Miss District of Columbia

This article is about the state-level pageant associated with Miss America and Miss Universe. For other uses, see Miss District of Columbia (disambiguation).

The Miss District of Columbia competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the District of Columbia in the Miss America Pageant.

Miss District of Columbia

Type	Beauty pageant
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Location	District of Columbia
Membership	Miss America
Official language	English
Key people	Tricia Morrin Lloyd (Executive Director)
Website	Official website

The District of Columbia pageant, which was suspended for some years during the 1960s and 1990s, is unusual in that many winners come from outside the district. Women are eligible to compete for the title if they attend school, work, or are ordinarily a resident in the District, and many students who have won the title come from out-of-state.^{[citation needed]}

Katie Ann Powell was crowned Miss District of Columbia 2024 on June 22, 2024 at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.

Gallery of past titleholders

• 
  Margaret Gorman,
  Miss Washington, D.C. 1921 and Miss America 1921
• 
  Helen Sweeney,
  Miss District of Columbia 1924
• 
  Dorothy Parker,
  Miss District of Columbia 1938
• 
  Margo Lucey,
  Miss District of Columbia 1956
• 
  Kate Michael,
  Miss District of Columbia 2006
• 
  Shayna Rudd,
  Miss District of Columbia 2007
• 
  Kate Grinold,
  Miss District of Columbia 2008
• 
  Jennifer Corey,
  Miss District of Columbia 2009
• 
  Stephanie Williams,
  Miss District of Columbia 2010
• 
  Bindhu Pamarthi,
  Miss District of Columbia 2013

Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss District of Columbia 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

• Miss Americas: Margaret Gorman (1921), Venus Ramey (1944)
• 1st runners-up: Marjorie Joesting (1926), Margo Lucey (1957), Rosanne Tueller (1964)
• 2nd runners-up: Jean Cavanaugh (1941)
• 3rd runners-up: Ruth Rea (1961), Marshawn Evans (2002), Briana Kinsey (2018)
• 4th runners-up: Dixie Rafter (1943), Shannon Schambeau (2006)
• Top 4: Margaret Gorman (1922)
• Top 10: Linda Weisbrod (1955), Nicole Messina (1999), Kate Grinold (2009), Jennifer Corey (2010), Allison Farris (2019), Andolyn Medina (2022)
• Top 12: Helen Clum (1935)
• Top 13: Dorothy Powell (1945)
• Top 15: Dorothy Parker (1938), Catherine Howe (1940)
• Top 16: Sandra Stahl (1951)
• Top 18: Rita Burns (1933)

Awards

Preliminary awards

• Preliminary Interview: Marshawn Evans (2002)
• Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness: Dixie Rafter (1943), Venus Ramey (1944), Ruth Rea (1961), Rosanne Tueller (1964), Shannon Schambeau (2006), Cierra Jackson (2017)
• Preliminary Talent: Catherine Howe (1940), Venus Ramey (1944), Sandra Stahl (1951), Iris Fitch (1953), Linda Weisbrod (1955), Virginia Pailes (1960) (tie), Rosanne Tueller (1964), Nicole Messina (1999), Marshawn Evans (2002)

Non-finalist awards

• Non-finalist Interview: Ashley Boalch (2012)
• Non-finalist Talent: Scarlett Shinault (1962), Toyia Taylor (2000), Shayna Rudd (2008)

Other awards

• Jean Bartel Military Awareness Scholarship: Andolyn Medina (2022)
• Miss Congeniality: Iris Fitch (1953) (tie)
• Four Points Award: Stephanie Williams (2011)
• Quality of Life Award Finalists: Nicole Messina (1999), Therese Lizardo (2005), Briana Kinsey (2018), Allison Farris (2019)
• STEM Scholarship Award Winners: Briana Kinsey (2018)
• Top Fundraiser 4th runner-ups: Andolyn Medina (2022)

Winners

•   Declared as winner
•   Ended as a runner-up
•   Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist

Year	Name	Hometown	Age	Local Title	Talent	Placement at Miss America	Special scholarships at Miss America	Notes
2024	Katie Ann Powell	Sandy, Utah	26	Miss Penn Quarter	Harp
2023	Jude Maboné	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	27	Miss Rock Creek Park	Classical Vocal
2022	Alivia Roberts	Shannon, MS	26	Miss Embassy Row	Ballet en Pointe
2021	Andolyn Medina[1]	Chesapeake, VA	25		Vocal	Top 10	Jean Bartel Military Awareness Scholarship[citation needed] Top Fundraiser 5th Place[citation needed]	Previously Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2012[2] Top 10 and Preliminary Evening Gown/OSQ at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2013 Previously District of Columbia Sweetheart 2019[citation needed] 3rd runner up at National Sweetheart 2019 pageant[citation needed] Currently an officer in the United States Navy[citation needed]
2019–2020[a]	Katelynne Cox[4][5]	Camas, Washington[5]	24		Vocal		Women in Business Scholarship Finalist[6]	Previously Miss Missouri 2016 within Miss Earth United States organization[7] Top 10 finalist at Miss Earth United States 2016 pageant[8]
2018	Allison Farris[9]	Jasper, AL	24		Classical Piano, "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6" by Franz Liszt	Top 10[10]	Quality of Life Award Finalist[11]
2017	Briana Kinsey[12]	Hoover, AL	24		Pop Vocal, "Born For This"	3rd runner-up[13][14]	Quality of Life Award Finalist[15] STEM Scholarship Award[16]	Eligible as a graduate student at American University[citation needed]
2016	Cierra Jackson[17]	Columbus, GA	24		Gospel Vocal, "Alabaster Box" by CeCe Winans		Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award[18]	Later Miss District of Columbia USA 2020 Top 16 at Miss USA 2020 pageant[citation needed]
2015	Haely Jardas[19]	Fort Myers, FL	24		Vocal, "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift
2014	Teresa Davis[20]	Hoschton, GA	23		Piano, "Malagueña"
2013	Bindhu Pamarthi	Washington, D.C.	23		Bollywood Dance, "Stereo Love"
2012	Allyn Rose	Newburg, MD	24		Artistic Roller Skating, "Beat It"			Previously Miss Maryland USA 2011[citation needed] Top 8 at Miss USA 2011 pageant[citation needed] Later Miss U.S. Supranational 2014 3rd runner-up at Miss Supranational 2014 pageant[citation needed]
2011	Ashley Boalch[21][22]	Sandy Spring, MD	23		Vocal, "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"		Non-finalist Interview Award	Appears on The Real Housewives of Potomac[23]
2010	Stephanie Williams	Atlantic City, NJ	23		Vocal, "This Is My Now"		Four Points Award
2009	Jennifer Corey	West Islip, NY	22		Operatic Vocal, "O mio babbino caro"	Top 10		Contestant at National Sweetheart 2008 pageant[citation needed]
2008	Kate Grinold	Washington, D.C.	23		Contemporary Ballet Tango, "Tanguera"	Top 10
2007	Shayna Rudd	Philadelphia, PA	22		Jazz Dance, "Feeling Good"		Non-finalist Talent Award
2006	Kate Michael	Lilburn, GA	24		Jazz Dance, "Fever"
2005	Shannon Schambeau	San Antonio, FL	25		Tap Dance, "My Strongest Suit" from Aida	4th runner-up	Preliminary Swimsuit Award	2nd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2004 pageant as Miss Florida[citation needed] Later Mrs. Texas America 2010 Top 6 at Mrs. America 2011 under married name, Shannon Patterson[24][25]
2004	Therese Lizardo	Watchung, NJ	24		Hawaiian/Tahitian Dance, "Tahitian Drums"		Quality of Life Award Finalist
2003	Lisa Ferris	Portland, OR	21		Vocal, "Gimme, Gimme" from Thoroughly Modern Millie
2002	Sarah-Elizabeth Langford	Atlanta, GA	23		Gymnastics, "Around the World"			Later Miss District of Columbia USA 2005[citation needed]
2001	Marshawn Evans	Arlington, VA	22		Rhythmic Dance Twirl, "I Will Survive"	3rd runner-up	Preliminary Interview Award Preliminary Talent Award	Contestant on The Apprentice 4[citation needed]
2000	Rashida Jolley	Washington, D.C.	20		Harp, "I Got Rhythm" & "Fascinating Rhythm"
1999	Toyia Taylor		24		Public Address, "Wake Up"		Non-finalist Talent Award
1998	Nicole Messina	Waterford, NJ	23		Tap Dance, "Sing, Sing, Sing"	Top 10	Preliminary Talent Award Quality of Life Award Finalist
1997	Sonya Gavankar	Joliet, IL	21		Vocal, "The Power of the Dream"
1990–1996	No District of Columbia representative at Miss America pageant[26][27][28][29][30][31][32]
1989	Donya Rose	Washington, D.C.	22		Lyrical Jazz Ballet, "Over the Rainbow"
1988	Patricia Morrin		23		Jazz Dance			Crowned after the original pageant results, in which Edwina Richard was crowned, were overturned due a judge being a faculty member where two of the contestants were students[33]
1987	Cheryl Chapman	Arlington, VA	21		Vocal, "Come Rain or Come Shine"
1986	Karen Watson		25		Classical Ballet en Pointe
1985	Cherie Ward	Adelphi, MD	22		Original Drama
1984	Desiree Keating	Silver Spring, MD	22		Interpretive Dance			Later Miss District of Columbia USA 1986[citation needed]
1964–1983	No District of Columbia representative at Miss America pageant
1963	Rosanne Tueller	McLean, VA			Vocal & Jazz Dance, "I Love Paris"	1st runner-up	Preliminary Swimsuit Award Preliminary Talent Award
1962	Ann Verner	Arlington, VA	19		Vocal & Guitar, "Country Boy"
1961	Scarlett Shinault	Silver Spring, MD	20		Vocal, "I Cain't Say No"		Non-finalist Talent Award
1960	Ruth Rea	Chevy Chase, MD	18		Vocal, "A Little Brains, A Little Talent" from Damn Yankees	3rd runner-up	Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1959	Virginia Pailes	Hyattsville, MD	21		Vocal, "It All Depends on You"		Preliminary Talent Award (tie)
1958	Lee Berkow	Washington, D.C.	21		Vocal, "Come Rain or Come Shine"
1957	June Cook	Arlington, VA	20		Piano, Rhapsody in Blue
1956	Margo Lucey	Colesville, MD	20		Dramatic Monologue & Vocal, "Autumn Leaves"	1st runner-up		Later Mrs. Maryland 1980 4th runner-up at Mrs. America 1981 pageant[citation needed]
1955	Judith Dunkle	Washington, D.C.	19		Vocal
1954	Linda Weisbrod	Washington, D.C.	21		Classical Vocal, "O Mio Fernando" from La favorite	Top 10	Preliminary Talent Award
1953	Helen Smith[34]	Washington, D.C.	19		Dance
1952	Iris Fitch	Washington, D.C.	19		Vocal, "With a Song in My Heart"		Miss Congeniality (tie) Preliminary Talent Award
1951	June Klein	Washington, D.C.	21		Vocal
1950	Sandra Stahl	Washington, D.C.	21		Classical Vocal, "The Bell Song" from Lakmé	Top 16	Preliminary Talent Award
1949	Mary Hayes	Washington, D.C.	19		Classical Piano
1948	Joann Miller	Washington, D.C.	23		Vocal, "An Old, Old Castle in Scotland"
1947	Margaret Wilson	Washington, D.C.	19		Dance, "Mexican Hat Dance"
1946	Jeanne Carlson	Washington, D.C.	19		Vocal, "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly"
1945	Dorothy Powell	Washington, D.C.	21		Dramatic Reading from Saint Joan	Top 13
1944	Venus Ramey	Washington, D.C.	19		Vocal in English and Spanish & Dance, "Take It Easy"	Winner	Preliminary Swimsuit Award Preliminary Talent Award
1943	Dixie Rafter	Washington, D.C.	18		Vocal / Dance, "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" from Thank Your Lucky Stars	4th runner-up	Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1942	Marilyn Makin	Washington, D.C.	18		Vocal
1941	Jean Cavanaugh[35]	Washington, D.C.	18		Soft Shoe Dance, "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody"	2nd runner-up
1940	Catherine Howe	Washington, D.C.	22		Dance, "The Yam"	Top 15	Preliminary Talent Award
1939	Evelyn Foster	Washington, D.C.	19		Ballet en Pointe
1938	Dorothy Parker	Washington, D.C.			Vocal & Tap Dance, "How'd You Like to Love Me"	Top 15
1937	Helen Greene	Washington, D.C.	24		Blues Vocal & Piano
1936	Shirley Schwartz	Washington, D.C.						First Jewish titleholder
1935	Helen Clum	Washington, D.C.	18		Vocal & Dance, "Every Day I'll Fall In Love With You"	Top 12
1934	No national pageant was held[36]
1933	Rita Burns	Washington, D.C.	19		N/A[37]	Top 18
1932	No national pageants were held[36]
1931
1930
1929
1928
1927	Gladys Cookman	Washington, D.C.			N/A[37]
1926	Marjorie Joesting	Washington, D.C.				1st runner-up
1925	Abbie Eagan	Washington, D.C.
1924	Helen Sweeney	Washington, D.C.
1923	Margaret Gorman[38]	Washington, D.C.	18					Competed as Miss America 1921[38]
	Lorraine Bunch[39]							Competed as Miss Washington, D.C. at national pageant
1922	Margaret Gorman[38]	Washington, D.C.	17			Top 4[40][41]		Returned to defend her title and competed as Miss America 1921[38]
	Evelyn C. Lewis[42]	Washington, D.C.						Competed as Miss Washington, D.C. at national pageant
1921	Margaret Gorman[43]	Washington, D.C.	16			Winner[43]	Bathers' Revue Award Golden Mermaid Trophy[43]	Competed as Miss Washington, D.C. at national pageant

Notes

1. Titleholder extended to a second full year in 2020 after state and national pageants postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic^[3]