Miss California USA facts for kids
Formation | 1952 |
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Type | Beauty pageant |
Headquarters | Santa Monica |
Location | |
Membership
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Miss USA |
Official language
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English |
Key people
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Kristen Bradford |
The Miss California USA pageant is a big event where a young woman is chosen to represent California in the national Miss USA competition. The winner of this state pageant gets the title of Miss California USA. Crown Diva Productions is in charge of organizing this exciting event.
California has had a lot of success in the Miss USA pageant. Six times, a Miss California USA has won the national Miss USA crown! These winners were Terry Huntingdon (in 1959), Maria Remenyi (in 1966), Summer Bartholomew (in 1975), Julie Hayek (in 1983), Shannon Marketic (in 1992), and Alyssa Campanella (in 2011).
The current Miss California USA is Tianna Clark from Perris, California. She won her title on June 18, 2023. Tianna then represented California at the Miss USA 2023 pageant and made it into the Top 20 finalists.
Contents
History of the Miss California USA Pageant
The Miss California USA pageant has been run by many different people and groups over the years. Carolee Munger was one of the producers. Before her, Guyrex Productions managed the pageant for several years. They even put on televised shows with more than 100 people taking part!
Before Guyrex, Dr. Leanord Stallcup was in charge. He took over from Faye Smith, who did a great job leading the pageant through the 1970s and 1980s. Later, Top 10 Productions, Inc., based in San Diego, took over. This group was led by Pam Wilson and Alex Kuty, who have a lot of experience in pageants and fashion.
Top 10 Productions took over from K2 Productions in 2013. K2 Productions ran the pageant for nine years. During their time, California became the state with the most placements at Miss USA. They also made the pageant the largest state competition in Miss USA history and brought back live television broadcasts after more than 10 years!
In the beginning, K2 Productions was led by Keylee Sue Sanders, who was Miss Teen USA 1995, and Keith Lewis. Later, Keith Lewis directed it with Shanna Moakler, who was Miss USA 1995. In October 2021, Kristen Bradford of Crown Diva Productions became the new director for the California pageants.
In 2009, Carrie Prejean was the first runner-up at Miss USA 2009. She later had to give up her Miss California USA title. The pageant organizers said it was because she broke parts of her contract.
California has had a Miss USA winner in almost every decade, except the 2000s. California is the second most successful state in terms of how many times its representatives have placed high in the Miss USA pageant. Only Texas has more high placements.
Shauna Gambill is special because she is the only Miss California USA who had also won the national Miss Teen USA title before. She won Miss Teen USA in 1994. As Miss California USA in 1998, Shauna Gambill was the first runner-up at Miss USA. Also, three Miss California USA titleholders have competed in the Miss America pageant. Two winners also won the Miss Teenage California Scholarship Pageant.
Miss California USA Winners and Their Achievements
California has an amazing record of 52 high placements at the Miss USA pageant. This makes it the second-best state overall, right after Texas and ahead of South Carolina.
Miss USA Winners from California
- Miss USAs: Terry Huntingdon (1959), Maria Remenyi (1966), Summer Bartholomew (1975), Julie Hayek (1983), Shannon Marketic (1992), Alyssa Campanella (2011)
Top Finalists at Miss USA
- 1st Runners-Up: Pamela Stettler (1961), Susan Bradley (1967), Diana Magaña (1988), Shauna Gambill (1998), Brittany Hogan (2005), Tamiko Nash (2006), Carrie Prejean (2009)
- 2nd Runners-Up: Kim Hobson (1972), Diane Schock (1991), Angelique Breaux (1999)
- 3rd Runners-Up: Donna Schurr (1955), Marilyn Tindall (1962), Gayle Gorrell (1974), Pamela Gergely (1977), Cynthia Kerby (1981), Meagan Tandy (2007)
- 4th Runners-Up: Francine Herack (1963), Troas Hayes (1969), Kelly Parsons (1986)
- Top 5: Nadia Mejía (2016)
- Top 10/12: Karin Morrell (1971), Carol Herrema (1973), Joni Pennock (1976), Donna Adrain (1978), Linda Fogarty (1979), Christina Faust (1989), Jane Olvera (1993), Tarah Peters (2002), Nicole Johnson (2010), Cassandra Kunze (2014), India Williams (2017), Kelley Johnson (2018), Allyshia Gupta (2020)
- Top 15/16/20: Marcella Roulette (1953), Sandra Constance (1954), Peggy Jacobson (1957), Donna Brooks (1958), Teri Janssen (1960), Jeanne Venables (1964), Kathryn Hage (1965), Suzanne Fromm (1968), Linda Hall (1970), Raquel Beezley (2008), Mabelynn Capeluj (2013), Tiffany Johnson (2022), Tianna Clark (2023)
Special Awards at Miss USA
- Miss Congeniality: This award is for the contestant who is the friendliest and most helpful. Winners from California include Jeanne Venables (1964), Cynthia Kerby (1981), and Lori Dickerson (1987).
- Miss Photogenic: This award goes to the contestant who photographs best. California winners are Maria Remenyi (1966), Cynthia Kerby (1981), Shannon Marketic (1992), and Cassandra Kunze (2014).
- Best State Costume: Suzanne Fromm (1968) won this award for her amazing costume representing California.
List of Miss California USA Titleholders
- Color key
- Winner
- Runner-Up
- Semifinalist
Year | Name | Hometown | Age | Local Title | Placement at Miss USA | Special awards at Miss USA | Notes |
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2024 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | ||
2023 | Tianna Clark | Perris | 27 | Miss Perris | Top 20 | ||
2022 | Tiffany Johnson | Lancaster | 26 | Miss Lancaster | Top 16 | Was a professional dancer for the Los Angeles Clippers. | |
2021 | Sabrina Lewis | Berkeley | 23 | Miss Berkeley | Later became Miss California 2023. | ||
2020 | Allyshia Gupta | Los Angeles | 25 | Miss Los Angeles | Top 10 | ||
2019 | Erica Dann | San Francisco | 27 | Miss San Francisco | |||
2018 | Kelley Johnson | Los Angeles | 24 | Miss Redondo Beach | Top 10 |
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2017 | India Williams | Lafayette | 20 | Miss Santa Monica | Top 10 | ||
2016 | Nadia Mejia | Diamond Bar | 20 | Miss Corona Del Mar | Top 5 |
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2015 | Natasha Martinez | Chino Hills | 23 | Miss Santa Anita Park | |||
2014 | Cassandra Kunze | San Diego | 20 | Miss Beverly Hills | Top 10 | Miss Photogenic | |
2013 | Mabelynn Capeluj | San Diego | 21 | Miss Greater San Diego | Top 15 |
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2012 | Natalie Pack | Palos Verdes | 22 | Miss Hoag Hospital |
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2011 | Katie Blair | Los Angeles | 23 | Miss Laurel Canyon | did not compete |
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Alyssa Campanella | Los Angeles | 20 | Miss Hillsbourough | Miss USA 2011 |
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2010 | Nicole Johnson | Westlake Village | 24 | Miss Sherwood | Top 10 | Is married to the famous swimmer Michael Phelps. | |
2009 | Tami Farrell | Los Angeles | 25 | Miss Malibu | did not compete |
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Carrie Prejean | San Diego | 21 | Miss La Jolla | 1st Runner-Up |
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2008 | Raquel Beezley | Barstow | 21 | Miss Barstow | Top 15 | ||
2007 | Meagan Tandy | Fontana | 21 | Miss Inland Empire | 3rd Runner-Up | ||
2006 | Tamiko Nash | Los Angeles | 26 | Miss North Los Angeles | 1st Runner-Up | ||
2005 | Brittany Hogan | Escondido | 20 | Miss City of San Diego | 1st Runner-Up | ||
2004 | Ellen Chapman | San Jose | 22 | Miss San Francisco-Bay Area |
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2003 | Candice Sanders | La Habre | 26 | Miss Greater Los Angeles | |||
2002 | Tarah Peters | San Diego | 21 | Miss Greater San Diego | Top 12 | ||
2001 | Jennifer Glover | Castro Valley | 21 | Miss Bay City |
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2000 | Rebekah Ann Keller | Lakewood | 25 | Miss Greater Lakewood |
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1999 | Angelique Breaux | San Diego | 21 | Miss Vista | 2nd Runner-Up |
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1998 | Shauna Gambill | Acton | 21 | Miss Acton | 1st Runner-Up |
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1997 | Alisa Kimble | Lake Elsinore | 27 | Miss Lake Elsinore | |||
1996 | Shauna Lyn Searles | Tustin | 26 | Miss Tustin |
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1995 | Deana Avila | Laguna Niguel | Miss Laguna Niguel | ||||
1994 | Toay Lynn Foster | Oxnard | Miss Tulare County | ||||
1993 | Jane Olvera | Fresno | 23 | Miss Central Valley | Top 12 | ||
1992 | Shauna Lyn Searles | Los Angeles | Miss Sacramento Valley | did not compete |
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Shannon Marketic | Malibu | 21 | Miss West Los Angeles | Miss USA 1992 | Miss Photogenic | ||
1991 | Diane Schock | Fontana | 24 | Miss Claremont | 2nd Runner-Up | ||
1990 | Cynthia Nelson | Gilroy | Miss Gilroy | ||||
1989 | Christina Maria Faust | San Fernando Valley | 23 | Miss San Fernando Valley | Top 10 | ||
1988 | Diana Magaña | Rancho Palos Verdes | 22 | Miss Los Angeles County | 1st Runner-Up |
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1987 | Lori Dickerson | Lodi | Miss San Joaquin County | Miss Congeniality | |||
1986 | Kelly Parsons | Los Angeles | 22 | Miss Northridge | 4th Runner-Up | ||
1985 | Zina Ponder | Long Beach | Miss Long Beach | ||||
1984 | Theresa Ring | San Diego | Miss Greater San Diego | Was a spokesmodel on Star Search in 1987. | |||
1983 | Julie Lynne Hayek | Westwood | 22 | Miss Westwood | Miss USA 1983 | ||
1982 | Suzanne Dewames | Thousand Oaks | Miss Ventura County | ||||
1981 | Cynthia Kerby | Westlake Village | Miss Las Virgenes | 3rd Runner-Up | Miss Photogenic Miss Congeniality |
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1980 | Kari Lloyd | Thousand Oaks | |||||
1979 | Linda Fogarty | Fullerton | Top 12 | ||||
1978 | Donna Adrain | Anaheim | Top 12 | ||||
1977 | Pamela Gergely | San Rafael | 3rd Runner-Up | ||||
1976 | Joni Pennock | Fullerton | 20 | Top 12 | |||
1975 | Summer Bartholomew | Merced | 23 | Miss USA 1975 | |||
1974 | Gayle Gorrell | Los Angeles | 3rd Runner-Up | ||||
1973 | Carol Herrema | Artesia | Top 12 | ||||
1972 | Kim Hobson | San Mateo | 2nd Runner-Up | ||||
1971 | Karin Morrell | Auburn | Top 12 | ||||
1970 | Linda Hall | Los Angeles | Top 15 | ||||
1969 | Troas Hayes | Sacramento | 4th Runner-Up | ||||
1968 | Suzanne Fromm | Los Angeles | Top 15 | Best State Costume | |||
1967 | Susan Bradley | Tustin | 1st Runner-Up | ||||
1966 | Maria Remenyi | El Cerrito | 20 | Miss USA 1966 | Miss Photogenic | ||
1965 | Kathryn Lee Hage | Santa Monica | Top 15 | ||||
1964 | Jeanne Venables | Sacramento | Top 15 | Miss Congeniality | |||
1963 | Francine Herack | Encino | 4th Runner-Up | ||||
1962 | Marilyn Tindall | Los Angeles | 3rd Runner-Up | ||||
1961 | Pamela Stettler | San Rafael | 1st Runner-Up | ||||
1960 | Teri Janssen | Los Angeles | Top 15 | ||||
1959 | Terry Lynn Huntingdon | Mount Shasta | 19 | Miss USA 1959 | |||
1958 | Donna Kay Brooks | Los Angeles | Top 15 | ||||
1957 | Peggy Jacobson | Los Angeles | Top 15 | ||||
1956 | Shirlee Witty | Los Angeles | |||||
1955 | Donna Schurr | Los Angeles | 3rd Runner-Up | ||||
1954 | Sandra Constance | Los Angeles | Top 20 | ||||
1953 | Marcella Roulette | Los Angeles | Top 20 | ||||
1952 | Gloria Maxwell | Los Angeles |
Images for kids
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Sabrina Lewis - Miss California USA.jpg
Sabrina Lewis, Miss California USA 2021
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Katie Blair, Miss California USA 2011
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Carrie Prejean, Miss California USA 2009
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Meagan Tandy, Miss California USA 2007
See also
In Spanish: Miss California USA para niños