{{for|the state pageant affiliated with Miss America|Miss Kentucky}} {{Short description|Beauty pageant competition}} {{pp-sock|small=yes}} {{Infobox organization |name = Miss Kentucky USA |image = |image_border = |image_size = |caption = |map = |map_size = |map_caption = |formation = {{Start date and age|1952}} |type = Beauty pageant |headquarters = Cincinnati |location = Ohio |membership = Miss USA |language = English |leader_title = |leader_name = |key_people = Melissa Proctor-Pitchford (State Pageant Director) |num_staff = |budget = |website = {{official|http://misskentuckyusa.com}} }} [[File:TaraConneratWillowGrove3.jpg|thumb|upright|Tara Conner, Miss Kentucky USA 2006 & Miss USA 2006]] The ''' Miss Kentucky USA '''competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Kentucky in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by Proctor Productions and it was formerly directed by Connie Clark Harrison, Miss Kentucky USA 1976.<ref name="producers">{{cite web|url=http://www.misskentuckyusa.com/producers|title=Producers|publisher=Miss Kentucky USA}}</ref>{{cn|date=November 2021}}
Tara Conner became the first Kentucky delegate to win Miss USA, after being crowned Miss USA 2006. She later finished as fourth runner-up at Miss Universe 2006. Elle Smith later became the second Kentucky delegate to win Miss USA, being crowned Miss USA 2021.
Four Miss Kentucky USA titleholders have also held the Miss Kentucky Teen USA title and competed at Miss Teen USA, including Conner. Two Miss Kentucky USA titleholders have also competed at Miss America, with one representing Wyoming.
Mattie Barker of Bowling Green was crowned Miss Kentucky USA 2025 on July 19, 2025, at The Vern Riffe Center for the Arts Shawnee State University in Portsmouth. She represented Kentucky at Miss USA 2025.
==Media coverage== In 2006, it was reported that Miss Kentucky USA 2002, Elizabeth Arnold, was in a relationship with celebrity Nick Lachey.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071020002244/http://www.starmagazine.com/celebrity_news_gossip/ STAR'S WORLD EXCLUSIVE: THE FATHER OF NICK LACHEY'S NEW GIRL SAYS SHE AND NICK ARE "VERY CLOSE"], Star Magazine (accessed 6 May 2006)</ref><ref>[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/celebrities/3827583.html Nick Lachey: poster boy for the brokenhearted], Houston Chronicle, 28 April 2006 (accessed 6 May 2006)</ref> That same year Tara Conner became the first Kentucky delegate to win the Miss USA title, putting Kentucky in the top five for the second consecutive year, after Kristen Johnson placed 2nd runner-up in 2005. She later came under intense scrutiny when it was revealed that she had been drinking underage, tested positive for the use of cocaine, and kissed Miss Teen USA Katie Blair, among other things.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/480614p-404432c.html | title=Queen is way out of line |access-date=2007-10-27 | last=Piazza | first=Jo | publisher=NY Daily News | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128220604/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/480614p-404432c.html | archive-date=2007-01-28}}</ref> Conner was allowed to keep her title, but was ordered into rehab for one month. After her rehab session, she resumed her reign until her year was completed.
In 2008, Miss Kentucky USA Alysha Harris was involved in an incident involving photos in which she was photographed dancing with New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss in a manner some saw as sexually suggestive.<ref>{{cite web|title=Randy Moss Drafts Wide Receiver - TMZ.com|date=5 May 2008 |url=http://www.tmz.com/2008/05/05/randy-moss-drafts-wide-receiver/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=C.J.: Randy Moss' naughty dance moves photographed at Derby party|url=http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/18731924.html?page=1&c=y|publisher=Minneapolis Star-Tribune|date=2008-05-07|access-date=2008-05-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lvrj.com/news/18758924.html|title='Idol' contestant set to go country|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Norm|last=Clarke|date=2008-05-08|access-date=2015-02-26}}</ref>
==Results summary==
===Placements=== *'''Miss USA:''' Tara Conner (2006), Elle Smith (2021) *'''1st runners-up:''' Connor Perry (2024) *'''2nd runners-up:''' Kristen Johnson (2005) *'''3rd runners-up:''' Julie Andrus (1965) *'''4th runners-up:''' Johanna Reid (1964), Patricia Barnstable (1971), Lisa Devillez (1980), Kristina Chapman (1982), Maria Montgomery (2009) *'''Top 6:''' Tiffany Tenfelde (1990), Angela Hines (1992) *'''Top 11'''/'''12:''' Carol Wallace (1975), Mitzi Jones (1995), Katie George (2015) *'''Top 15'''/'''20:''' Mary Ann Stice (1953), Marcia Chumbler (1961)
'''Kentucky''' holds a record of 17 placements at Miss USA.
===Awards=== *'''Miss Congeniality:''' Julia Pinkley (1968), Connie Clark (1976), Kia Hampton (2011) *'''Miss Photogenic:''' Robyn Overby (1985) *'''Best State Costume:''' Charlesy Gulick (1974)
== 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"style="font-size:90%;" |- ! width=5% | Year ! width=20%| Name ! width=10%| Hometown ! width=3%|Age<sup>1</sup> ! width=12%| Local title ! width=14%| Placement at Miss USA ! width=17%| Special awards at Miss USA ! width=31%| Notes |- | 2025 | Mattie Barker | Bowling Green | 22 | Miss Run For The Roses | | | * Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2020 |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 2024 | Connor Perry | Lexington | 23 | Miss Heart of Lexington | 1st Runner-up | | |- | 2023 | Madalyne Kinnett | Lexington | 21 | Miss Greater Lexington | | | |- | 2022 | Elizabeth "Lizzy" Neutz | Louisville | 22 | Miss Greater Louisville | | | |-style="background-color:gold" | '''2021''' | '''Elle Smith''' | Louisville | 23 | Miss Germantown | '''Miss USA 2021''' | | *Top 10 at Miss Universe 2021 |- | 2020 | Lexie Iles | Louisville | 23 | Miss Louisville | | | * Previously Miss Ohio Teen United States 2016 (top 15 at Miss Teen United States 2016) |- | 2019 | Jordan Weiter | Louisville | 22 | Miss Bluegrass | | | |- | 2018 | Braea Tilford | Louisville | 25 | Miss Jefferson County | | | |- | 2017 | Madelynne Myers | Louisville | 22 | Miss Louisville | | | |- | 2016 | Kyle Hornback | Louisville | 20 | Miss Louisville | | | |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 2015 | Katie George | Louisville | 21 | Miss Louisville | Top 11 | | Advanced to top 11 as fan vote winner |- | 2014 | Destin Kincer | Whitesburg | 21 | Miss Keeneland | | | |- | 2013 | Allie Leggett | McCreary County | 19 | Miss Lake Cumberland | | | December 2017 ''Playboy'' Playmate of the Month<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/playboys-novemberdecember-2017-collectors-edition-300538640.html|title=Playboy's November/December 2017 Collector's Edition|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=2018-07-05}}</ref> |- | 2012 | Amanda Mertz | Louisville | 25 | Miss Louisville | | | Monster Energy Girl<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/04/nascar-monster-energy-girls-critics-controversy-amanda-mertz-responds-to-comments|title=NASCAR's Monster Energy Girl Amanda Mertz perfectly shuts down outfit critics|date=2017-04-19|work=For The Win|access-date=2018-07-05|language=en-US}}</ref> |- | 2011 | Kia Hampton | Louisville | 21 | | | Miss Congeniality | Later Pussycat Dolls member |- | 2010 | Kindra Clark | Mt. Washington | 19 | | | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 2009 | Maria Montgomery | Danville | 19 | | 4th runner-up | | |- | 2008 | Alysha Harris | Carrollton | 20 | | | | * Later represented Kentucky at Miss United States International 2020 |- | 2007 | Michelle Banzer | Louisville | 24 | | | | First minority woman to win state pageant<ref>{{cite news|title=Cardinal to compete for Miss USA crown|publisher=The Louisville Cardinal|url=http://media.www.louisvillecardinal.com/media/storage/paper964/news/2007/03/20/News/Cardinal.To.Compete.For.Miss.Usa.Crown-2780816.shtml|date=2007-03-20|access-date=2008-05-10|first=Tejas|last=Shastry|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510082615/http://media.www.louisvillecardinal.com/media/storage/paper964/news/2007/03/20/News/Cardinal.To.Compete.For.Miss.Usa.Crown-2780816.shtml|archive-date=2008-05-10}}</ref> |- |-style="background-color:gold;" | '''2006''' | '''Tara Conner''' | Russell Springs | 20 | | '''Miss USA 2006''' | | *Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2002 (2nd runner-up & Best in Swimsuit at Miss Teen USA 2002) *4th runner-up at Miss Universe 2006 |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 2005 | Kristen Johnson | Slaughters | 23 | | 2nd runner-up | | *Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2000 (2nd runner-up & Miss Photogenic at Miss Teen USA 2000) *Contestant on ''Fear Factor'' in 2005 on the Miss USA episode #5.29 |- | 2004 | Lauren Stengel | Louisville | 22 | | | | |- | 2003 | Lori Mitchell | Scottsville | 21 | | | | Reporter for WRCB in Chattanooga |- | 2002 | Elizabeth Ann "Lizzie" Arnold | Columbia | 24 | | | | *Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 1998 *Appears on ''The Real Housewives of Orange County'' |- | 2001 | Jo Pritchard | Hardin | 20 | | | | |- | 2000 | Jolene Youngster | Glasgow | 18 | | | | |- | 1999 | Lori Menshouse | Ashland | 25 | | | | * Previously Miss Kentucky 1997 |- | 1998 | Nancy Bradley | Franklin | 23 | | | | |- | 1997 | Rachyl Hoskins | Liberty | 22 | | | | |- | 1996 | Lorie Bennett West | Campbellsville | 22 | | | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1995 | Mitzi Jones | White Plains | 22 | | Semi-finalist, finishing in 8th Place | | |- | 1994 | Kim Buford | Paducah | 26 | | | | |- | 1993 | Karen Gibson | Kevil | | | | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 1992 | Angela Hines | Maysville | | | Finalist, finishing in 5th place | | |- | 1991 | Susan Farris | Benton | 24 | | | Runner-up state costume | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 1990 | Tiffany Tenfelde | Lakeside Park | | | Top 6 finalist | | |- | 1989 | Veronica Hensley | Danville | | | | | |- | 1988 | Suzanne Pitman | Murray | | | | | |- | 1987 | Beth Ann Clark | Mayfield | 21 | | | | Guinness Beer Spokesmodel, Swimwear Illustrated Cover Model of the Year 1989, Mrs. Kentucky United States 1999, Mrs. Georgia America 2001 |- | 1986 | Jackie Taylor | Paducah | | | | | |- | 1985 | Robin Overby | Calvert City | | | | Miss Photogenic | * 1st runner-up at Miss World USA 1979 |- | 1984 | Tammy Melendez | Murray | 25 | | | | |- | 1983 | Lee Ann Austin | Benton | | | | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 1982 | Kristina Leah Chapman | Owensboro | 19 | | 4th runner-up | | |- | 1981 | Denise Gibbs | Paducah | | | | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 1980 | Lisa Louise Devillez | Owensboro | 19 | Miss Owensboro Hydrofair | 4th runner-up<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goggin |first1=Terry |date=16 May 1980 |title=South Carolina coed is new Miss USA |pages=9 |work=Hattiesburg American |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hattiesburg-american-the-new-miss-usa-s/128638833/ |access-date=9 October 2025 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> | | |- | 1979 | Linda Passmore | Hopkinsville | | | | | |- | 1978 | Linda Woodruff | Louisville | | | | | |- | 1977 | Sandy Smith | Princeton | | | | | |- | 1976 | Connie Clark | Benton | | | | Miss Congeniality | Former director of the Miss Kentucky USA and Miss Kentucky Teen USA pageants under her married name, Connie Clark-Harrison |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1975 | Carol June Wallace | Somerset | 23 | | Semi-finalist | | * Later Miss Wyoming 1976,<ref>{{cite news|title=Home state girls hard to find|publisher=Kingman Daily Miner|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GiIPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4YIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5608,5398435&dq=miss-nevada+miss-usa&hl=en|date=1976-09-10|page=7}}</ref> mother of Miss Kentucky 2002, Mary Catherine Correll |- | 1974 | Charlesy Gulick | Williamstown | | | | Best State Costume | |- | 1973 | Nancy Jane Coplen | Mayfield | | | | | |- | 1972 | Tamara Branstetter | Summer Shade | | | | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 1971 | Patricia Barnstable | Louisville | | | 4th runner-up | | |- | 1970 | Joanna Smith | Morgantown | | | | | |- | 1969 | Regina Pryor | | | | | | |- | 1968 | Julia Kay Pinkley<ref>{{cite news |title=Miss Kentucky |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119871769/miss-kentucky-1968/ |access-date=28 February 2023 |publisher=The Paducah Sun |date=16 April 1968}}</ref> | | | | | Miss Congeniality | |- | 1967 | Debbie Dibble | | | | | | |- | 1966 | Jennifer Burcham | | | | | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 1965 | Julie Andrus | Mayfield | | | 3rd runner-up | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 1964 | Johanna Reid | | | | 4th runner-up | | |- | 1963 | Mary Ann Arnold | | | | | | |- | 1962 | Sally Margaret Carter | Lowes | | | | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1961 | Marcia Chumbler | Mayfield | | | Semi-finalist | | |- | 1960 | Barbara Joan Lovins | | | | | | |- | 1959 | Sherree Owens | | | | | | |- | 1958 | Shannon Beasley | | | | | | |- | 1955-57 | Did not compete | | | | | | |- | 1954 | Nikki Horner | | | | | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1953 | Mary Stice | | | | Semi-finalist | | |- | 1952 | Jean Tingle | | | | | | |} <sup>1</sup> Age at the time of the Miss Kentucky USA pageant
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://misskentuckyusa.com Miss Kentucky USA official website]
{{State pageantry|State=Kentucky}} {{Kentucky Pageant Winners}} {{Miss USA state}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miss Kentucky Usa}} Category:Beauty pageants in Kentucky Kentucky Category:Organizations based in Louisville, Kentucky Category:Recurring events established in 1952 Category:1952 establishments in Kentucky Category:Annual events in Kentucky