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Miss Wisconsin
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Key Information
The Miss Wisconsin competition is the pageant, held annually in New Berlin, that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Wisconsin in the annual Miss America pageant.
Wisconsin has won the Miss America title three times: 1973, 2012, and 2023.
On September 17, 2024, the state pageant announced that the Miss Wisconsin pageant (as well as the Miss Wisconsin's Teen pageant) will be held in New Berlin, Wisconsin. This will mark the first time that Waukesha County will host the annual state pageants. Miss Wisconsin moved to Oshkosh in 1963 after four years being held in Kenosha.
Jordenne Demiree Butler of Onalaska was crowned Miss Wisconsin on June 20, 2026, at the West Performing Arts Center in New Berlin. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2027 on September 6, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
On Saturday, June 20, 2026, outgoing Miss Wisconsin 2025, Willow Ybre Newell crowned Jordenne Demiree Butler in New Berlin, who competed with the appointed title of Miss River City. She was Miss Wisconsin's Teen 2015 making her the fourth state teen titleholder to advance to the Miss Wisconsin title. The dancer also has the distinction of being the oldest woman, at age 27, to be crowned Miss Wisconsin, and the first to win the state crown with an appointed local title since Jeanne "Jeannie" Eleanor Huston was appointed Miss La Crosse when she was also appointed Miss Wisconsin in 1952, the year when the Wisconsin Junior Chamber of Commerce did not sponsor and organize a Miss Wisconsin contest.
Butler, who likely is the very last woman born in the twentieth century to be named Miss Wisconsin, will now advance to the 2026 Miss America competition this September in West Palm Beach, Florida where Miss America 2027 is chosen.
Meghan Marie Coffey DeMore (Miss Wisconsin 2006), who became state pageant executive director earlier in 2026, made history as the first former Miss Wisconsin to become state executive director, after several years as co-executive director and operations manager.
Results summary
[edit]The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Wisconsin 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.
Placements
[edit]- Miss Americas: Terry Meeuwsen (1973), Laura Kaeppeler (2012), Grace Stanke (2023)
- 1st runners-up: Mary Alice Fox (1960), Joan Mary Engh (1963), Judith Hieke (1974)
- 2nd runners-up: Barbara Burk Baugh (1968), Tina Marie Sauerhammer (2004)
- 3rd runners-up: N/A
- 4th runners-up: Sharon Mae Singstock (1966)
- Top 8: Christina Anna Thompson (2008)
- Top 10: Keungsuk Kim (1982), Tania Ziegler (1994), Mary-Louise Kurey (2000)
- Top 11: Mandi Jo Genord (2025)
- Top 12: Paula Mae Kuiper (2014)
- Top 15: Clara Ethel Koehler (1924), Bette Annne Miller (1941), Phyllis Ann Kessler (1949), Tianna Marie Vanderhei (2019)
- Top 16: Antoine (Toni) Lunde (1946)
- Top 18: Marie Marguerite Huebner (1933)
Awards
[edit] |
Preliminary awards
[edit]- Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Mary Alice Fox (1960), Joan Engh (1963), Terry Meeuwsen (1973), Judy Hieke (1974)
- Preliminary Fitness: Mandi Jo Genord (2025)
- Preliminary On Stage Interview: Tianna Marie Vanderhei (2019)
- Preliminary Talent: Terry Meeuwsen (1973), Maria Kim (1988), Mary-Louise Kurey (2000), Tina Sauerhammer (2004), Laura Kaeppeler (2012), Grace Marie Stanke (2023)
Non-finalist awards
[edit]- Non-finalist Interview: Nicole Jean Locy (1998)
- Non-finalist Talent: Lynn Byron Holden (1957), Marilyn Jean Sembell (1976), Gail Marie Soller (1983), Maria Kim (1988), Tricia Ann Luedtke (1991), Stephanie Klett (1993), Joya Josephine Zamora (2001)
Other awards
[edit]- Miss Congeniality: N/A
- Bernie Wayne Performing Arts Award: Mary-Louise Kurey (2000)
- Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship: Carol Ann Schmitt (1975)
- Quality of Life Award Finalists: Laura Herriot (2002), Molly McGrath (2005)
- Special Education Award: Carol Ann Schmitt (1975)
- Special Scholarship Award: Barbara Jean Bonville (1964)
- STEM Scholarship 2nd runner-up: Jennifer Marie Schmidt (2022)
- AHA Go Red for Women Leadership Award Regional Winner: Mandi Jo Genord (2025)
Winners
[edit]- Declared as winner
- Ended as a runner-up
- Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist
| Year | Name | Hometown | Age | Local title | Miss America talent | Placement at Miss America | Special scholarships at Miss America | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Jordenne Demiree Butler | Onalaska | 27 | Miss River City (appointed title) | Jazz Dance, "Thats Life" by Frank Sinatra | TBD | TBD | Competed for Miss Wisconsin six times, tied a state pageant record with Tianna Marie Vanderhei (2018) Previously Miss Wisconsin's Outstanding Teen 2015 |
| 2025 | Willow Ybre Newell | Racine | 22 | Miss Racine | Vocal "I am Telling You" from the musical "Dreamgirls" | First black woman to be named Miss Wisconsin | ||
| 2024 | Mandi Jo Genord | Beaver Dam | 22 | Miss Northern Lights | Lyrical jazz dance "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore | Top 11 | Preliminary Fitness Award AHA Go Red for Women Leadership Award Regional Winner |
Previously Miss Wisconsin's Outstanding Teen 2018 |
| 2023 | Lila Hui Szyryj | Madison | 22 | Miss South Central | Classical piano, "Revolutionary Etude" by Frederic Chopin | She is the fifth Asian-American, first Chinese-American, and first Madison native to win Miss Wisconsin. | ||
| 2022 | Kylene Elizabeth Spanbauer | Fond du Lac | 23 | Miss Harbor Cities | Baton, "Holding Out for a Hero" | Did not compete; originally 1st runner-up, later assumed the title after Stanke won Miss America 2023[1] | ||
| Previously Miss Wisconsin's Outstanding Teen 2016 | ||||||||
| Grace Stanke | Wausau | 20 | Miss Badgerland | Classical Violin, "The Storm" by Antonio Vivaldi | Winner | Preliminary Talent Award Winner | Previously Miss Wisconsin's Outstanding Teen 2017;[2] first woman to hold both state titles[citation needed] | |
| 2021 | Jennifer Marie Schmidt[3] | Racine | 25 | Miss Rock River Valley | Jazz Dance | STEM Scholarship 2nd runner-up | ||
| 2019–20[a] | Alyssa Marie Bohm[6] | Mount Pleasant | 24 | Tap Dance, "Feeling Good" | ||||
| 2018 | Tianna Marie Vanderhei[7] | Wisconsin Rapids | 25 | Miss Wood Violet | Contemporary Dance, "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers | Top 15[8] | Preliminary On Stage Interview Award[9] | Competed for Miss Wisconsin six times, a state pageant record[citation needed] |
| 2017 | McKenna Holly Collins[10] | Waunakee | 20 | Miss Madison | Ballet en Pointe, “Habanera” from Carmen | Previously a company member at the Madison Ballet[11] Daughter of Wisconsin's Alice in Dairyland 1992, Kristan Ann Conrad[12] | ||
| 2016 | Courtney Jean Pelot[13] | Manitowoc | 22 | Miss Green Bay Area | Dance, "Burnin' Up" by Jessie J | |||
| 2015 | Rosalie Elizabeth Smith[14] | Waukesha | 19 | Miss New Berlin | Lyrical Dance, "Heaven" by Beyoncé | |||
| 2014 | Raeanna Mary Johnson | Holmen | 24 | Miss Madison | Lyrical Dance, "Hallelujah" | 3rd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2011 pageant[15] First woman to hold the Miss Wisconsin title twice 4th runner-up at Miss Wisconsin USA 2017 pageant[citation needed] | ||
| 2013 | Paula Mae Kuiper[16] | Mount Pleasant | 19 | Miss Madison | Piano, "Hungarian Rhapsody" | Top 12 | ||
| 2012 | Kathryn (Kate) Bess Gorman[citation needed] | Onalaska | 23 | Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest | Vocal, "20th Century Fox Mambo" from Smash | |||
| 2011 | Raeanna Mary Johnson[17] | Holmen | 21 | Miss Seven Rivers | Lyrical Dance, "Hallelujah" by Alexandra Burke | Did not compete; originally 1st runner-up, later assumed the title after Kaeppeler won Miss America 2012 | ||
| Laura Kaeppeler | Kenosha | 23 | Miss Southern Wisconsin | Operatic Vocal, "Il Bacio" by Luigi Arditi | Winner[18] | Preliminary Talent Award | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2010 pageant[citation needed] Married TV producer, Mike Fleiss in 2014[19] | |
| 2010 | Kimberly Brooke Sawyer | Egg Harbor | 22 | Miss Green Bay Area | Classical Vocal, "Donde lieta uscì" from La bohème | |||
| 2009 | Kristina Kelly Smaby | Holmen | 22 | Miss Madison | Ballet en Pointe, "River Deep – Mountain High" | |||
| 2008 | Briana Rose Lipor | Racine | 21 | Miss South Central | Classical Vocal, "Chi Il Bel Sogno di Doretta" from La rondine | |||
| 2007 | Christina Anna Thompson[20] | Pleasant Prairie | 23 | Miss Madison | Classical Violin, "Praeludium & Allegro" by Fritz Kreisler | Top 8 | ||
| 2006 | Meghan Marie Coffey | New Berlin | 22 | Miss New Berlin | Baton Twirling, "Stuff Like That There" | Previously Wisconsin's National Teenager 2003 | ||
| 2005 | Tracy Ann Gest | Menomonee Falls | 20 | Miss New Berlin | Classical Piano, "Morceaux de fantaisie" | Previously Beauties of America Teen 2003[citation needed] | ||
| 2004 | Molly Jean McGrath | Wisconsin Rapids | 22 | Miss Madison | Theatrical Ballet en Pointe, "All That Jazz" | Quality of Life Award Finalist | ||
| 2003 | Tina Marie Sauerhammer | Green Bay | 22 | Miss Madison | Classical Cello, "Le cygne" | 2nd runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 2002 | Jayme Michel Dawicki | New Berlin | 22 | Miss Southern Wisconsin | Classical Piano, "Wedding Day at Troldhaugen" | |||
| 2001 | Laura Margaret Herriot | Princeton | 23 | Miss Berlin | Vocal, "Oh, Lady Be Good!" | Quality of Life Award Finalist | ||
| 2000 | Joya Josephine Zamora | Kenosha | 23 | Miss Eastern Shore | Vocal, "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1999 | Mary-Louise Kurey | Brookfield | 24 | Miss West Allis | Classical Vocal, "Il Bacio" | Top 10 | Bernie Wayne Performing Arts Award Preliminary Talent Award |
|
| 1998 | Jill Marie Patzner | Arcadia | 22 | Miss Western Wisconsin | Semi-classical Vocal, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from The Phantom of the Opera | |||
| 1997 | Nicole Jean Locy | Glendale | 22 | Miss Western Wisconsin | Vocal, "Someone Else's Story" from Chess | Non-finalist Interview Award | ||
| 1996 | Jennifer Marie Streblow | Oshkosh | 18 | Miss Oshkosh | Vocal, "Someone Like You" from Jekyll & Hyde | |||
| 1995 | Pamela Lynn Polk | Berlin | 22 | Miss Southeastern Wisconsin | Vocal, "Operator" | |||
| 1994 | Laura Jean Voss | Green Bay | 22 | Miss Green Bay | Semi-classical Vocal, West Side Story Medley | |||
| 1993 | Tania Elizabeth Ziegler | Fond du Lac | 18 | Miss Fond du Lac | Classical Violin, "Bruch's Concerto No. 1 in G Minor" | Top 10 | ||
| 1992 | Stephanie Klett | Beloit | 25 | Miss Wisconsin Central | Coronet Medley, "Basin Street Blues" & "Ciribiribin" | Non-finalist Talent Award[21] | Later Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism[21] (2011-2019) | |
| 1991 | Brenda Jo Haines | Arcadia | 19 | Miss Arcadia | Jazz Clarinet | |||
| 1990 | Tricia Ann Luedtke | Oostburg | 19 | Miss Oshkosh | Classical Piano, "Polichinelle in F Sharp Minor" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1989 | Kimberly Jean Totdahl | Racine | 23 | Miss Kenosha | Vocal & Dance, "Being Alive" | Previously Miss Wisconsin T.E.E.N. 1982 Later Miss Wisconsin USA 1991 | ||
| 1988 | Jeanie Marie Pfeiffer | Franksville | 25 | Miss Milwaukee | Vocal, "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" | |||
| 1987 | Maria Kim | Shorewood | 20 | Miss Madison | Classical Piano, "Fantaisie-Impromptu" | Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Talent Award |
Previously Miss Wisconsin National Teenager 1983 Previously Miss Wisconsin Teen USA 1985. She is the younger sister of Keungsuk Kim (Miss Wisconsin 1981) | |
| 1986 | Mara Ann Nesemann | Brookfield | 20 | Miss Waukesha County | Gymnastics Dance Routine, "1980" | |||
| 1985 | Mary Kay Anderson | St. Francis | 20 | Miss St. Francis | Piano, "Frederik Chopin's Etude, Winter Wind, Op 25, No 11" | Later Miss Wisconsin USA 1988 | ||
| 1984 | Barbara Marie Mullally | Onalaska | 22 | Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest | Vocal, "Here I Am" | Toured with Miss America USO Troupe, 1985 | ||
| 1983 | Wendy Lynn Wagner | Menomonie / Des Plaines, Illinois | 22 | Miss Menomonie | Vocal, "Mira" from Carnival! | |||
| 1982 | Gail Marie Soller | La Crosse | 24 | Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest | Classical Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1981 | Keungsuk Kim | Shorewood | 19 | Miss Milwaukee | Classical Piano, "Kabalevsky's Prelude" | Top 10 | She is the older sister of Maria Kim (Miss Wisconsin 1987) | |
| 1980 | Dana Lorraine Spychalla | Appleton | 19 | Miss Fond du Lac | Vocal, "The Music and the Mirror" from A Chorus Line | |||
| 1979 | Kristine Kay Konrad | Oshkosh | 19 | Miss Oshkosh | Vocal, "Starting Here, Starting Now" | |||
| 1978 | Carin Ann Kizewic | Racine | 24 | Miss Milwaukee | Ballet en Pointe, "The Overture" from Die Fledermaus | |||
| 1977 | Jennifer Mae Woychik | Arcadia | 19 | Miss Arcadia | Vocal Comedy, "I Love Trash" | |||
| 1976 | Julie Ann Nowak | Greendale | 19 | Miss West Allis | Popular Vocal, "Do You Know Where You're Going To?" | |||
| 1975 | Marilyn Jean Sembell | Beloit / St. Louis, Missouri | 25 | Miss Lake Geneva | Classical Piano, "Prelude in G minor" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1974 | Carol Ann Schmitt | Green Bay | 22 | Miss Milwaukee | Vocal, "Speak Softly Love" | Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship Special Education Award |
||
| 1973 | Judith Hieke | Menomonee Falls | 19 | Miss Milwaukee | Flute Medley including "Cuanto le Gusta" | 1st runner-up | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |
| 1972 | Linda Marie Henderson | Elm Grove | 20 | Miss Milwaukee-Summerfest | Ballet[citation needed] | Did not compete; originally 1st runner-up, later assumed the title after Meeuwsen won Miss America 1973 | ||
| Terry Meeuwsen | De Pere | 23 | Miss Appleton | Vocal, "He Touched Me" from Drat! The Cat! | Winner | Preliminary Swimsuit Award Preliminary Talent Award |
||
| 1971 | Patricia Ann Jacobs | Wauwatosa | 19 | Miss Stevens Point | Vocal & Dance, "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" | Toured with Miss America USO Troupe | ||
| 1970 | Linda Jane Johnson | Milwaukee | 19 | Miss Madison | Piano, "Polonaise" | |||
| 1969 | Cynthia Ann Morgan | Janesville | 18 | Miss Janesville | Vocal, "Old Devil Moon" | |||
| 1968 | Marilyn Kay Brahmsteadt | Wisconsin Rapids | 21 | Miss La Crosse | Vocal, "What a Diff'rence a Day Made" | |||
| 1967 | Barbara Burk Baugh | Brookfield | 20 | Miss Milwaukee | Vocal, "Mira" from Carnival! | 2nd runner-up | Barbara Burk Baugh Waters died at age 55 on October 26, 2002, at home in Brookfield, Wis. after a long battle with cancer. | |
| 1966 | Candace Gail Hinz | Milwaukee | 19 | Miss West Allis | Piano & Watercolor Painting, "Tara's Theme" from Gone with the Wind | |||
| 1965 | Sharon Mae Singstock | Oshkosh | 20 | Miss Oshkosh | Vocal, "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody" | 4th runner-up | ||
| 1964 | Angela Gina Baldi | Glendale | 18 | Miss North Shore | Piano, "On Wisconsin in Three Variations" | |||
| 1963 | Barbara Jean Bonville | Whitefish Bay | 19 | Miss North Shore | Cello, "Pièce en forme de Habanera" by Maurice Ravel | Special Scholarship Award | ||
| 1962 | Joan Mary Engh | La Crosse | 21 | Miss La Crosse | Vocal Comedy, "I'll Be Anything You Want Me to Be" | 1st runner-up | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | Served as Wisconsin's Alice in Dairyland in 1960. |
| 1961 | Diane Margaret Anderson | Eau Claire | 19 | Miss Eau Claire | Violin & Ballet en Pointe, "The Swan" | |||
| 1960 | Karen Marie Fahrenbach | Racine | 21 | Miss Racine | Classical Ballet en Pointe, "The Sleeping Beauty" | Karen Marie Fahrenbach Thompson died of cancer at age 68 on November 6, 2007, in Racine, Wisconsin. | ||
| 1959 | Mary Alice Fox | Sheboygan | 20 | Miss Sheboygan | Soft Shoe Comedy Dance | 1st runner-up | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |
| 1958 | Kay Joan Ross | West Allis | 24 | Miss West Allis | Art Presentation with Vocal & Dance | |||
| 1957 | Joan Carol Hentschel | Wauwatosa | 18 | Miss Wauwatosa | Interpretive Ballet, "3:00 in the Morning" | |||
| 1956 | Lynn Byron Holden | Milwaukee | 19 | Miss Ripon | Piano | Non-finalist Talent Award | Lynn Holden Noakes died at age 79 on April 8, 2016 in Florida | |
| 1955 | Margaret Carolynne Walls | Milwaukee | 18 | Miss Milwaukee | Ballet, "Dying Swan" | Margaret Walls Carseth died at age 88 on November 8, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. | ||
| 1954 | Dixie Ann Sarchet | Stevens Point | 19 | Miss Wisconsin Rapids | Modern Dance, "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" | Dixie Ann Sarchet Kuenn married Detroit Tigers baseball player and future Milwaukee Brewers coach and manager Harvey Edward Kuenn on October 29, 1955, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. She died at 69 on March 12, 2004, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | ||
| 1953 | Judith Lee Jacobsen | Wauwatosa | 19 | Miss Milwaukee | Vocal & Dance, "Make Believe" & "Come Back to Sorrento" | |||
| 1952 | Jeanne "Jeannie" Eleanor Huston | La Crosse | 19 | Miss La Crosse | Cello | |||
| 1951 | Sheila Marie Murphy | Marshfield | 18 | Miss Marshfield | Monologue | |||
| 1950 | Gloria Betty Lange | Milwaukee | 20 | Miss Milwaukee | Operatic Vocal, "The Donkey Serenade" from The Firefly | |||
| 1949 | Phyllis Ann Kessler | Green Bay | 18 | Miss Green Bay | Baton Twirling | Top 15 | Phyllis Ann Kessler Lynn Sacho died at age 90 on March 7, 2022, in De Pere, Wisconsin. At the time of her death, she was the oldest and earliest living Miss Wisconsin titleholder. | |
| 1948 | Marvene Margaret Fischer | Milwaukee | 19 | Miss Milwaukee | ||||
| 1947 | Gladys Elaine Berkley | Baraboo | 19 | Miss Baraboo | Monologue | Gladys Elaine Berkley Stracy died of a brief illness in Madison, Wisconsin at age 38 on September 10, 1965. She remains as the only Miss Wisconsin from Sauk County. | ||
| 1946 | Antoine (Toni) Bernice Lunde | Milwaukee / Westby | 20 | Miss Milwaukee | Top 16 | Antonie Lunde Early died at age 78 on March 9, 2006, at home in Greenwood, South Carolina. | ||
| 1945 | Eileen Christianson (Christy) | Menomonie | 20 | Miss Menomonie | ||||
| 1944 | Elsie (Elyse) Sutter | Milwaukee | 20 | Miss Milwaukee | N/A | Did not compete in the Miss America 1944 pageant. She died at age 95 on September 16, 2019 in Florida. | ||
| 1943 | No Wisconsin representative at Miss America pageant | |||||||
| 1942 | Charlotte Ruth Lemmer | Milwaukee | 18 | Miss Milwaukee | ||||
| 1941 | Bette Anne Miller[22] | Milwaukee | 18 | Miss Milwaukee Mid-Summer Festival | Artistic Caricature of President Franklin D. Roosevelt | Top 15 | Bette Anne Miller Schapekahm died at age 87 on June 2, 2009 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. | |
| 1940 | No Wisconsin representative at Miss America pageant | |||||||
| 1939 | ||||||||
| 1938 | ||||||||
| 1937 | ||||||||
| 1936 | Aline Fern Schwartz | Milwaukee | 18 | Miss Milwaukee | ||||
| 1935 | No Wisconsin representative at Miss America pageant | |||||||
| 1934 | No pageant was held | |||||||
| 1933 | Marie Marguerite Huebner | Portage[23] | 20 | Miss Portage | Top 18 | Marie Huebner Raimer died at age 93 on February 15, 2007 after a brief illness in Puyallup, Washington. | ||
| 1932 | No pageants were held | |||||||
| 1931 | ||||||||
| 1930 | ||||||||
| 1929 | ||||||||
| 1928 | ||||||||
| 1927 | Marjorie Mae Leffingwell | Madison / Rio, Wisconsin | Miss Madison | Marjorie Mae Leffingwell Grate died at age 83 on December 23, 1992 in Madison, Wisconsin. | Multiple Wisconsin representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant. Virginia June Hillyer competed as Miss Wisconsin | |||
| Virginia June Hillyer | Fort Atkinson | 17 | Miss Fort Atkinson | Virginia June Hillyer Kincaid was the first-ever crowned Miss Wisconsin and later died at age 77 of heart complications on November 25, 1986 in Panama City, Florida. | ||||
| 1926 | Dorothy Bernadine Seiler | Madison | Miss Madison | Dorothy Bernadine Seiler Bowley died at age 90 on April 3, 1996, in Augusta, Wisconsin. | Multiple Wisconsin representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant | |||
| Florence Andrees | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee | ||||||
| Name not known | Miss Racine | |||||||
| 1925 | Virginia Sara Armstrong | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee | Was later named Miss South Bend (Indiana) 1927. Virginia "Ginny" Sara Armstrong Mahn died in Mount Dora, Florida, on July 16, 2009, at age 99. | No Miss Wisconsin Competed under local title at Miss America pageant | |||
| 1924 | Clara Ethel Koehler | Milwaukee | 26 | Miss Milwaukee | Top 15 | Clara Ethel Koehler Lord died in Milwaukee at age 86 on June 30, 1984. She was the only contestant from Wisconsin to compete at Miss America who was born in the 19th century (June 1898). | No Miss Wisconsin Competed under local title at Miss America pageant | |
| 1923 | No Wisconsin representative at Miss America pageant | |||||||
| 1922 | ||||||||
| 1921 | ||||||||
Notes
[edit]- ^ Titleholder extended to a full year in 2020 after state and national pageants postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic[4][5]
References
[edit]- ^ Craft, Kevin (December 26, 2022). "Kylene Spanbauer to assume the role of Miss Wisconsin". WJFW-TV. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ "Conservatory student Grace Stanke named Miss Teen Wisconsin". Wausau Conservatory of Music. Wausau Conservatory. September 27, 2017.
- ^ Northwestern, Oshkosh. "Miss Rock River Valley Jennifer Schmidt crowned Miss Wisconsin". The Oshkosh Northwestern. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
- ^ "Miss Wisconsin Pageant canceled". WHBY. May 11, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ Kuperinsky, Amy (May 8, 2020). "Miss America postpones pageant until 2021, N.J. pageant still set for September". Press of Atlantic City.
- ^ Shuda, Nathaniel (June 15, 2019). "Miss Wisconsin 2019 title goes to Miss Rock River Valley Alyssa Bohm". Oshkosh Northwestern.
- ^ Shuda, Nathaniel (June 16, 2018). "Miss Wisconsin 2018 title goes to Miss Wood Violet Tianna Vanderhei". Oshkosh Northwestern.
- ^ Serpico, Erin (September 8, 2018). "Miss New York crowned Miss America 2019 in Atlantic City". Press of Atlantic City.
- ^ "The Latest: Swimsuit-less Miss America competition begins". ABC News. September 5, 2018.
- ^ "Miss Madison Capital City McKenna Collins crowned Miss Wisconsin 2017". The Northwestern. June 17, 2017.
- ^ "Two sisters, two pageants". The Waunakee Tribune. June 16, 2017.
- ^ "Kristan Collins: She shares her passions with her kids". July 3, 2013.
- ^ "Miss Green Bay captures statewide crown". Daily Union. June 27, 2016.
- ^ Dickmann, Noell (June 21, 2015). "There she is: Meet Miss Wisconsin 2015 Rosalie Smith". Oshkosh Northwestern. Oshkosh, WI: Gannett.
- ^ "Holmen's Raeanna Johnson places fourth in national pageant". Onalaska Holmen Courier-Life. September 8, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
- ^ Bauter, Alison (June 22, 2013). "Former Miss Racine the newest Miss Wisconsin". The Journal Times.
- ^ "New Miss Wisconsin announced". News8000.com. WKBT La Crosse. January 21, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Oldenburg, Ann (January 14, 2012). "Miss America pageant crowns 2012 winner". USA Today. Gannett.
- ^ "Mike Fleiss Marries Laura Kaeppeler", People Magazine, April 9, 2014
- ^ "Miss Madison is new Miss Wisconsin". Appleton Post Crescent. 2007-07-01. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
- ^ a b "Stephanie Klett biography". Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ "Miss Delaware to Give Atlantic City Beauties Run for U. S. Honors". Wilmington, Delaware: The Morning News. September 4, 1941.
- ^ "The low-down on Pride Month in Houston". missamerica1933.com. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miss Wisconsin titleholders.
Miss Wisconsin
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
Establishment and early years
The Miss Wisconsin program was established in 1927 as part of the broader expansion of state-level preliminary competitions to select representatives for the national Miss America pageant, which had begun in 1921 to promote tourism and local beauty contests across the United States.[5] The Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Organization was formally founded in 1936 as a preliminary to the Miss America Organization.[1] This development aligned with the growing popularity of such events in the Midwest, where local civic groups and chambers of commerce organized pageants to foster regional pride and attract visitors.[6] Initial competitions were small-scale affairs held in various Wisconsin communities during the late 1920s, often tied to summer festivals, theater events, or local promotions rather than a centralized state structure. For instance, early events took place in Milwaukee, where the pageant drew from city-based contests, and in smaller towns like Fort Atkinson and Green Bay, emphasizing local talent and participation over large-scale production.[5] These gatherings typically involved a handful of contestants judged on poise, appearance, and basic performance elements, reflecting the era's focus on wholesome entertainment.[7] The first official Miss Wisconsin titleholder was Virginia June Hillyer of Fort Atkinson, crowned in 1927 and selected to represent the state at the Miss America pageant later that year in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[8] Hillyer, a 17-year-old contestant, competed among dozens of regional delegates, highlighting the nascent role of state preliminaries in feeding into the national event.[9] In the pre-World War II era, the program emphasized community involvement through volunteer-led events that encouraged civic engagement, such as parades and talent showcases.[10] These early years laid the groundwork for the pageant's evolution, prioritizing personal development and regional representation amid the economic challenges of the Great Depression.[6]Key milestones and organizational changes
The Miss Wisconsin program experienced significant disruptions during World War II, with competitions scaled back or paused in certain years due to wartime constraints affecting the broader Miss America organization, resulting in no state representative sent to the national pageant in 1940 and 1943.[11] In 1963, the pageant relocated its headquarters and primary venue from Kenosha, where it had been based since 1959, to Oshkosh, marking a shift that solidified the event's presence in the Fox Valley region for over six decades.[12][13] This move was followed by another organizational relocation in 2024, when the program announced its departure from Oshkosh to New Berlin, effective for the 2025 competition at the West Performing Arts Center, driven by needs for updated facilities and expanded community engagement.[3][14] The COVID-19 pandemic prompted further adaptations in 2020, as the Miss Wisconsin competition was postponed indefinitely for health and safety reasons, extending the reigning titleholder's term through the year and aligning with national delays in the Miss America event until 2021.[15][16] This period also introduced virtual components to preliminary events and programming to maintain contestant preparation and public involvement amid restrictions.[15] A notable diversity milestone occurred in June 2025, when Willow Ybre Newell of Racine, competing as Miss Racine, was crowned Miss Wisconsin, becoming the first Black woman to hold the title in the program's history.[4][17][18]Organization and competition format
Affiliation and eligibility
The Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Organization serves as the official state preliminary to the Miss America Organization, selecting Wisconsin's representative for the national competition, with the state's participation in Miss America dating back to 1927.[19] Eligibility for the Miss Wisconsin competition aligns with Miss America standards and requires contestants to be unmarried women who are U.S. citizens, residents of Wisconsin, between the ages of 18 and 28 as of specified dates in the competition year, with no children or prior pregnancies, and committed to community service and personal achievement.[20][21] Contestants, known as delegates, qualify by winning one of the official local preliminary pageants across Wisconsin, such as Miss Madison, Miss Racine, or Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest, which collectively select up to approximately 30 delegates for the state competition each year.[20][22][23] The Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Program awards financial support to promote education and leadership, providing the titleholder with a $13,000 scholarship while offering cash awards to non-finalists, including $1,000 for outstanding talent performances and $500 for interview scores.[24][25]Event structure and judging
The Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Competition is an annual event held each June, typically spanning one week that includes two preliminary competition evenings, one final night, and additional activities such as visits to local organizations and a Night to Ignite Gala.[1] The competition evaluates contestants across five core phases, each emphasizing different aspects of scholarship, leadership, and personal development. The private interview phase, lasting 10 minutes (including a 30-second opening, 9 minutes of questions, and a 30-second closing), assesses communication skills, intelligence, and goals, and carries a 30% weight in scoring.[20] Talent performance, limited to a maximum of 90 seconds, highlights artistic abilities like vocal music, dance, or instrumental work and accounts for 20% of the score.[20] The evening gown phase, also weighted at 20%, focuses on poise, personal style, and stage presence as contestants model formal attire.[20] Health and fitness, presented in athletic attire with a fitness routine, evaluates physical conditioning, discipline, and self-assuredness, comprising another 20%.[20][26] Finally, the on-stage conversation phase, weighted at 10%, requires a response to a question tied to the contestant's community service initiative, testing articulation and passion.[20] A panel of 5 to 7 judges, drawn from diverse professional backgrounds to ensure balanced evaluation, scores each phase using standardized criteria aligned with Miss America guidelines.[27] Judges are instructed to consider factors such as time limits strictly, with deductions possible for overruns, and their scores determine overall rankings without ties in final placements.[20] The highest-scoring contestant is crowned Miss Wisconsin and advances to represent the state at the Miss America competition, while up to four runners-up are selected based on cumulative scores, often receiving scholarships and serving in supporting roles.[28]National results
Placements at Miss America
Miss Wisconsin titleholders have competed at the national Miss America pageant since 1924, achieving three wins, three first runner-up placements, two second runner-up finishes, and numerous other semifinalist and top 10 honors over nearly a century of participation.[29] The state's first notable success came in the late 1950s and 1960s, with Mary Alice Fox earning first runner-up at Miss America 1960, followed by Joan Mary Engh as first runner-up in 1963, Sharon Singstock as fourth runner-up in 1966, and Barbara Baugh as second runner-up in 1968.[29] This period established Wisconsin as a competitive presence, with consistent top-five contention. The 1970s represented a peak, highlighted by Terry Anne Meeuwsen's victory as Miss America 1973—her first Miss America win from the Badger State—and Judy Hieke's first runner-up finish the following year at Miss America 1974.[29][30] Success waned in the 1980s and 1990s, yielding only occasional top 10 finishes, such as Keungsuk Kim in 1981 and Tania Ziegler in 1993.[29] The 2000s and 2010s brought resurgence, including Tina Sauerhammer's second runner-up at Miss America 2004, Mary-Louise Kurey's top 10 in 1999, Christina Thompson's top 8 in 2007, Laura Kaeppeler's Miss America 2012 win, Paula Mae Kuiper's top 12 in 2013, and Tianna Vanderhei's top 15 in 2018.[29] These decades featured 5 total top 10 or equivalent semifinalist placements, underscoring Wisconsin's strong performance relative to many states.[29][31] In recent years, Grace Stanke, Miss Wisconsin 2022, won Miss America 2023, marking the state's third national title and continuing the momentum from the 2010s.[32] At Miss America 2025, Mandi Genord, Miss Wisconsin 2024, advanced to the top 11 as a semifinalist.[33]| Year (Miss America) | Titleholder (Miss Wisconsin Year) | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Mary Alice Fox (1959) | 1st Runner-Up |
| 1963 | Joan Mary Engh (1962) | 1st Runner-Up |
| 1966 | Sharon Singstock (1965) | 4th Runner-Up |
| 1968 | Barbara Baugh (1967) | 2nd Runner-Up |
| 1973 | Terry Anne Meeuwsen (1972) | Winner |
| 1974 | Judy Hieke (1973) | 1st Runner-Up |
| 1981 | Keungsuk Kim (1980) | Top 10 |
| 1993 | Tania Ziegler (1992) | Top 10 |
| 1999 | Mary-Louise Kurey (1998) | Top 10 |
| 2004 | Tina Sauerhammer (2003) | 2nd Runner-Up |
| 2007 | Christina Thompson (2006) | Top 8 |
| 2012 | Laura Kaeppeler (2011) | Winner |
| 2013 | Paula Mae Kuiper (2012) | Top 12 |
| 2018 | Tianna Vanderhei (2017) | Top 15 |
| 2023 | Grace Stanke (2022) | Winner |
| 2025 | Mandi Genord (2024) | Top 11 |
Awards and scholarships received
Miss Wisconsin contestants have secured several preliminary awards at the national Miss America competition, including nine wins across the talent and swimsuit categories. For instance, in 2023, Grace Stanke earned the preliminary talent award for her classical violin performance of "Czardas," which contributed to her overall victory as Miss America 2023.[29] Similarly, Mandi Genord received the preliminary fitness award and the AHA Leadership Award in 2025 during the competition's health and fitness phase.[31] Contestants from Wisconsin have also garnered seven non-finalist awards, primarily in talent and interview categories. A notable early example is Lynn Byron Holden, who won the non-finalist talent award in 1957 for her vocal presentation.[29] Other recipients include Stephanie Ann Klett in 1992 for non-finalist talent.[29] In addition to preliminary and non-finalist honors, Miss Wisconsin delegates have received various special national recognitions. Mary-Louise Kurey was awarded the Bernie Wayne Performing Arts Award in 2000 for her exceptional stage performance.[29] For social impact initiatives, Molly McGrath placed as a Quality of Life Award finalist in 2004, highlighting her community service efforts.[29] STEM-focused scholarships have further supported delegates pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, aligning with platforms like that of Grace Stanke, who advocated for clean energy through nuclear engineering.[34] Wisconsin delegates have earned scholarships through these national awards and placements, with distributions including approximately $3,000 for preliminary winners, $1,000 for non-finalist talents, and varying amounts for special categories such as the $5,000 Quality of Life finalist scholarships.Titleholders
List of Miss Wisconsin winners
The Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Program, affiliated with the Miss America Organization, has crowned titleholders annually since 1927, though competitions were not held every year in the early decades due to economic challenges during the Great Depression and interruptions during World War II (notably no pageant in 1943). Later disruptions included the cancellation of the 2020 event amid the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an extension of the 2019 winner's reign into 2020; in such cases, runners-up or adjusted selections filled roles to ensure continuity. When a titleholder advances to win Miss America, a successor is often crowned mid-reign to represent the state, as seen in 1972, 2011, and 2022. The following table provides a chronological list of all titleholders, with hometowns derived from local affiliations or reported residences, ages at time of crowning where documented, community service platforms where specified, and notes on immediate post-title activities such as national competition results or special circumstances. Data is compiled from official program records and contemporaneous news reports.[29]| Year | Name | Hometown | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | Clara Koehler | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee; semi-finalist at Miss America 1924. |
| 1927 | June Hillyer | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee. |
| 1933 | Marie Huebner | Portage | Miss Portage; semi-finalist at Miss America 1933. |
| 1936 | Aline Fern Schwartz | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee. |
| 1941 | Betty Ann Miller | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee; top 15 finalist at Miss America 1941. |
| 1942 | Charlotte Lemmer | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee. |
| 1944 | Elyse Sutter | (Not specified) | Limited details available; wartime competition. |
| 1945 | Eileen Christy | Menomonie | Miss Menomonie. |
| 1946 | Antoine Bernice Lunde | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee; top 16 finalist at Miss America 1946. |
| 1947 | Gladys Berkley | Baraboo | Miss Baraboo. |
| 1948 | Marvene Fischer | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee. |
| 1949 | Phyllis Ann Kessler | Green Bay | Miss Green Bay; top 15 finalist at Miss America 1949. |
| 1950 | Gloria Betty Lange | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee. |
| 1951 | Sheila Marie Murphy | Marshfield | Miss Marshfield. |
| 1952 | Jeannie Huston | La Crosse | Miss La Crosse. |
| 1953 | Judith Lee Jacobsen | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee. |
| 1954 | Dixie Ann Sarchet | Wisconsin Rapids | Miss Wisconsin Rapids. |
| 1955 | Margaret Wells | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee. |
| 1956 | Lynn Holden | Ripon | Miss Ripon; non-finalist talent award at Miss America 1956. |
| 1957 | Joan Hentschel | Wauwatosa | Miss Wauwatosa. |
| 1958 | Kay Joan Ross | West Allis | Miss West Allis. |
| 1959 | Mary Alice Fox | Sheboygan | Miss Sheboygan; 1st runner-up at Miss America 1959, preliminary swimsuit award. |
| 1960 | Karen Fahrenbach | Racine | Miss Racine. |
| 1961 | Diane Anderson | Eau Claire | Miss Eau Claire. |
| 1962 | Joan Mary Engh | La Crosse | Miss La Crosse; 1st runner-up at Miss America 1962, preliminary swimsuit award. |
| 1963 | Barbara Bonville | North Shore (Milwaukee area) | Miss North Shore; special scholarship award at Miss America 1963. |
| 1964 | Angela Gina Baldi | North Shore (Milwaukee area) | Miss North Shore. |
| 1965 | Sharon Singstock | Oshkosh | Miss Oshkosh; 4th runner-up at Miss America 1965; participated in U.S.O. Troupe. |
| 1966 | Candace Gail Hinz | West Allis | Miss West Allis. |
| 1967 | Barbara Baugh | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee; 2nd runner-up at Miss America 1967. |
| 1968 | Marilyn Brahmsteadt | La Crosse | Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest. |
| 1969 | Cindy Morgan | Janesville | Miss Janesville. |
| 1970 | Linda Johnson | Madison | Miss Madison. |
| 1971 | Patti Jacobs | Stevens Point | Miss Stevens Point; participated in U.S.O. Troupe. |
| 1972 | Terry Anne Meeuwsen | Appleton | Miss Appleton; Miss America 1973 winner, preliminary talent and swimsuit awards (initial 1972 titleholder; succeeded upon national win). |
| 1972 | Linda Henderson | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee; successor to Meeuwsen after her Miss America victory. |
| 1973 | Judy Hieke | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee; 1st runner-up at Miss America 1973, preliminary swimsuit award. |
| 1974 | Carol Ann Schmitt | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee; special education award at Miss America 1974. |
| 1975 | Marilyn Sembell | Lake Geneva | Miss Lake Geneva; non-finalist talent award at Miss America 1975. |
| 1976 | Julie Ann Nowak | West Allis | Miss West Allis. |
| 1977 | Jennifer Woychik | Arcadia | Miss Arcadia. |
| 1978 | Carin Kizewic | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee. |
| 1979 | Kristine Konrad | Oshkosh | Miss Oshkosh. |
| 1980 | Dana Spychalla | Fond du Lac | Miss Fond du Lac. |
| 1981 | Keungsuk Kim | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee; top 10 finalist at Miss America 1981. |
| 1982 | Gail Marie Soller | La Crosse | Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest; non-finalist talent award at Miss America 1982. |
| 1983 | Wendy Lynn Wagner | Menomonie | Miss Menomonie. |
| 1984 | Barbara Mullally | La Crosse | Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest; Department of Defense Tour participant. |
| 1985 | Mary Kay Anderson | St. Francis | Miss St. Francis. |
| 1986 | Mara Nesemann | Waukesha County | Miss Waukesha County; Department of Defense Tour participant. |
| 1987 | Maria Kim | Madison | Miss Madison; preliminary talent award and non-finalist talent award at Miss America 1987. |
| 1988 | Jeanie Marie Pfeiffer | Milwaukee | Miss Milwaukee; Department of Defense Tour participant. |
| 1989 | Kimberly Totdahl | Kenosha | Miss Kenosha. |
| 1990 | Tricia Ann Luedtke | Oshkosh | Miss Oshkosh; non-finalist talent award at Miss America 1990. |
| 1991 | Brenda Haines | Arcadia | Miss Arcadia. |
| 1992 | Stephanie Ann Klett | Wisconsin Central (Wausau area) | Miss Wisconsin Central; non-finalist talent award at Miss America 1992. |
| 1993 | Tania Ziegler | Fond du Lac | Miss Fond du Lac; top 10 finalist at Miss America 1993. |
| 1994 | Laura Voss | Green Bay | Miss Green Bay. |
| 1995 | Pamela Polk | Southeastern Wisconsin (Kenosha area) | Miss Southeastern Wisconsin. |
| 1996 | Jennifer Streblow | Oshkosh | Miss Oshkosh. |
| 1997 | Nicole Locy | Western Wisconsin (Eau Claire area) | Miss Western Wisconsin; non-finalist interview award at Miss America 1997. |
| 1998 | Jill Patzner | Western Wisconsin (Eau Claire area) | Miss Western Wisconsin; Miss America Scholar. |
| 1999 | Mary-Louise Kurey | West Allis | Miss West Allis; top 10 finalist at Miss America 1999, preliminary talent winner, Bernie Wayne Performing Arts Award. |
| 2000 | Joya Zamora | Eastern Shore (Door County area) | Miss Eastern Shore; Bert Parks non-finalist talent award at Miss America 2000. |
| 2001 | Laura Herriot | Berlin | Miss Berlin; Quality of Life Award finalist at Miss America 2001. |
| 2002 | Jayme Dawicki | Southern Wisconsin (Janesville area) | Miss Southern Wisconsin. |
| 2003 | Tina Sauerhammer | Madison | Miss Madison Area; 2nd runner-up at Miss America 2003, preliminary talent winner (later earned M.D.). |
| 2004 | Molly McGrath | Madison | Miss Madison Area; Quality of Life Award finalist at Miss America 2004. |
| 2005 | Tracy Gest | New Berlin | Miss New Berlin. |
| 2006 | Meghan Coffey | New Berlin | Miss New Berlin. |
| 2007 | Christina Thompson | Madison | Miss Madison – Capital City; top 8 finalist at Miss America 2007. |
| 2008 | Briana Lipor | South Central (Janesville area) | Miss South Central. |
| 2009 | Kristina Smaby | Madison | Miss Madison – Capital City. |
| 2010 | Kimberly Sawyer | Green Bay | Miss Green Bay Area. |
| 2011 | Laura Kaeppeler | Southern Wisconsin (Kenosha area) | Miss Southern Wisconsin; Miss America 2012 winner, preliminary talent winner (initial 2011 titleholder; succeeded upon national win). |
| 2011 | Raeanna Johnson | Seven Rivers (La Crosse area) | Miss Seven Rivers; successor to Kaeppeler after her Miss America victory. |
| 2012 | Kate Gorman | La Crosse | Miss La Crosse / Oktoberfest. |
| 2013 | Paula Mae Kuiper | Madison | Miss Madison – Capital City; top 12 at Miss America 2013. |
| 2014 | Raeanna Johnson | Madison | Miss Madison – Capital City. |
| 2015 | Rosalie Smith | New Berlin | Miss New Berlin. |
| 2016 | Courtney Pelot | Green Bay | Miss Green Bay Area. |
| 2017 | McKenna Collins | Madison | Miss Madison – Capital City. |
| 2018 | Tianna Vanderhei | Wood Violet (Wisconsin Rapids area) | Miss Wood Violet; top 15 at Miss America 2018, preliminary interview award winner. |
| 2019/2020 | Alyssa Bohm | Mount Pleasant | Miss Rock River Valley; title extended into 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic cancellation of competition; platform focused on Special Olympics involvement; competed at Miss America 2020 (pageant postponed).[35] |
| 2021 | Jennifer Schmidt | Rock River Valley (Janesville area) | Miss Rock River Valley; competed at Miss America 2022. |
| 2022 | Grace Stanke | Wausau | Miss Badgerland, age 20; platform: nuclear energy promotion for clean environment; Miss America 2023 winner, preliminary talent winner (initial 2022 titleholder; succeeded upon national win).[36] |
| 2022 | Kylene Spanbauer | Fond du Lac | Miss Harbor Cities, age 23; successor to Stanke after her Miss America victory; competed at Miss America 2024.[37] |
| 2023 | Lila Szyryj | Madison | Miss South Central, age 21; platform: "Journalism 101" promoting media literacy and journalistic accountability; first Madison native and Chinese American titleholder; competed at Miss America 2024.[38][39] |
| 2024 | Mandi Genord | Beaver Dam | Miss Northern Lights, age 22; platform: "Connecting Lives: Adoption Resources" advocating for adoption awareness; top 11 semi-finalist at Miss America 2025, preliminary health & fitness winner, AHA Leadership Award recipient.[40][41][33] |
| 2025 | Willow Ybre Newell | Racine | Miss Racine, age 22; platform: "The Art of Belonging," focusing on inclusion and sense of belonging through the arts; first Black titleholder; competed at Miss America 2026.[18][42][43] |