Miss Texas USA

This article is about the state pageant to select a Texas delegate to the Miss USA pageant. For the Miss America state pageant, see Miss Texas. For the Miss World America state pageant, see Miss Texas World.

The Miss Texas USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Texas in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. This pageant is part of the Miss USA Organization, owned by Texas native Crystle Stewart, herself a Miss USA for 2008.

Miss Texas USA

Formation	1952
Type	Beauty pageant
Headquarters	Dallas
Location	Texas
Membership	Miss USA
Official language	English
Website	Official website

The pageant is currently held in Houston. It has previously been hosted by El Paso, San Antonio, South Padre Island, Lubbock and Laredo.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} It was televised from 1971 to 2009.^[7][3][8]

The current titleholder is Aarienna Ware of Dallas, Texas, was crowned Miss Texas USA 2024 on June 22, 2024, at Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel in Houston, Texas. She will represent Texas at Miss USA 2024.

Background

Unlike the rest of Miss and Teen state pageants in the Miss USA system have annually scheduled at the same time, this Miss and Teen pageants in Texas are held separately in different months, the Miss pageant goes first and is held on first Sunday of September every year. Those events have affected from the regular September schedule such as the 2018 pageant was held in January 2018 due to Hurricane Harvey devastated the pageant's host city, Houston; and the 2021 pageant was held in September 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, exactly a year originally planned for September 2020.^[9][10]

Ten Miss Texas USA titleholders have won the Miss USA title, including Chelsi Smith, has been crowned Miss Universe. In the 1980s Texas won the Miss USA title five consecutive years from 1985 to 1989, a streak known as the "Texas Aces".^[11] Prior to this no state had ever won the Miss USA pageant more than two times in succession.^[12] Past state directors have included Richard Guy and Rex Holt, "GuyRex" and Al and Gail Clark of "The Crystal Group".^{[13][7][1][14]}

Contestants enter by winning local pageants or may choose to compete "at large" with an assigned title.^[3][15] In 2001 a record number of former Miss Texas Teen USA winners, six, competed for the Miss Texas USA 2002 title.^[8]

Texas Aces

Prior to the 1980s, no other state had won more than two Miss USA pageants in succession (the only two states to win twice in succession were Virginia in 1969-1970 and Illinois in 1973–1974). The five Texan Miss USA winners were all coached by "GuyRex", Richard Guy and Rex Holt, who held the Texas franchise from 1975. The term was first used in 1988 after Gibbs became their fourth consecutive titleholder, with Guy referring to the four queens as "four aces in a deck of cards", with their fifth titleholder, Kim Tomes (1977) as the "wildcard".^[16] The following year Gretchen Polhemus became the fifth and final "ace". The term is still in use.

As well as directing the Texas pageant, GuyRex also acquired the Miss California USA franchise in 1986. In 1988, Diana Magaña of California placed first runner-up to Gibbs, the fourth ace. The two had both undergone extensive preparation by GuyRex, and even lived together prior to the pageant.^[17][18]

The five Aces were:

• 1985 - Laura Martinez-Herring (Miss USA, Top 10 at Miss Universe 1985)
• 1986 - Christy Fichtner (Miss USA, 1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1986)
• 1987 - Michelle Royer (Miss USA, 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1987)
• 1988 - Courtney Gibbs (Miss USA, Top 10 at Miss Universe 1988)
• 1989 - Gretchen Polhemus (Miss USA, 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1989)

Gallery

• 
  Logan Lester, Miss Texas USA 2018
• 
  Lauren Guzman, Miss Texas Teen USA 2008 and Miss Texas USA 2014
• 
  Crystle Stewart, Miss Texas USA 2008 and Miss USA 2008 (pictured in 2014)
• 
  Stephanie Guerrero, Miss Texas USA 2004
• 
  Nicole O'Brian, Miss Texas Teen USA 2000 and Miss Texas USA 2003
• 
  Kandace Krueger, Miss Texas USA 2001 and Miss USA 2001
• 
  Michelle Royer, Miss Texas USA 1987 and Miss USA 1987
• 
  Christy Fichtner, Miss Texas USA 1986 and Miss USA 1986
• 
  Laura Martinez Harring, Miss Texas USA 1985 and Miss USA 1985 (pictured in 2011)
• 
  Lisa Allred, Miss Texas USA 1983

Results summary

Placements

• Miss USAs: Kimberly Tomes (1977), Laura Martinez Herring (1985), Christy Fichtner (1986), Michelle Royer (1987), Courtney Gibbs (1988), Gretchen Polhemus (1989), Chelsi Smith (1995), Kandace Krueger (2001), Crystle Stewart (2008), R'Bonney Gabriel (2022)
• 1st runners-up: Carelgean Douglas (1959), Diane Balloun (1964), Brenda Box (1971), Luann Caughey (1982), Lisa Allred (1983), Ylianna Guerra (2015)
• 2nd runners-up: Barbara Horan (1978), Nicole O'Brian (2003)
• 3rd runners-up: Betty Lee (1954), Ana Rodriguez (2011)
• 4th runners-up: Jo Dodson (1956), Aundie Evers (1975), Alexandria Nugent (2013), Lluvia Alzate (2023)
• Top 5/6/8: Christine Friedel (1994), Amanda Little (1997), Holly Mills (1998), Victoria Hinojosa (2021)
• Top 10/11/12: Lavonne McConnell (1973), Candace Gray (1976), Anne Hinnant (1979), Barbara Buckley (1980), Diana Durnford (1981), Laura Shaw (1984), Stephanie Kuehne (1990), Katie Young (1992), Angie Sisk (1993), Kara Williams (1996), Kasi Kelly (2002), Lauren Lanning (2006), Magen Ellis (2007), Brooke Daniels (2009), Brittany Booker (2012), Aareianna Ware (2024)
• Top 15: Joan Bradshaw (1953), Mary Daughters (1955), Gloria Hunt (1957), Linda Daugherty (1958), Jackie Williams (1962), Phillis Johnson (1965), Dorothy Pickens (1966), Bonnie Robinson (1967), Sandy Drewes (1969), Diane Swendeman (1970), Stephanie Guerrero (2004), Tyler Willis (2005), Logan Lester (2018)

Texas holds a record of 57 placements at Miss USA, being placed first overall.

Awards

• Miss Congeniality: Diane Swendeman (1970), Chelsi Smith (1995)
• Miss Photogenic: Susan Peters (1972), Lisa Allred (1983), Laura Shaw (1984), Tyler Willis (2005)
• Best State Costume: Lavonne McConnell (1973), Kimberly Tomes (1977), Barbara Horan (1978), R'Bonney Gabriel (2022)
• Best in Swimsuit: Chelsi Smith (1995), Lluvia Alzate (2023)

Winners

Color key

•   Declared as Winner
•   Ended as runner-up
•   Ended as finalist or semifinalist

Year	Name	Hometown	Local Title	Age[a]	Placement at Miss USA	Special awards at Miss USA	Notes
2024	Aarieanna Ware	Dallas	Miss Dallas	26	Top 10
2023	Lluvia Alzate	Houston	Miss Houston	26	4th runner-up	Best in Swimsuit
2022	Allison Drake	Dallas	Miss Dallas	26	Originally second runner-up, assumed title when Gabriel won Miss Universe (Sydni Leonard, the first runner-up, declined the offer)
	R'Bonney Gabriel	Houston	Miss Friendswood	28	Miss USA 2022	Best State Costume	Miss Universe 2022 First Asian American Miss Texas USA
2021	Victoria Hinojosa	McAllen	Miss South Texas	22	Top 8		Granddaughter of U.S. Representative TX-15 Rubén Hinojosa
2020	Taylor Kessler	Houston	Miss Lone Star	23			Previously Miss Grand USA 2017 Longest reigning Miss Texas USA (2 years and 3 days) and also the longest reigning Miss USA state titleholder under three calendar years in the organization's history
2019	Alayah Benavidez	San Antonio	Miss San Antonio	23			Previously Miss United States 2016 Later a contestant on season 24 of The Bachelor
2018	Logan Lester	Houston	Miss Harris County	23	Top 15		Shortest reigning Miss Texas USA (7 months and 27 days)
2017	Nancy Gonzalez	Freeport	Miss Kemah	27			Competed in Nuestra Belleza Latina 2010
2016	Daniella Rodriguez[19]	Laredo[19]	Miss Central Webb County	19			Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2013 Married to Carlos Correa
2015	Ylianna Guerra[20]	McAllen	Miss Tropics of Texas	22	1st runner-up
2014	Lauren Guzman[21]	Laredo[21]	Miss Central Laredo	24			Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2008
2013	Alexandria "Ali" Nugent	Dallas	Miss North Texas	19	4th runner-up	Fan Vote Winner	Niece of rock musician Ted Nugent
2012	Brittany Booker	Friendswood	Miss Houston	21	Top 10
2011	Ana Rodriguez	Laredo	Miss Central Laredo	24	3rd runner-up
2010	Kelsey Moore	El Paso	Miss El Paso	19
2009	Brooke Daniels[6]	Tomball	Miss Harris County	22	Top 10
2008	Crystle Stewart[22]	Missouri City	Miss Fort Bend County	26	Miss USA 2008		Top 10 at Miss Universe 2008. Former President of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA
2007	Magen Ellis[23]	Tyler	Miss Houston[23]	19	Top 10		Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2004 (Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2004)
2006	Lauren Lanning	Friendswood	Miss Houston	22	Top 10
2005	Tyler Willis	Lubbock	Miss Central Plains	25	Top 15	Miss Photogenic
2004	Stephanie Guerrero	Lake Jackson	Miss Houston	23	Top 15
2003	Nicole O'Brian	Friendswood	Miss Bay Area	20	2nd runner-up		Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2000 1st Runner-up & Best in Swimsuit at Miss Teen USA 2000 Contestant on The Amazing Race 5
2002	Kasi Kelly	Bridgeport	Miss DFW	20	Top 12
2001	Kandace Krueger	Austin	Miss Austin	24	Miss USA 2001		2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 2001
2000	Heather Ogilvie[24]	Houston	Miss Southeast Texas	22
1999	Carissa Blair	Houston	Miss Southeast Texas	23			Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 1992
1998	Holly Mills	San Antonio	Miss San Antonio	22	Top 5
1997	Amanda Little	Wylie	Miss Metroplex	20	Top 6
1996	Kara Williams	Houston	Miss Harris County	23	Top 10		Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 1991 (Top 12 at Miss Teen USA 1991)
Title vacant
1995	Chelsi Smith†	Deer Park	Miss Galveston County	21	Miss USA 1995	Miss Congeniality and Best in Swimsuit	Miss Universe 1995 First African American Miss Texas USA[15]
1994	Christine Friedel	El Paso	Miss El Paso	22	Top 6
1993	Angie Sisk	Houston	Miss Fort Bend County	21	Top 12
1992	Katie Young	Fort Worth	Miss Fort Worth	19	Top 11
1991	Chris Bogard	Tomball	Miss North Harris County	23
1990	Stephanie Kuehne[25]	Missouri City	Miss Houston	22	Top 12		Miss Wonderland 1989
1989	Gretchen Polhemus[26]	Fort Worth[26]	Miss Fort Worth	23	Miss USA 1989		2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1989 Mother of Miss Utah USA 2017, Baylee Jensen[27]
1988	Courtney Gibbs[2]	Fort Worth	Miss Metroplex	21	Miss USA 1988		Top 10 at Miss Universe 1988
1987	Michelle Royer[28]	Keller[28]	Miss Keller[28]	21	Miss USA 1987		2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1987
1986	Christiane "Christy" Fichtner	Dallas	Miss Dallas County	23	Miss USA 1986		1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1986
1985	Laura Martinez Herring[29]	El Paso	Miss El Paso County	21	Miss USA 1985		Top 10 at Miss Universe 1985 First Hispanic Miss Texas USA[30]
1984	Laura Shaw[31]	Burleson	Miss Burleson	19	Top 10	Miss Photogenic
1983	Lisa Allred[32][33]	Fort Worth[33]	Miss Fort Worth	20[33]	1st runner-up	Miss Photogenic	Miss World USA 1983 & 6th runner-up at Miss World 1983
1982	Luann Caughey[34]	Abilene[34]	Miss Abilene[34]	22[34]	1st runner-up		Miss World USA 1982 & 4th runner-up at Miss World 1982
1981	Diana Durnford[35][36]	El Paso[36]	Miss Sun City[36]	21[36]	Top 12
1980	Barbara Buckley	Midland			Top 12
1979	Anne Hinnant[37]	Houston	Miss Harris County[37]		Top 12
1978	Barbara Horan	Dallas			2nd runner-up	Best State Costume
1977	Kimberly Tomes	Houston		21	Miss USA 1977	Best State Costume	Top 12 at Miss Universe 1977 Miss Texas World 1974 and 1st runner up at Miss World USA 1974.
1976	Candace Gray†[38]	El Paso			Top 12		Died in a scuba diving accident in 1981[39]
1975	Aundie Evers	El Paso			4th runner-up
1974	Debra Cronin	McDade
1973	Lavonne McConnell[40]	Fort Worth		19	Top 12	Best State Costume
1972	Susan Peters[41]	Austin				Miss Photogenic
1971	Brenda Box	Amarillo			1st runner-up
1970	Diane Swendeman	San Antonio			Top 15	Miss Congeniality
1969	Sandy Drewes	Dallas			Top 15
1968	Jeannie Wilson	Dallas
1967	Bonnie Robinson	Houston			Top 15
1966	Dorothy Pickens	Edinburg			Top 15
1965	Phillis Johnson	Houston			Top 15
1964	Diane Balloun	Houston			1st runner-up
1963	Cheryl Wilburn	Houston
1962	Jackie Williams	Waxahachie	Miss Lake Whitney		Top 15
1961	Sheila Wade	Dallas	Miss Lake Whitney
1960	Pat Cloud	Houston
1959	Carelgean Douglas	Houston			1st runner-up
1958	Linda Daugherty	Houston			Top 15
1957	Gloria Hunt	Houston			Top 15
1956	Jo Dodson	Houston			4th runner-up
1955	Mary Daughters	Houston			Top 15
1954	Betty Lee	Houston			3rd runner-up
1953	Joan Bradshaw	Houston		17	Top 15
1952	Charlene McClary	Houston

1. Age at the time of the pageant

References

1. Belkin, Lisa (February 28, 1988). "In Texas, Two Kings of the Beauty Queen Business". New York Times.
2. "Miss Metroplex crowned Miss Texas USA". Del Rio News Herald. August 4, 1987.
3. "Miss Ricebelt pageant on tap for Sunday". The Facts. February 11, 1998.
4. "Miss Texas pageant planned at El Paso". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. March 6, 1975.
5. Davis, John (July 18, 2000). "Austin native claims Miss Texas USA crown". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
6. "Harris County's Brooke Daniels crowned Miss Texas USA". Houston Chronicle. June 29, 2008.
7. "Richard Guy and Rex Holt behind new Miss Texas USA". The Waco Citizen. September 4, 1975.
8. Davis, John (July 26, 2001). "The Miss Texas USA pageant will go on ..." The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
9. Elliott, Amber (January 9, 2018). "Popular real estate agent Logan Lester wins the 2018 Miss Texas USA pageant". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
10. "Event Information". Miss Texas USA Facebook. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022.
11. Anderson, Lindsey (September 28, 2015). "El Paso's pageant king Rex Holt dies". El Paso Times.
12. Kennedy, J Michael (March 13, 1987). "They Reign as Kings in the Land of the Beauty Queens". Los Angeles Times.
13. Gunderson, Edna (July 7, 1985). "Beauty apostles look for winners". The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise.
14. "Texas beauty files suit over alleged snub". The San Bernardino County Sun. August 8, 1991.
15. Krenek, Melinda (July 8, 1994). "New Miss Texas USA beginning her banner year with enthusiasm". The Galveston Daily News.
16. Lewis, Holden (March 2, 1988). "Miss USA Contest Rewards Winners, Gurus". Associated Press.
17. "New Miss California". The San Francisco Chronicle. August 31, 1987. p. 6.
18. "Bringing Up Beauty / In the months before the Miss USA Pageant, advisers work on Miss California". The San Francisco Chronicle. October 1, 1987. p. 6.
19. Mendoza, Madalyn (September 2, 2016). "Miss Texas USA isn't great at baseball, but her Instagram game is in the big leagues". San Antonio Express-News.
20. Flores, Daniel (July 11, 2015). "RGV native Miss Texas USA ready for pageant". The Monitor.
21. Fechter, Joshua (September 16, 2014). "Former Miss Texas serves in Texas State Guard". San Antonio Express.
22. Associated Press (July 1, 2007). "Miss Fort Bend County takes Miss Texas title". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 1, 2007.
23. "Miss Houston named Miss Texas USA". Plainview Daily Herald. June 24, 2006.
24. "Houston woman wins Miss Texas USA title". The Kerville Times. July 6, 1999.
25. "Stephanie Kuehne new Miss Texas". The Paris News. June 27, 1989.
26. "Fort Worth woman lands Miss Texas USA title Sunday night". The Paris News. August 15, 1988.
27. Chinn, Surae (April 28, 2017). "Utah woman follows in mother's footsteps, competes for Miss USA title". KTVX. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
28. "Miss Keller will wear crown of Miss Texas USA in '87". The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise. August 5, 1986.
29. "Beauty pageant winner returns to glamour". The Baytown Sun. September 5, 1984.
30. "El Paso Model Miss Texas USA". Del Rio News Herald. July 24, 1984.
31. "Beauty Pinched". The Times-News. August 3, 1983.
32. "Texas USA title won". The Victoria Advocate. August 23, 1982.
33. "Miss Texas USA crowned Monday". The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise. August 24, 1982.
34. "Miss Abilene wins pageant". The Paris News. August 11, 1981.
35. Speakerman, Carol (March 18, 1981). "Miss Texas USA Enjoying 'Good Year' for Texas". The Victoria Advocate.
36. "El Paso lass claims Miss Texas USA title". The Paris News. August 19, 1980.
37. "Miss Texas USA selected". The Taylor Daily Press. August 22, 1978.
38. "Miss Texas USA winners". The Waco Citizen. September 4, 1975.
39. "Diving Accident Kills Beauty Queen". The Montreal Gazette. September 8, 1981.
40. "Yoakum Entry Named Runner-up". The Victoria Advocate. April 15, 1973.
41. "Miss Texas Universe named in San Antonio Competition". The Victoria Advocate. April 17, 1972.

External links

• Texas portal

• Official website