{{short description|Beauty contest in the United States}} {{for|the state pageant affiliated with Miss America|Miss Indiana}} {{Distinguish|Miss India USA}} {{pp-pc}} {{more citations needed|date=November 2015}} {{Infobox organization |name = Miss Indiana USA |image = |image_border = |image_size = |caption = |map = |map_size = |map_caption = |formation = 1952 |type = Beauty pageant |headquarters = Carmel |location = Indiana |membership = Miss USA |language = English |leader_title = |leader_name = |num_staff = |budget = |website = [http://www.missindianausa.com Official website] }} The ''' Miss Indiana USA '''competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Indiana in the Miss USA pageant and the name of the title held by those representatives. This pageant is currently produced by Empower2 Productions, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The pageant is currently held in Noblesville and has previously been hosted by Anderson, Michigan City, Indianapolis, Carmel and Fort Wayne.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://currentincarmel.com/carmel-in-brief-november-1-2016|title=Carmel in brief- November 1, 2016|date=1 November 2016|work=Current in Carmel}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11569717/|title=New Miss Indiana USA|date=8 March 1980|work=The Kokomo Tribune|page=24}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11532198/|title=New Albany Woman Miss Indiana USA|date=27 November 1990|work=Logansport Pharos-Tribune|page=4}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11532197/|title=High-tech beauty pursuing dream|last=Carey|first=Tom|date=27 February 1990|work=The Kokomo Tribune}}</ref>
Nine Miss Indiana USA winners have previously held the Miss Indiana Teen USA title and competed at Miss Teen USA, and three previously competed in other states (Florida, Georgia and Virginia). Three Miss Indiana-USA winners (1987, 2002, and 2023) have also previously competed at Miss America.
The most recent placement was Alexis Lete in 2020, who finished 3rd runner-up.
Sydney Shrewsbury from Indianapolis, was chosen as Miss Indiana-USA 2025 on April 5, 2025, in Indianapolis. She represented Indiana at the Miss USA 2025 pageant.
==Gallery of titleholders== <gallery mode="packed" heights="240" style="text-align:left"> File:Alexis Lete - 2016.jpg|Alexis Lete, Miss Indiana USA 2020 File:Mekayla, Miss Indiana USA 2014 interview outfit.jpg|Mekayla Diehl, Miss Indiana USA 2014 File:Allison Biehle.jpg|Allison Biehle, Miss Indiana USA 2010 File:Brittany Mason.png|Brittany Mason, Miss Indiana USA 2008 </gallery>
==Results summary== ===Placements=== *'''1st runners-up:''' Holli Dennis (1981) *'''2nd runners-up:''' Elaine Richards (1966), Kelleah "Kelly" Lloyd (2002) *'''3rd runners-up:''' Jayme Buecher (1978), Alexis Lete (2020) *'''Top 10'''/'''12:''' Virginia Johnson (1952), Jo Berryman (1975), Holly Roehl (1996), Pratima Yarlagadda (1999), Tashina Kastigar (2003), Brittany Mason (2008) *'''Top 16'''/'''19'''/'''20:''' Cecilia Dennis (1954), Sue Ekamp (1962), Jillian Wunderlich (2011), Mekayla Diehl (2014)
'''Indiana''' holds a record of 15 placements at Miss USA.
===Special awards=== *'''Best State Costume:''' Heather Gray (1992) *'''Miss Photogenic:''' Gretchen Reece (2015) *'''Miss Congeniality:''' Tate Fritchley (2019)
==Winners==
;Color key {{plainlist| * {{Color box|gold|border=darkgray}} Declared as Winner * {{Color box|#FFFF66|border=darkgray}} Ended as runner-up * {{Color box|#FFFACD|border=darkgray}} Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists }}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%;" |- ! width=5% | Year ! width=15%| Name ! width=15%| Hometown ! width=3%|Age{{efn|Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant}} ! width=10%| Local Title ! width=14%| Placement at Miss USA ! width=17%| Special awards at Miss USA ! width=31%| Notes |- | 2025 | Sydney Shrewsbury | Indianapolis | 24 | Miss Indianapolis | | | |- | 2024 | Stephanie Sullivan<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 June 2024 |title=New Miss Indiana crowned |url=https://www.wthr.com/video/news/local/new-miss-indiana-crowned/531-e2ed9afd-1305-4cf1-9d48-b6c1595f9b0f |publisher=WTHR |access-date=9 June 2024}}</ref> | Elkhart | 33 | Miss Elkhart County | | | |- | 2023 | Haley Jordan Begay | Pittsboro | 25 | Miss Central Indiana | | | * Previously Miss Indiana 2017 |- | 2022 | Samantha Paige Toney | Greenwood | 27 | Miss Clarksville | | | *Competed at the state pageant in the Miss USA system on her 7th consecutive attempt, including a semifinal placement in Miss Kentucky USA *Former member of Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders |- | 2021 | A'Niyah Monae Birdsong | Anderson | 26 | Miss Anderson | | | Shortest reigning Miss Indiana USA ({{age in years, months and days|2021|07|26|2022|04|10|mf=yes}}) |- style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 2020 | Alexis Nicole Lete | New Albany | 23 | | 3rd runner-up | | Longest reigning Miss Indiana USA ({{age in years, months and days|2019|11|19|2021|7|26|sc=yes}}) |- | 2019 | Tate Elizabeth Fritchley | Evansville | 20 | | | Miss Congeniality<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2019/05/02/evansville-native-tate-fritchley-appears-miss-usa-competition/3657501002/|title=Miss USA 2019: Evansville native Tate Fritchley appears in pageant|website=Evansville Courier & Press|language=en|access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://44news.wevv.com/miss-indiana-usa-named-miss-congeniality/|title=Miss Indiana USA Named Miss Congeniality|date=2019-05-14|website=44News {{!}} Evansville, IN|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-15|archive-date=2019-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703133657/https://44news.wevv.com/miss-indiana-usa-named-miss-congeniality/|url-status=dead}}</ref> | * Previously Miss Indiana State Fair 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/indiana-state-fair-crowns-its-2016-queen|title=Indiana State Fair Crowns Its 2016 Queen|publisher=WFYI|date=January 11, 2016|access-date=November 24, 2019}}</ref> |- |2018 | Darrian Rachel Arch | Chesterton | 23 | | | | * Previously Miss Indiana Teen USA 2013 |- | 2017 | Brittany Winchester<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.jconline.com/story/life/2017/04/28/miss-indiana-talks-skin-cancer-national-competition/100846616/|title=Miss Indiana talks skin cancer, national competition|last=Ellison|first=Jillian|date=28 April 2017}}</ref> | Indianapolis | 26 | | | | |- | 2016 | Meryssa Morgan Abel <ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://www.therepublic.com/2016/06/04/north_vernon_native_competes_for_miss_usa/|title=North Vernon native competes for Miss USA|last=McClure|first=Julie|date=3 June 2016|work=The Republic}}</ref> | North Vernon<ref name=":4" /> | 26<ref name=":4" /> | | | | * Previously Miss Indiana Teen USA 2008<ref name=":4" /> |- | 2015 | Gretchen S. Reece | North Vernon | 23 | | | Miss Photogenic | |- style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 2014 | Mekayla Fawn Diehl<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/life/2014/06/09/miss-indiana-beauty-pageants-miss-usa-miss-usa/10254451/|title=Miss Indiana Mekayla Diehl: ''I'm OK with 'normal{{'-}}''|last=Higgins|first=Will|date=9 June 2014|work=Indy Star}}</ref> | Bristol<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/Native-American-roots-provide-strength-for-local-Miss-USA-hopeful-262037441.html|title=Native American roots provide strength for local Miss USA hopeful|last=Sloma|first=Tricia|date=5 June 2014|work=WNDU}}</ref> | 25 | | Top 20<ref name=":5" /> | | *2nd runner-up at Miss Indiana 2012 competition *Later Mrs. Indiana 2017 and Mrs. America 2018 under her married name, Mekayla Eppers |- | 2013 | Emily Hart{{citation needed|date=October 2023}} | Fort Wayne | 25 | | | | |- | 2012 | Megan Leigh Myrehn | Carmel | 20 | | | | *Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2008 **Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2008 |- |- style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 2011 | Jillian Leigh Wunderlich | Kokomo | 19 | | Top 16 | | *Previously Miss Florida Teen USA 2008 **Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2008 |- | 2010 | Allison Biehle | North Vernon | 21 | | | | |- | 2009 | Courtni Shabana Hall | Crawfordsville | 20 | | | | * Previously Miss Indiana Teen USA 2004 |- |- style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 2008 | Brittany Mason | Anderson | 21 | | Top 10 | | * Former Director of Miss Universe Ireland pageant<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/robin-leach/beauty-queen-ex-las-vegas-model-brittany-mason-runs-ireland-pageant/|title=Beauty queen, ex-Las Vegas model Brittany Mason runs Ireland pageant|last=Leach|first=Robin|date=30 May 2017|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}</ref> |- | 2007 | Jami Ann Stallings | Newburgh | 20 | | | | *Previously Miss Indiana Teen USA 2003 **Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2003 |- | 2006 | Bridget Bobel | Peru | 26 | | | | *Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2004 *Sister of Miss Indiana 2000 Betsy Bobel |- | 2005 | Kaitlyn Christopher | Kokomo | 18 | | | | |- | 2004 | Stephanie Jean Keusch | Jasper | 24 | | | | |- |- style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 2003 | Tashina Brooke Kastigar | West Terre Haute | 22 | | Semi-finalist | | * Previously Miss Indiana Teen USA 1998 |- |- style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 2002 | Kelleah Ann "Kelly" Lloyd | Indianapolis | 25 | | 2nd runner-up | | "Triple Crown" winner *Previously Miss Indiana Teen USA 1993 **1st runner up Miss Teen USA 1993 *Previously Miss Indiana 1999 *2nd runner-up to National Sweetheart 1998 *Former director of operations for the Miss Indiana USA and Miss Indiana Teen USA pageants<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.missindianausa.com/staff.html|title=Staff|access-date=July 10, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126194030/http://missindianausa.com/staff.html|archive-date=November 26, 2010}}</ref> |- | 2001 | Sarah Jane McClary | Evansville | 22 | | | | * Previously Miss Indiana Teen USA 1995 |- | 2000 | Kristal Michelle Wile | Anderson | 23 | | | | |- |- style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1999 | Pratima Yarlagadda<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11532201/|title=Shipshewana woman wins crown|date=2 November 1998|work=The Kokomo Tribune|page=2}}</ref> | Shipshewana<ref name=":6" /> | 22<ref name=":6" /> | | Semi-finalist | | |- | 1998 | Nicole Llewellyn<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11569807/|title=Munster woman wins title|date=23 June 1997|work=The Kokomo Tribune|page=3}}</ref> | Munster<ref name=":7" /> | 23<ref name=":7" /> | | | | *Previously Miss Indiana Teen USA 1992 **Semifinalist in Miss Teen USA 1992 *Later Mrs. Indiana 2001, Mrs. America 2001 & Mrs. World 2002 under her married name, Nicole Brink. |- | 1997 | Tricia Carolyn Nosko | Evansville | 25 | | | | |- style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1996 | Holly Noelle Roehl | | 23 | | Semi-finalist | | *Previously Miss Georgia Teen USA 1990 **2nd runner-up at Miss Teen USA 1990 |- | 1995 | Heather Michelle Hart | Newburgh | | | | | *Previously Miss Indiana Teen USA 1991 **Top 12 at Miss Teen USA 1991 |- | 1994 | Kim Scull | Clarksville | | | | | |- | 1993 | Lisa Renee Higgins | South Bend | | | | | |- | 1992 | Heather Christine Gray | | | | | Best State Costume | |- | 1991 | Cathi Bennett<ref name=":2" /> | New Albany<ref name=":2" /> | 24<ref name=":2" /> | | | | |- | 1990 | Meri Lyn Buker<ref name=":3" /> | Kokomo<ref name=":3" /> | 24<ref name=":3" /> | | | | |- | 1989 | Gwen Rachelle Volpe | Griffith | 22 | | | | |- | 1988 | Loetta Lynn Earnest<ref name=":8">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11569874/|title=Miss Indiana crowned|date=7 December 1987|work=Logansport Pharos-Tribune|page=6}}</ref> | East Chicago<ref name=":8" /> | 22<ref name=":8" /> | | | | |- | 1987 | Alecia Rae Masalkoski | Bremen | | | | | * Previously Miss Michigan 1985 |- | 1986 | Diane Andrysiak | South Bend | | | | | |- | 1985 | Theresa Hobbs | Wilmington | | | | | |- | 1984 | Susan Willardo | Highland | | | | | |- | 1983 | Antoniette "Toni" Marie Yudt | Portage | | | | | |- | 1982 | Sara Anne Binkley | Greencastle | | | | | |- |- style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 1981 | Holli Rene Dennis | Fort Wayne | | | 1st runner-up | | |- | 1980 | Susan "Susie" Osby<ref name=":1" /> | Hebron<ref name=":1" /> | | | | | Former State director from 1990 to 1998 |- | 1979 | Deborah Ann Hayes<ref name=":1" /> | Kokomo<ref name=":1" /> | | | | | |- |- style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 1978 | Jayme Buecher | New Albany | | | 3rd runner-up | Best State Costume – 3rd Place<ref>{{cite news |date=26 April 1978 |title=People: WINNERS TAKE A BOW |pages=4a |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-1978-miss-usa-c/127591634/ |access-date=13 March 2026 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> | |- | 1977 | Lynn Flaherty | Nappanee | | | | | |- | 1976 | Annette Anderson | Gary | | | | | |- |- style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1975 | Jo Ellen Berryman | Kokomo | 24 | | Semi-finalist | | Non-finalist at Miss World USA 1974 |- | 1974 | Lisa Gay Childress | Spencer | 20 | | | | |- | 1973 | Debbie Ausenbaugh<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11532357/|title=Indiana girl in Miss USA pageant|date=30 April 1973|work=Rushville Republican|page=5}}</ref> | Merrillville | | | | | |- | 1972 | Julie Jo Clifford | Edwardsport<ref name="Spokesman-Review">{{Cite web|title=The Spokesman-Review - Google News Archive Search|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19750818&id=hiBOAAAAIBAJ&pg=2934,1316325&hl=en|website=news.google.com|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref> | | | | | *Later Miss Indiana World 1975 **1st Runner-Up in Miss World USA 1975<ref name="Spokesman-Review" /> |- | 1971 | Debra Dee Downhour<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11569924/|title=Cass Girl Crowned|date=22 April 1971|work=The Logansport Press|page=1}}</ref> | Cassville<ref name=":9" /> | 21 | | | | |- |1970 | Mary Ann McBride<ref name=":10">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11569992/|title="Miss Indiana" in pageant|date=19 May 1970|work=The Newark Advocate|page=6}}</ref> | Michigan City<ref name=":10" /> | | | | | |- | 1969 | Linda Smith | | | | | | |- | 1968 | Nikki Peck | Hammond | | | | | |- | 1967 | Pamela Jo Talmadge | Hammond | 19 | | | | During her reign, Talmadge, who was adopted, was reunited with her older siblings (two brothers and a sister) after nearly 19 years being apart. |- |- style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 1966 | Elaine L. Richards | Merrillville | | | 2nd runner-up | | Died age 41 on June 26, 1984, in Florida after a long illness<ref>{{cite news|title=Elaine Richards|publisher=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|date=1984-06-30|url=https://news.google.co.nz/newspapers?id=488pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s8kEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3186,7832859&dq=miss-*+universe+usa&hl=en|last=Associated Press}}</ref> |- | 1965 | Lora Starr | | | | | | |- | 1964 | Charlene Kratochvil | Kokomo | 19 | | | | |- | 1963 | Vickie Little | | | | | | |- |- style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1962 | Sue Ekamp | Mishawaka | | | Semi-finalist | | |- | 1961 | Janice Kay Oliver | Indianapolis | 18 | | | | |- | 1960 | June Cochran | Indianapolis | 18 | | | | *Later Miss Indiana World 1962 **Contestant at Miss USA World 1962 *Later ''Playboy'' Playmate of the Year 1963 |- | 1959 | Anita Watkins | | | | | | |- | 1958 | Shirley Ann Ball | | | | | | |- | 1957 | Patricia "Pat" Dorsett | Indianapolis | | | | | |- | 1956 | Beverly Mattox | | | | | | |- | 1955 | Mary Ann Wasick | | | | | | |- |- style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1954 | Cecilia Ann Dennis | Milan | | | Semi-finalist | | |- | 1953 | Edith Mae Krumme | Seymour | | | | | |- |- style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1952 | Virginia Ann Johnson | | | | Semi-finalist | | |} {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[http://www.missindianausa.com Official website] *[http://www.missusa.com Miss USA official website]
{{State pageantry|State=Indiana}} {{Indiana Pageant Winners}} {{Miss USA state}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miss Indiana Usa}} Indiana Category:Culture of Indiana Category:Recurring events established in 1952 Category:Women in Indiana Category:Annual events in Indiana Category:1952 establishments in Indiana