A Complete Journey Through the Crown: Celebrating Every Miss America Winner

Since its inception in 1921, the Miss America pageant has honored remarkable women from all over the United States. In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive list of winners spanning from 1921 to 2024, showcasing the accomplishments and variety among these distinguished women.

The latest titleholder, Madison Marsh, a 22-year-old officer with the U.S. Air Force, claimed the Miss America title in January 2024, following her earlier win as Miss Colorado 2023.

Celebrating a Rich Tradition

New York has produced the highest number of Miss America winners, totaling seven. California follows closely with six winners, while both Oklahoma and Alabama have had five winners each.

Some of the most renowned winners include Vanessa Williams, Lee Meriwether, Phyllis George, and Bess Myerson. Notably, Vanessa Williams is recognized as the first African-American Miss America, having won the title in 1983.

This pageant stands as a significant cultural event in the United States, showcasing the talents, intellect, and beauty of women nationwide since 1921.

The Complete List of Winners

Here you will find the list of Miss America winners from 1921 to 2024, illustrating the growth and transformation of this iconic event over the years:

1. 1921 – Margaret Gorman, Washington, D.C.
2. 1922 – Mary Katherine Campbell, Ohio (also won in 1923)
3. 1923 – Mary Katherine Campbell, Ohio
4. 1924 – Ruth Malcomson, Pennsylvania
5. 1925 – Fay Lanphier, California
6. 1926 – Norma Smallwood, Oklahoma
7. 1927 – Lois Delander, Illinois
8. 1928-1932 – No pageant held
9. 1933 – Marian Bergeron, Connecticut
10. 1934 – Henrietta Leaver, Pennsylvania
11. 1935 – Henrietta Leaver, Pennsylvania
12. 1936 – Rose Coyle, Pennsylvania
13. 1937 – Bette Cooper, New Jersey
14. 1938 – Marilyn Meseke, Ohio
15. 1939 – Patricia Donnelly, Michigan
16. 1940 – Frances Marie Burke, Pennsylvania
17. 1941 – Rosemary LaPlanche, California (also won in 1942)
18. 1942 – Jo-Carroll Dennison, Texas
19. 1943 – Jean Bartel, California
20. 1944 – Venus Ramey, District of Columbia
21. 1945 – Bess Myerson, New York
22. 1946 – Marilyn Buferd, California
23. 1947 – Barbara Jo Walker, Tennessee
24. 1948 – BeBe Shopp, Minnesota
25. 1949 – Jacque Mercer, Arizona
26. 1950 – Yolande Betbeze, Alabama
27. 1951 – Colleen Kay Hutchins, Utah
28. 1952 – Neva Jane Langley, Georgia
29. 1953 – Evelyn Ay, Pennsylvania
30. 1954 – Lee Meriwether, California
31. 1955 – Sharon Ritchie, Colorado
32. 1956 – Marian McKnight, South Carolina
33. 1957 – Marilyn Van Derbur, Colorado
34. 1958 – Mary Ann Mobley, Mississippi
35. 1959 – Lynda Lee Mead, Mississippi
36. 1960 – Nancy Fleming, Michigan
37. 1961 – Nancy Anne Fleming, Michigan
38. 1962 – Maria Fletcher, North Carolina
39. 1963 – Jacquelyn Mayer, Ohio
40. 1964 – Donna Axum, Arkansas
41. 1965 – Vonda Kay Van Dyke, Arizona
42. 1966 – Deborah Bryant, Kansas
43. 1967 – Jane Anne Jayroe, Oklahoma
44. 1968 – Debra Dene Barnes, Kansas
45. 1969 – Judith Ford, Illinois
46. 1970 – Pamela Eldred, Michigan
47. 1971 – Phyllis George, Texas
48. 1972 – Laurie Lea Schaefer, Ohio
49. 1973 – Terry Anne Meeuwsen, Wisconsin
50. 1974 – Rebecca Ann King, Colorado
51. 1975 – Shirley Cothran, Texas
52. 1976 – Tawny Godin, New York
53. 1977 – Dorothy Kathleen Benham, Minnesota
54. 1978 – Susan Perkins, Ohio
55. 1979 – Kylene Barker, Virginia
56. 1980 – Cheryl Prewitt, Mississippi
57. 1981 – Susan Powell, Oklahoma
58. 1982 – Elizabeth Ward, Arkansas
59. 1983 – Debra Maffett, California
60. 1984 – Vanessa Williams, New York (resigned), Suzette Charles, New Jersey
61. 1985 – Sharlene Wells, Utah
62. 1986 – Susan Akin, Mississippi
63. 1987 – Kellye Cash, Tennessee
64. 1988 – Kaye Lani Rae Rafko, Michigan
65. 1989 – Gretchen Carlson, Minnesota
66. 1990 – Debbye Turner, Missouri
67. 1991 – Marjorie Vincent, Illinois
68. 1992 – Carolyn Sapp, Hawaii
69. 1993 – Leanza Cornett, Florida
70. 1994 – Kimberly Aiken, South Carolina
71. 1995 – Heather Whitestone, Alabama
72. 1996 – Shawntel Smith, Oklahoma
73. 1997 – Tara Holland, Kansas
74. 1998 – Kate Shindle, Illinois
75. 1999 – Nicole Johnson, Virginia
76. 2000 – Heather French, Kentucky
77. 2001 – Angela Perez Baraquio, Hawaii
78. 2002 – Katie Harman, Oregon
79. 2003 – Erika Harold, Illinois
80. 2004 – Ericka Dunlap, Florida
81. 2005 – Deidre Downs, Alabama
82. 2006 – Jennifer Berry, Oklahoma
83. 2007 – Lauren Nelson, Oklahoma
84. 2008 – Kirsten Haglund, Michigan
85. 2009 – Katie Stam, Indiana
86. 2010 – Caressa Cameron, Virginia
87. 2011 – Teresa Scanlan, Nebraska
88. 2012 – Laura Kaeppeler, Wisconsin
89. 2013 – Mallory Hagan, New York
90. 2014 – Nina Davuluri, New York
91. 2015 – Kira Kazantsev, New York
92. 2016 – Betty Cantrell, Georgia
93. 2017 – Savvy Shields, Arkansas
94. 2018 – Cara Mund, North Dakota
95. 2019 – Nia Franklin, New York
96. 2020 – Camille Schrier, Virginia
97. 2021 – No national pageant held due to COVID-19
98. 2022 – Emma Broyles, Alaska
99. 2023 – Grace Stanke, Wisconsin
100. 2024 – Madison Marsh, Colorado