Miss California USA facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the state pageant to select a California delegate to the Miss USA pageant. For the Miss America state pageant, see Miss California.

Quick facts for kids
Miss California USA
Formation	1952
Type	Beauty pageant
Headquarters	Santa Monica
Location	California
Membership	Miss USA
Official language	English
Key people	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.

History of the Miss California USA Pageant
Miss California USA Winners and Their Achievements
List of Miss California USA Titleholders
Images for kids
See also

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
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		Previously Miss Colorado 2015 (2nd runner-up at Miss America 2015).
2017	India Williams	Lafayette	20	Miss Santa Monica	Top 10
2016	Nadia Mejia	Diamond Bar	20	Miss Corona Del Mar	Top 5		Daughter of Gerardo Mejia and Kathy Eicher, who was Miss West Virginia USA 1989.
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		Competed in Nuestra Belleza Latina 2015.
2012	Natalie Pack	Palos Verdes	22	Miss Hoag Hospital			Was a contestant in cycle 12 of America's Next Top Model.
2011	Katie Blair	Los Angeles	23	Miss Laurel Canyon	did not compete		Was originally first runner-up, became Miss California USA when Alyssa Campanella won Miss USA. Previously Miss Montana Teen USA 2006 and Miss Teen USA 2006.
2011	Alyssa Campanella	Los Angeles	20	Miss Hillsbourough	Miss USA 2011		Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2007 (1st runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2007).
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		Was originally first runner-up, became Miss California USA when Carrie Prejean was no longer able to hold the title. Previously Miss Oregon Teen USA 2003 and Miss Teen USA 2003.
2009	Carrie Prejean	San Diego	21	Miss La Jolla	1st Runner-Up		Had a controversy related to her answer at Miss USA 2009. Later had her title removed by the Miss California USA Organization.
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			Sister of Sarah Chapman, who was Miss Nevada USA 2011.
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			Previously Miss United States International 1999. Later became Miss California 2002.
2000	Rebekah Ann Keller	Lakewood	25	Miss Greater Lakewood			Previously Miss California 1997 (4th runner-up at Miss America 1997).
1999	Angelique Breaux	San Diego	21	Miss Vista	2nd Runner-Up		Was 1st Runner-up at Miss World USA 1999. Later became Miss World USA 2000 (Top 10 at Miss World 2000).
1998	Shauna Gambill	Acton	21	Miss Acton	1st Runner-Up		Previously Miss California Teen USA 1994 and Miss Teen USA 1994. Later became Miss World USA 1998 (Top 10 at Miss World 1998).
1997	Alisa Kimble	Lake Elsinore	27	Miss Lake Elsinore
1996	Shauna Lyn Searles	Tustin	26	Miss Tustin			Was Miss California USA 1992, after Shannon Marketic won Miss USA 1992.
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		Was originally first runner-up, became Miss California USA when Shannon Marketic won Miss USA 1992. Later went on to win Miss California USA 1996.
1992	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		Later became Miss World USA 1988 (Top 10 at Miss World 1988).
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
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

Sabrina Lewis - Miss California USA.jpg

Sabrina Lewis, Miss California USA 2021
Erica Dann, Miss California USA 2019
Nadia Mejia, Miss California USA 2016
Natasha Martinez, Miss California USA 2015
Cassandra Kunze, Miss California USA 2014
Mabelynn Capeluj, Miss California USA 2013
Natalie Pack, Miss California USA 2012
Katie Blair, Miss California USA 2011
Alyssa Campanella, Miss California USA 2011 and Miss USA 2011
Nicole Johnson, Miss California USA 2010
Tami Farrell, Miss California USA 2009
Carrie Prejean, Miss California USA 2009
Raquel Beezley, Miss California USA 2008
Meagan Tandy, Miss California USA 2007
Tamiko Nash, Miss California USA 2006
Ellen Chapman, Miss California USA 2004
Julie Hayek, Miss California USA 1983 and Miss USA 1983
Summer Bartholomew, Miss California USA 1975 and Miss USA 1975
Maria Remenyi, Miss California USA 1966 and Miss USA 1966
Terry Huntingdon, Miss California USA 1959 and Miss USA 1959