The 18 States That Have Never Won Miss USA… And The One That Dominates More Than Any Other

Miss USA might be America’s most iconic beauty pageant – but not every US state has managed to win during its 73 year history.

Texas has the most wins – an impressive ten. Golden State California clinches silver for the number of wins its queens have scored six.

Meanwhile, HawaiiWashington Dc, Michigan and Illinois have four winners apiece.

But other states, such as Alaska, New Jerseyand Florida struggled to garner any winners at the final competition.

Cherelle Mukoko, who has previously won Miss Jamaica UK and Miss Universe Londonsaid it all comes down to training and visibility.

‘Doing well at Miss USA often comes down to a blend of preparation, confidence, and authenticity,’ Mukoko told the Daily Mail. ‘Contestants who know who they are and can communicate that with ease tend to stand out.’

States like Texas and California have long histories of success and a strong support system, including well-established coaching networks, experienced directors, and a competitive market, she said.

‘Many contestants from those states start young or have access to top-tier training in areas like walking, styling, and public speaking. That infrastructure gives them a natural advantage.

‘It’s not necessarily about the state itself, but about the opportunities available within it.’

The size of the state can also matter in terms of visibility. Many of the states that struggle to produce a crowned beauty queen have smaller populations and don’t dominate national headlines regularly, leaving contestants with fewer options to find adequate training.

‘It can be harder to prepare at the same level as someone from a larger state with a more established system,’ the mother-of-two said.

Plus, in states with more winners, the competition is more fierce earlier on, which can help elevate a contestant’s game upon entering the national stage.

‘When you’ve gone up against 100 strong competitors to win Miss Texas or Miss New York, you arrive at Miss USA already battle-tested,’ Mukoko said.

Shanna Bynes, who works for IMAGE Skincare, the official skincare of the pageant, and travels to the contests, said a lot of it had to do with popularity.

‘I can tell you first-hand that it really does depend on the area and location/state that can increase visibility for each of the pageant contestants for Miss (USA),’ she told Daily Mail.

‘I noticed that the most popular states we would see a lot more marketing and advertisement supporting Miss (USA) all over billboards, radio, smaller mom and pop retail locations and even some of the larger brand retailers,’ she said.

Tonight’s pageant is the first with new CEO Thom Brodeur, who spoke with the Daily Mail last month about his new position.

He outlined how he’d love to introduce a reality TV show spinoff, bring in fan voting, and show scoring on the screen again in future, like the old days.

Here, the Daily Mail takes a look at the 18 states that have never taken home the crown from the national pageant

Alaska

Although Alaska has never won, Patricia Marlin placed second runner-up in 1964 – the closest it had ever come to taking the crown.

The isolated state didn’t even make the top 20 states in the 2024 competition.

Brenna Schaake, of Fairbanks, represented The Last Frontier in last year’s pageant and is the current reigning champion in the state.

Arizona

Arizona has ‘won’ once, by default, after the 1980 winner, South Carolina’s Shawn Weatherly went on to win the Miss Universe title, causing her to lose the Miss USA title.

Jineane Ford assumed the title, giving the Grand Canyon State its first winner.

However, just because Arizona never officially won the national pageant doesn’t mean Arizonan women don’t fare well in the competition.

It twice had the first runner-up, including Ford, and had a second runner-up three times. It also made it to the semifinal 17 times.

However, the state had not seen its contestants make the top 15 since 2016 when Chelsea Myers did.

Colorado

The last time Colorado came close to winning was in 2010, when Jessica Hartman placed fourth overall, behind Michigan, Oklahoma, and Virginia.

In the 2024 pageant, Colorado’s Jessi Kalambayi made the top 10.

The Boulder State placed in the semifinals nine times, but had rarely been placed among the runner-ups.

Delaware

Delaware didn’t place in the Miss USA finals until 2015 when Renee Bull made the top 11.

Joe Biden’s home state never had a runner-up.

In last year’s competition, the state was represented by Alysa Bainbridge, who had previously won Miss Pennsylvania 2022.

Florida

Like Arizona, the Sunshine State accumulated an inherited title after Sylvia Hitchcock won Miss Universe in 1967.

Florida’s Cheryl Patton took over the title, despite being the second runner-up after Susan Ellen Bradley, the first runner-up, declined to take the crown.

The last time the state placed in the competition was in 2023 with Caroline Dixon who made the top 20.

It had plenty of runner-ups over the years, including in 2019 when Madison Anderson placed first runner-up. Anderson went on to win Miss Universe Puerto Rico and landed runner-up at the 2019 Miss Universe competition.

Georgia

The Peach State had one first runner-up and third runner-up, six second runner-ups, and seven fourth runner-ups but has never scooped the top prize.

It had nine women place in the semifinals.

Erin Nance came in just behind the winner in 1993.

Indiana

The last time Indiana got close to the crown was in 2020 when Alexis Nicole Lete placed fourth overall.

But the closest the Midwestern state came to nabbing the sparkly prize was in 1981 when Holli Rene Dennis came in second.

Similarly to other states, Indiana had nine women make the semifinals, and a handful made runner-up.

Maine

Although Maine has no titleholders, at least one of its former contestants broke new ground for Miss USA.

Juliana house, who competed in 2023, became the first married woman to participate.

The Miss Universe Organization, which owns Miss USA, announced the change to allow married, divorced, and pregnant women compete in the competition in 2022. The 2023 pageant was the first for the new rules to come into effect.

A year later, the competition also dropped the age limit, allowing women over the age of 28 to compete starting in 2024. Previously only those between 18 and 28 could.

Maine, however, had eight semifinalists and one fourth runner-up.

The last time the Pine Tree State placed in the competition was in 2018 when Marina Gray placed in the top 10.

Maryland

Unofficially, Maryland had one win in the competition in 1957. However, controversy struck after it was discovered the winner, Mary Leona Gage, had been married with two children. At the time married women could not compete.

She was dethroned after the discovery.

It is also home to one inherited title in 2012 when Olivia Culpo won Miss Universe, passing down her Miss USA crown to Nana Meriwether.

Montana

Montana made headlines when its 2022 winner, Heather Lee O’Keefe, became the ringleader of contestants coming out against the organization, claiming the pageant was rigged.

Montana has not had a contestant place in the competition for several decades, as the last one was Sharon Tietjen in 1958. She made the top 15.

The Treasure State placed three times in total.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire almost took the crown in 2000, when Bridget Vezina placed first runner-up.

The last time the state placed was in 2022 with Camila Sacco in the top 12.

The state had a total of four semifinalists.

New Jersey

The East Coast state placed second in 2017 with Chhavi Verg. It also got first runner-up in 1991 with Charlotte Ray.

The last time it placed was in 2023 when Derby Chukwudi made the top 20.

New Jersey has produced a considerable number of Miss USA semifinalists with 14 making it to the penultimate contest and three going on to take second place.

North Dakota

North Dakota nearly took home the title in 2021 when Caitlyn Vogel placed first runner-up. The same happened in 2014 with Audra Mari.

The Great Plains state had one third runner-up and a fourth runner-up.

Oregon

Oregon had 10 semifinalists, but never a winner.

The closest the Beaver State ever got to the crown was in 1976 when Gail Atchison placed second runner-up.

The state did place in the top 10 three times in 1984, 2001, and 2004.

South Dakota

South Dakota had four semifinalists and a single fourth runner-up.

In 2018, Madison Nipe made the top five, and in 2021, Caroline Pettey placed in the top 16.

West Virginia

The last time West Virginia placed in the competition was in 2022 when Krystian Leonard made the top 16.

The state had two first runner-ups in 1957 and 1984 and a total of nine semifinalists over the years.

Wisconsin

The closest Wisconsin got to the title was second runner-up in 1974 and 2023.

Alexis Loomans was the latest to place in the state.

America’s Dairyland also had five semifinalists.

Wyoming

The state placed twice, with the latest in 2010 with Claire Schreiner.

The closest Wyoming got was in 1986 when Beth King placed in the top 10.