Miss Iowa USA


The Miss Iowa USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Iowa in the Miss USA pageant. It was directed by Future Productions based in Savage, Minnesota since 2008 to 2024.
While Iowa has not been greatly successful in the past four decades, they were one of the most consistent states in the first decade of the pageant's existence. In 1956, Carol Morris became the second Miss USA to win the Miss Universe crown. The most recent placement was McKenzie Ariana Kerry in 2024, placing Top 20.
Jamie Solinger, Miss Teen USA 1992 and Miss Iowa USA 1998, crowned her sister Jaclyn Solinger as Miss Iowa USA 1999.
The current titleholder is Hayley Buettell of Mediapolis, who was crowned on August 10, 2025 at The Franklin Center in Des Moines. She represented Iowa at Miss USA 2025.

Results summary

Placements

  • Miss USA: Carol Morris
  • 5th Runner-up: Carlyn Bradarich
  • Top 10/'12: Jan Hoyer, Jensie Grigsby
  • Top 14/15/19/20: Marilyn Shonka, Ione Lucken, Judy Hall, Kay Nielson, Trudy Shulkin, Baylee Drezek, McKenzie Ariana Kerry
Iowa' holds a record of 11 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Congeniality: Dana Mintzer, Rebecca Hodge

    Winners

;Color key
YearNameHometownAge1Local titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2025Hayley BuettellMediapolis27Miss Johnson County
2024McKenzie Ariana KerryDes Moines26Miss Des MoinesTop 20People's Choice
2023Grace KellerCoralville24Miss Johnson County
  • Previously Miss Iowa 2021
2022Randi EstabrookMitchellville24Miss Central Iowa
2021Katie WadmanIowa City21
  • Later Miss District of Columbia 2025
    • 2020Morgan KofoidLeon22
  • Previously Miss Iowa Teen USA 2013
  • Longest reigning Miss Iowa USA at
    • 2019Baylee DrezekDavenport21Top 15
    2018Jenny ValliereCedar Rapids27Joining Miss Iowa USA on her 8th consecutive year, before winning the title in 2018
    2017Kelsey WeierDes Moines25Later contestant on season 24 of The Bachelor and season 7 of Bachelor in Paradise.
    2016Alissa MorrisonDavenport24
    2015Taylor EvenJesup21
    2014Carlyn BradarichIowa City235th runner-up
  • Sister of Ashley Bradarich, Miss Illinois USA 2010
  • Advanced to the top 6 as a fan vote winner
  • Later Miss Illinois World 2015
  • *Top 12 at Miss World America 2015
    • 2013Richelle OrrHampton20
  • Previously Miss Iowa Teen USA 2011
    • 2012Rebecca HodgeIowa City22Miss Congeniality
    2011Rebecca GoldsmithChariton26
    2010Katherine ConnorsBettendorf20 at a Washington Nationals baseball game following a joke by Nationals pitcher Miguel Batista at Miss Iowa's expense. Batista sent flowers, but declined Connors' challenge to "walk the runway in a swimsuit."
    2009Chelsea GaugerAmes19
    2008Abbey CurranDavenport20First person born with a disability to compete in Miss USA
    2007Dani ReevesHamburg21
    2006Sarah CorpsteinAnamosa23
    2005Joy RobinsonAltoona25
    2004Brooke HansenFort Dodge22
    2003Linsey GramsUrbandale20
    2002Lauren WilsonBettendorf22
    2001Clarissa KroesePella22
    2000Jensie GrigsbyWest Des Moines26Top 10, Finishing in 10th Place
    1999Jaclyn SolingerAltoona
    1998Jamie SolingerAltoona
  • Previously Miss Iowa Teen USA 1992
  • *Miss Teen USA 1992
  • Later Mrs. Iowa America 2004
  • *3rd runner-up to Mrs. America 2004 under her married name, Jamie Patterson.
    • 1997Shawn Marie BroganNew Hampton
    1996Jill SimonBurlington
    1995Angela HearneMount Vernon
    1994Callie PanditDes Moines
    1993Jan HoyerFort MadisonTop 12 Semi-finalist, Finishing in 8th Place
  • Previously Miss Iowa Teen USA 1987
  • Sister of Miss Iowa USA 1982 Jeanne Hoyer
    • 1992Pam PatrickOttumwa
    1991Heather BowersToddville
    1990Elizabeth MuelhauptWest Des Moines, Iowa
    1989Marcy RequistRed Oak
    1988Julie KemmerlingHinsdale, IL
    1987Katy MageeJefferson
    1986Holly WilkinsClear Lake
    1985Karen NorthAmes
    1985Devin SteinbergMansonOriginal winner, dethroned after she married during her reign.
    1984Michele BoisvertDecorah
    1983Dana Ruth MintzerDes MoinesMiss Congeniality
    1982Jeanne HoyerFort MadisonSister of Miss Iowa USA 1993 Jan Hoyer
    1981Jennifer Lynn WimpeyIowa City
    1980Lori KrommingaKeystone
    1979Teri ReesSioux City
    1978Michelle DaleyWest Des Moines
    1977Cindy WoodardUrbandale
    1976Sheri DavenportStorm Lake
    1975Kathleen M. DugganCouncil Bluffs
    1974Susan ThompsonCedar Rapids
    1973Dyanne RobertsOskaloosa
    1972Jennifer OwenMaxwell
    1971Cindy HelmersSibley
    1970Jacqueline JochimsCarrollMiss Starling
  • Later represented Iowa in Miss World USA 1970, did not place
  • Later Miss U.S. International 1971
  • *3rd runner-up at Miss International 1971
    • 1969Becky StonerLaurens
    1968Markie AndersonSioux City
    1967Kathleen "Kathy" SoltJefferson
    1966Janis MierasAlta
    1965Mari HardySioux City
    1964Barbara RogersPerry
    1963Ramona MeylorLe Mars
    1962Regina PrushaCedar RapidsMiss Cedar Rapids
    1961Deanne OstermannOcheyedan
    1960Trudy ShulkinSioux CityMiss Kmns Sioux CitySemi-finalist
    1959Kay NielsonCouncil BluffsSemi-finalist
  • Former Miss Nebraska 1957
    • 1958Sandra OlsenSioux City
    1957Judy HallCouncil BluffsSemi-finalist
    1956Carol Ann Laverne MorrisOttumwa20Miss USA 1956
  • Previously Miss Iowa 1954
  • Miss Universe 1956
    • 1955Jerri ColeHolstein
    1954Ione LuckenLe MarsSemi-finalist
    1953Marilyn ShonkaSioux CitySemi-finalist
    1 Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant