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Miss Arkansas USA

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For the state pageant affiliated with Miss America, see Miss Arkansas.
Miss Arkansas USA
Formation1952
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersShawnee
Location
Membership
Miss USA
Official language
English
Key people
John M. Vannatta
Jason Vannatta
Jennifer Vannatta-Fisher
WebsiteOfficial website

Miss Arkansas USA, previously known as Miss Arkansas Universe,[1][2] is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arkansas in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is directed by Vanbros and Associates.[3][4][5][6]

Arkansas's most successful placement was in 1982, when Terri Utley was crowned Miss USA. The most recent placement was Mackenzie Hinderberger in 2023 who placed in the Top 20. Eight Miss Arkansas USA titleholders were former Miss Arkansas Teen USA titleholders who competed at Miss Teen USA. The longest reigning titleholder was Haley Rose Pontius in 2020, having held the title for 18 months, while the shortest titleholder was Stephanie Barber in 2021, having held the title for 10 months and 18 days.

The state pageant was directed by Premier Pageants from 2002 to 2007 before becoming part of the Vanbros organization, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas. In 2018, Vanbros chose Fort Smith, Arkansas as the new host city of the pageant. Other host cities for the pageant have included Bentonville, Little Rock, Magnolia, and West Memphis.[7][8][9]

The current Miss Arkansas USA is Madeline Bohlman of Fayetteville who was crowned on April 14, 2024 at the OCCC Performing Arts Center in Oklahoma City. She will represent Arkansas at Miss USA 2024.

  • Stephanie Barber, Miss Arkansas USA 2021
    Stephanie Barber, Miss Arkansas USA 2021
  • Haley Pontius, Miss Arkansas USA 2020
    Haley Pontius, Miss Arkansas USA 2020
  • Terri Utley, Miss Arkansas USA 1982 and Miss USA 1982
    Terri Utley, Miss Arkansas USA 1982 and Miss USA 1982

Results summary

Placements

  • Miss USA: Terri Utley (1982)
  • 1st Runner-Up: Margaret Haywood (1955)
  • 2nd Runner-Up: Nancy McCollum (1956)
  • Top 5: Savannah Skidmore (2019)
  • Top 10: Chanley Painter (2009), Abby Floyd (2016)
  • Top 15/16/20: Jineane Marie Ford (1954), Helen Garrott (1957), Donna Needham (1959), Ann Smithwick (1968), Mary Dial (1970), Jessica Furrer (2005), Adrielle Churchill (2010), Kelsey Dow (2012), Mackenzie Hinderberger (2023)

Arkansas holds a record of 15 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Photogenic: Jennifer Sherrill (2004)
  • Miss Congeniality: Madeline Bohlman (2024)

Winners

Color key
  •   Winner
  •   Runner-Up
  •   Semifinalist
Year Name Hometown Age[a] Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes
2024 Madeline Bohlman Fayetteville 22 Miss Northwest Arkansas Miss Congeniality
2023 Mackenzie Hinderberger Farmington 23 Miss Farmington Top 20
2022 Rylie Wagner Ozark 21 Miss Ozark
2021 Stephanie Barber Fayetteville 22 Miss Northwest Arkansas
  • Shortest reigning Miss Arkansas USA
2020 Haley Rose Pontius Houston 23 Miss Richland Hills
  • Previously Miss Teen International 2013 and IJM International Miss 2017
  • Longest reigning Miss Arkansas USA
2019 Savannah Skidmore[10] Calico Rock 23 Miss White River Top 5
2018 Lauren Weaver Greenwood 21 Miss Greenwood
2017 Arynn Johnson Hot Springs 19 Miss Hot Springs
2016 Abby Floyd[12] Searcy[12] 19 Miss Searcy Top 10
2015 Leah Blefko Fayetteville 21 Miss White River
2014 Helen Wisner Fayetteville 25 Miss White River
2013 Hannah Billingsley Franklin 22 Miss North Arkansas
2012 Kelsey Dow Jonesboro 21 Miss Craighead County Top 16
2011 Lakynn McBride White Hall 20 Miss Central Arkansas
2010 Adrielle Churchill Dover 24 Miss White River Top 15
2009 Chanley Painter[citation needed] Conway 24 Miss Conway Top 10
2008 Rachel Howells Alma 21 Miss Washington County
2007 Kelly George Sherwood 24
2006 Kimberly Forsyth Cabot 26
2005 Jessica Furrer Conway 22 Top 15
2004 Jennifer Sherrill Sherwood 19 Miss Photogenic
2003 Taylor Carlisle Jacksonville 21
2002 Amber Boatman Norphlet 23
2001 Jessie Davis Harrison
2000 Whitney Moore Cabot 22
1999 Allison Heavener
1998 Kami Tice Huntsville
1997 Tamara Henry Little Rock 25
1996 Tiffany Parks 20
1995 Kristen Bettis
1994 Hannah Hilliard Little Rock
1993 Kati Fish Hot Springs
1992 Jona Garner
1991 Angela Rockwell
1990 Kathryn Harris Pine Bluff 18
1989 Paige Yandell Greenwood
1988 Melissa Staples[citation needed] Calion
1987 Sheri Smeltzer Smackover
1986 Rhonda Blaylock Springdale
1985 Susan Dean Osceola
1984 Shelly Boyd Manila
1983 Debra Baltz Paris
1982 Terri Utley[14] Cabot 20 Miss USA 1982[14]
1981 Lynnanne Derryberry Jerusalem
1980 Susie Owens Jacksonville
1979 Cynthia Caldwell Jacksonville
1978 Donna Funderburk El Dorado
1977 Debra Duree Texarkana
1976 Sonia Kay Jines Conway
1975 Robin Fields Hot Springs
1974 Gina Huddle
1973 Christal Phiffer[1] Texarkana[1]
1972 Susan Tichenor[15] Pine Bluff[15] 21[15]
1971 Paula Keith[16] Little Rock[16] 20[16]
1970 Mary Dial[17] Malvern[17] 21[17] Top 15
1969 Leonette Reed
1968 Ann Smithwick[5] Jacksonville[5] 19[5] Top 15
1967 Katy Wurst[18][19] Fort Smith[18][19] 19[19]
1966 Peggy Jones
1965 Jeri Haynie[4] El Dorado[4]
1964 Barbara McGlothlin
1963 Cheryl Bechtelheimer
1962 Linda Riggan Leola
  • 2nd runner up at Miss American Beauty 1964 (Title for US Rep to Miss International pageant)
1961 Mickey Lambert
1960 Gene Chambers
1959 Donna Needham Top 15
1958 Nancy Hill
1957 Helen Garrott Top 15
1956 Nancy McCollum 2nd Runner-Up[20]
1955 Margaret Haywood Jonesboro 1st Runner-Up
1954 Waydine Nesbitt[21][22] Magnolia[22] 21[22] Top 21
1953 Jackie Stucker
1952 Barbara Wathen

Notes

  1. ^ Age at the time of the crowning

References

  1. ^ a b c "Pageant Winners". Hope Star. April 3, 1973. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "March 24". The Courier News. March 24, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Prudenti, Richard Dean (April 25, 2007). "Pageant Company Selects Bentonville For Events". The Morning News. Retrieved April 26, 2007.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b c "To Perform". El Dorado Daily News. April 4, 1967. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d "Named at ASU". Northwest Arkansas Times. May 6, 1968. p. 8. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Miss Universe for State to Be Named". Northwest Arkansas Times. February 18, 1971. p. 2. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "To Perform". El Dorado Daily News. April 4, 1967. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Named at ASU". Northwest Arkansas Times. May 6, 1968. p. 8. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Miss Universe for State to Be Named". Northwest Arkansas Times. February 18, 1971. p. 2. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Christman, Jennifer (November 25, 2018). "PAPER TRAILS: Former Miss Arkansas wins Miss Arkansas USA crown". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
  11. ^ "New Miss Arkansas named after Shields wins Miss America". Arkansas Online. September 12, 2016.
  12. ^ a b c Rolf, Carol (December 13, 2015). "Searcy woman named Miss Arkansas USA". Arkansas Online. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  13. ^ Michaud, Sarah; Tracy, Brianne (October 21, 2017). "Dan + Shay's Shay Mooney Marries Hannah Billingsley — All the Wedding Details!". People Magazine.
  14. ^ a b Coghlan, Curtis (May 14, 1982). "Miss Arkansas Crowned Miss USA". The Daily Journal. p. 4. Retrieved May 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b c Associated Press (April 17, 1972). "Miss Arkansas Universe named". Hope Star. p. 6. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b c "Shorts". The Camden News. May 11, 1971. p. 2. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b c "Arkansas Beauty". Northwest Arkansas Times. May 1, 1970. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b "UA Freshman Places Second in Contest". Northwest Arkansas Times. May 1, 1967. p. 8. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b c "Magnolia Girl Wins Contest". Hope Star. May 1, 1967. p. 1. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Clergyman's daughter may be Miss Universe". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. July 19, 1956. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Pick Finalists for Miss USA". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 22, 1954. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  22. ^ a b c "Gives Up Title, Seeks New Crown". Tulsa Daily World. June 24, 1954. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
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