Miss Arkansas USA

Miss Arkansas USA
Formation	1952
Type	Beauty pageant
Headquarters	Shawnee
Location	Kansas;
Membership	Miss USA
Official language	English
Key people	John M. Vannatta; Jason Vannatta; Jennifer Vannatta-Fisher
Website	Official 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]

Quick Facts Formation, Type ...

Close

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
Haley Pontius, Miss Arkansas USA 2020
Terri Utley, Miss Arkansas USA 1982 and Miss USA 1982

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)

Color key

Winner
Runner-Up
Semifinalist

More information Year, Name ...

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	Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2021
2023	Mackenzie Hinderberger	Farmington	23	Miss Farmington	Top 20		Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2018
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		Previously Miss Arkansas 2016 after Savvy Shields was crowned Miss America 2017^[11]
2018	Lauren Weaver	Greenwood	21	Miss Greenwood			Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2014^{[citation needed]}
2017	Arynn Johnson	Hot Springs	19	Miss Hot Springs			Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2015^{[citation needed]} Top 15 semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA 2015^{[citation needed]}
2016	Abby Floyd^[12]	Searcy^[12]	19	Miss Searcy	Top 10		Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2013^[12] Semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA 2013^{[citation needed]} Married to former NFL player Phillip Supernaw ^{[citation needed]}
2015	Leah Blefko	Fayetteville	21	Miss White River
2014	Helen Wisner	Fayetteville	25	Miss White River
2013	Hannah Billingsley	Franklin	22	Miss North Arkansas			Married to Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay^[13]
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		Previously National Sweetheart 2005
2009	Chanley Painter^{[citation needed]}	Conway	24	Miss Conway	Top 10
2008	Rachel Howells	Alma	21	Miss Washington County
2007	Kelly George	Sherwood	24				Contestant at National Sweetheart 2004 as Miss Maryland
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				Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 1993^{[citation needed]}
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					Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 1987^{[citation needed]}
1988	Melissa Staples^{[citation needed]}	Calion					Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 1984
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						Married to Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys
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		Later Miss World United States 1955 1st runner up at Miss World 1955 as Miss USA 2nd runner-up Miss Dixie 1955
1954	Waydine Nesbitt^[21]^[22]	Magnolia^[22]	21^[22]		Top 21
1953	Jackie Stucker
1952	Barbara Wathen

Close

Age at the time of the crowning

[1]
"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]
"To Perform". El Dorado Daily News. April 4, 1967. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
[5]
"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]
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]
Coghlan, Curtis (May 14, 1982). "Miss Arkansas Crowned Miss USA". The Daily Journal. p. 4. Retrieved May 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
[15]
Associated Press (April 17, 1972). "Miss Arkansas Universe named". Hope Star. p. 6. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
[16]
"Shorts". The Camden News. May 11, 1971. p. 2. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
[17]
"Arkansas Beauty". Northwest Arkansas Times. May 1, 1970. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
[18]
"UA Freshman Places Second in Contest". Northwest Arkansas Times. May 1, 1967. p. 8. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
[19]
"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]
"Gives Up Title, Seeks New Crown". Tulsa Daily World. June 24, 1954. Retrieved April 22, 2023.

Official Website

[10] Age at the time of the crowning

[:0-1] [1]
"Pageant Winners". Hope Star. April 3, 1973. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

[2] [2]
"March 24". The Courier News. March 24, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] [3]
Prudenti, Richard Dean (April 25, 2007). "Pageant Company Selects Bentonville For Events". The Morning News. Retrieved April 26, 2007.^{[permanent dead link]}

[:2-4] [4]
"To Perform". El Dorado Daily News. April 4, 1967. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.

[:3-5] [5]
"Named at ASU". Northwest Arkansas Times. May 6, 1968. p. 8. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

[6] [6]
"Miss Universe for State to Be Named". Northwest Arkansas Times. February 18, 1971. p. 2. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

[:22-7] [7]
"To Perform". El Dorado Daily News. April 4, 1967. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.

[:32-8] [8]
"Named at ASU". Northwest Arkansas Times. May 6, 1968. p. 8. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

[9] [9]
"Miss Universe for State to Be Named". Northwest Arkansas Times. February 18, 1971. p. 2. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

[11] [10]
Christman, Jennifer (November 25, 2018). "PAPER TRAILS: Former Miss Arkansas wins Miss Arkansas USA crown". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

[12] [11]
"New Miss Arkansas named after Shields wins Miss America". Arkansas Online. September 12, 2016.

[:9-13] [12]
Rolf, Carol (December 13, 2015). "Searcy woman named Miss Arkansas USA". Arkansas Online. Retrieved August 20, 2016.

[HannahMooney-14] [13]
Michaud, Sarah; Tracy, Brianne (October 21, 2017). "Dan + Shay's Shay Mooney Marries Hannah Billingsley — All the Wedding Details!". People Magazine.

[:1-15] [14]
Coghlan, Curtis (May 14, 1982). "Miss Arkansas Crowned Miss USA". The Daily Journal. p. 4. Retrieved May 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

[:4-16] [15]
Associated Press (April 17, 1972). "Miss Arkansas Universe named". Hope Star. p. 6. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

[:5-17] [16]
"Shorts". The Camden News. May 11, 1971. p. 2. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

[:6-18] [17]
"Arkansas Beauty". Northwest Arkansas Times. May 1, 1970. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.

[:7-19] [18]
"UA Freshman Places Second in Contest". Northwest Arkansas Times. May 1, 1967. p. 8. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

[:8-20] [19]
"Magnolia Girl Wins Contest". Hope Star. May 1, 1967. p. 1. Retrieved August 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

[21] [20]
"Clergyman's daughter may be Miss Universe". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. July 19, 1956. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.

[22] [21]
"Pick Finalists for Miss USA". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 22, 1954. Retrieved April 22, 2023.

[Nesbitt-23] [22]
"Gives Up Title, Seeks New Crown". Tulsa Daily World. June 24, 1954. Retrieved April 22, 2023.

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Miss Arkansas USA

Placements

Awards

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Miss Arkansas USA

Placements

Awards

Wikiwand in your browser!

Gallery of titleholders

Results summary

Winners

Notes

References

External links