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Miss California USA facts for kids

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Miss California USA
Formation 1952
Type Beauty pageant
Headquarters Santa Monica
Location
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

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.
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.
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.
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

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Miss California USA para niños

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