Miss Arizona USA


Miss Arizona USA is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arizona in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by its winner. The pageant is directed by Casting Crown Productions.
Arizona's most successful placements were in 1965 and 1980, when Jane Nelson and Jineane Ford, respectively, placed as the first runner-up. Ford later became Miss USA 1980 after the original winner Shawn Weatherly was crowned Miss Universe 1980. Arizona's most recent placement was in 2016, when Chelsea Myers placed in the Top 15.
The longest reigning titleholder was Yesenia Vidales in 2020 at 1 year, 6 months and 5 days, while Cassidy Jo Jacks was the shortest reigning titleholder in 2021 ended her reign at 10 months and 19 days.
The current Miss Arizona USA is Elexes Richardson of Scottsdale and was crowned at the Hilton Caesars Republic Scottsdale Hotel in Scottsdale on September 7, 2025. Richardson represented Arizona at Miss USA 2025.

Results summary

Placements in Miss USA

  • 1st Runners-Up: Jane Nelson, Jineane Ford
  • 2nd Runners-Up: Susanne Pottenger, Diane Martin, Alicia-Monique Blanco
  • 3rd Runners-Up: Ruth Hayes, Sherry Nix
  • Top 10/11/12: Carlys Peterson, Toni Abranovic, Ana Rupert, Cassie Hill, Michelle Ducote, LeeAnne Locken, Maricarroll Verlinde, Dannis Shephard, Stacey Kole
  • Top 15/16/20: Jerri Michaelson, Diane McGarry, Roxanne Neeley, Judianne Magnusson, Danielle Demski, Brenna Sakas, Brittany Brannon, Jordan Wessel, Maureen Montagne, Chelsea Myers
Arizona holds a record of 26 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Congeniality: Cara Jackson
  • Miss Photogenic: Jineane Ford, Brittany Brannon
  • Best State Costume: Daria Sparling, Michelle Ducote, Maricarroll Verlinde

    Winners

;Color key
YearNameAgeHometownLocal titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2025Elexes Richardson30ScottsdaleMiss North Scottsdale
2024K Johnson41PhoenixMiss Uptown Phoenix
2023Candace Kanavel27TempeMiss Tempe
2022Isabel Ticlo28PhoenixMiss Phoenix
2021Cassidy Jo Jacks26MesaMiss Usery Mountain
  • Later contestant on season 1 of Farmer Wants a Wife
    • 2020Yesenia Vidales23PhoenixMiss Uptown Phoenix
    2019Savannah Wix22Paradise ValleyMiss Saguaro Blossom
  • Previously Miss Arizona Teen USA 2014
    • 2018Nicole Smith24PhoenixMiss Phoenix
    2017Tommy Lynn Calhoun26 TucsonMiss Sunset Canyon
    2016Chelsea Myers20ChandlerMiss North PhoenixTop 15
    2015Maureen Montagne21ChandlerMiss South ChandlerTop 15
  • First Asian American Miss Arizona USA
  • Previously 1st runner-up at Mutya ng Pilipinas 2013
  • Later placed 1st Runner-Up at Miss World America 2017
  • Later joined Miss World Philippines 2018 and was crowned Miss Eco Philippines 2018
  • Later became 1st runner-up at Miss Eco International 2018 as Miss Philippines
  • Later joined Binibining Pilipinas 2021 and was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2021
  • Later crowned The Miss Globe 2021 as Miss Philippines
    • 2014Jordan Wessel20PhoenixMiss TempeTop 20
    2013Rachel Massie19GlendaleMiss Maricopa County
    2012Erika Lane Frantzve23ScottsdaleMiss Phoenix
  • Later married to Charlie Kirk
    • 2011Brittany Brannon22Paradise ValleyMiss Grand CanyonTop 16Miss Photogenic
    2010Brittany Bell22ChandlerMiss Chandler
  • Later Miss Guam Universe 2014
    • 2009Alicia-Monique Blanco22PhoenixMiss Diamondback2nd Runner-Up
    2008Kimberly Joiner22GilbertMiss Gilbert
    2007Courtney Barnas19MesaMiss Red Mountain
    2006Brenna Sakas21ChandlerMiss ChandlerTop 15
    2005Mariana Loya26Gilbert
  • Previously Miss Washington 1998
    • 2004Danielle Demski22ChandlerTop 15
  • Previously Miss Arizona Teen USA 1999
  • Former NFL Cheerleader for the Arizona Cardinals
    • 2003Nafeesa DeFlorias26Phoenix
    2002Jennifer Lenz25Mesa
    2001Tasha Dixon19Phoenix
    2000Heather Keckler26Scottsdale
  • Previously Miss Arizona Teen USA 1992
    • 1999Cara Jackson25ChandlerMiss Congeniality
  • Previously Miss Arizona 1995
    • 1998Stacey Kole24TempeTop 10
    1997Jessica NicelyGilbert
    1996Christina NovakTempe
    1995Shara RiggsOro Valley
    1994Jennifer TisdaleMesa
    1993Apryl HettichScottsdale
    1992Dannis ShephardMesaTop 11
    1991Maricarroll VerlindeTempeTop 11Best State Costume
    1990Lezlie LeonardTempe
    1989LeeAnne LockenApache JunctionTop 10
  • Cast member on The Real Housewives of Dallas
    • 1988Kris Lynn Keim22Scottsdale
  • Previously Miss Arizona Teen USA 1983
  • First runner-up at Miss Arizona USA 1987
    • 1987Diane Lynn Martin24Tempe2nd runner-up
  • Previously Miss Arizona 1985
  • Top 15 at Miss Asia Pacific 1987
    • 1986Jodi Lee ArmstrongPhoenix
    1985Michelle Ducote20TempeTop 10Best State Costume
    1984Daria Joi Sparling20TucsonBest State Costume
  • First runner-up at Miss Arizona USA 1983
    • 1983Sindy Lou Hedden21Tucson
  • First runner-up at Miss Arizona USA 1981
  • Finalist at Miss Arizona USA 1982
    • 1982Lori Diane Hakola19Tucson
    1981Cassie Denise HillPhoenixTop 12
    1980Jineane Marie Ford20Gilbert1st runner-up
  • Became Miss USA 1980 when Shawn Weatherly became Miss Universe 1980
    • 1979Ana RupertScottsdaleTop 12
    1978Jacque Dawn Crutchfield19Phoenix
    1977Toni AbranovicScottsdaleTop 12
    1976Curvey Walters23Phoenix
    1975Sanna Jo OsgoodScottsdale
    1974Carlys PetersonPhoenixMiss PhoenixTop 12
  • Third runner-up at Miss Arizona USA 1973
    • 1973Sherry Nix21Carefree3rd runner-up
  • Participated in Miss California USA 1973
    • 1972Marcia BanksTempe
    1971Susanne Elizabeth "Susie" PottengerTempe2nd runner-up
  • Finalist at Miss Arizona USA 1970
    • 1970Alicia Ellen Lein21Mesa
    1969Ruth HayesTempeMiss Tempe3rd Runner-Up
    1968Shirley Diane SpragueAvondale
    1967Judianne Magnusson20PhoenixMiss PhoenixTop 15
    1966Roxanne Neeley20PhoenixMiss PhoenixTop 15
  • Later Miss Arizona Wool 1966
    • 1965Jane Nelson20TempeMiss Tempe1st runner-up
  • Previously Miss New Mexico 1964, dethroned when she won the Miss Arizona USA title.
    • 1964Diane Louise Reutter19PhoenixMiss Phoenix
    1963Diane McGarry20PhoenixTop 15
    1962Marilyn Jerri Michelson18ScottsdaleMiss Yuma CountyTop 15
    1961Shyrle Owens OrtizAvondale
    1960Virginia CrookMesa
    1959Patricia VargaMesa
    1958Shirlee Dianne FoxAvondale
  • Died in 2003.
    • 1956Maija BertulsonTucson
    1955Patti Marks19Glendale
    1954Bonnie Johnson18Glendale
    1953Eleanor Ruth Cross19Chandler
    1952Charlene Hendricks18Tempe