Atlanta | |||||
| 1934 | No national pageant was held[40] | |||||||
| 1933 | No Georgia representative at Miss America pageant[41] | |||||||
| 1932 | ||||||||
| 1931 | ||||||||
| 1930 | ||||||||
| 1929 | ||||||||
| 1928 | ||||||||
| 1927 | ||||||||
| 1926 | ||||||||
| 1925 | ||||||||
| 1924 | Estelle Bradley | Miss Atlanta | [42] | Top 10 | ||||
| Anne Davis | Miss Columbus | |||||||
| 1923 | Frances Thayer[43] | Atlanta | Miss Atlanta | |||||
| 1922 | Frances Gurr[44] | Macon | Miss Macon | |||||
| 1921 | No Georgia representative at Miss America pageant[45] |