Miss Arkansas USA


Miss Arkansas USA, previously known as Miss Arkansas Universe, is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arkansas in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is directed by Vanbros and Associates.
Arkansas's most successful placement was in 1982, when Terri Utley was crowned Miss USA. The most recent placement was Mackenzie Hinderberger in 2023 who placed in the Top 20. Eight Miss Arkansas USA titleholders were former Miss Arkansas Teen USA titleholders who competed at Miss Teen USA. The longest reigning titleholder was Haley Rose Pontius in 2020, having held the title for 18 months, while the shortest titleholder was Stephanie Barber in 2021, having held the title for 10 months and 18 days.
The state pageant was directed by Premier Pageants from 2002 to 2007 before becoming part of the Vanbros organization, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas. In 2018, Vanbros chose Fort Smith, Arkansas as the new host city of the pageant. Other host cities for the pageant have included Bentonville, Little Rock, Magnolia, and West Memphis.
The current Miss Arkansas USA is Olivia Halsey of Jonesboro who was crowned on April 13, 2025 at The Center for the Arts in Russellville. She represented Arkansas at Miss USA 2025.

Results summary

Placements

  • Miss USA: Terri Utley
  • 1st Runner-Up: Margaret Haywood
  • 2nd Runner-Up: Nancy McCollum
  • Top 5: Savannah Skidmore
  • Top 10: Chanley Painter, Abby Floyd
  • Top '15/16/20: Waydine Nesbitt, Helen Garrott, Donna Needham, Ann Smithwick, Mary Dial, Jessica Furrer, Adrielle Churchill, Kelsey Dow, Mackenzie Hinderberger, Olivia Halsey
Arkansas' holds a record of 16 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Photogenic: Jennifer Sherrill
  • Miss Congeniality: Madeline Bohlman

    Winners

;Color key
YearNameHometownAgeLocal titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2025Olivia HalseyJonesboro25Miss West Little RockTop 20
2024Madeline BohlmanFayetteville22Miss Northwest ArkansasMiss Congeniality
2023Mackenzie HinderbergerFarmington23Miss FarmingtonTop 20
  • Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2018
    • 2022Rylie WagnerOzark21Miss Ozark
    2021Stephanie BarberFayetteville22Miss Northwest Arkansas
  • Shortest reigning Miss Arkansas USA
    • 2020Haley Rose PontiusHouston23Miss Richland Hills
  • Previously Miss Teen International 2013 and IJM International Miss 2017
  • Longest reigning Miss Arkansas USA
    • 2019Savannah SkidmoreCalico Rock23Miss White RiverTop 5
  • Previously Miss Arkansas 2016 after Savvy Shields was crowned Miss America 2017
    • 2018Lauren WeaverGreenwood21Miss Greenwood
  • Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2014
    • 2017Arynn JohnsonHot Springs19Miss Hot Springs
  • Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2015
  • Top 15 semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA 2015
    • 2016Abby FloydSearcy19Miss SearcyTop 10
  • Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2013
  • Semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA 2013
  • Married to former NFL player Phillip Supernaw
    • 2015Leah BlefkoFayetteville21Miss White River
    2014Helen WisnerFayetteville25Miss White River
    2013Hannah BillingsleyFranklin22Miss North Arkansas
  • Married to Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay
    • 2012Kelsey DowJonesboro21Miss Craighead CountyTop 16
    2011Lakynn McBrideWhite Hall20Miss Central Arkansas
    2010Adrielle ChurchillDover24Miss White RiverTop 15
  • Previously National Sweetheart 2005
    • 2009Chanley PainterConway24Miss ConwayTop 10
    2008Rachel HowellsAlma21Miss Washington County
    2007Kelly GeorgeSherwood24
  • Contestant at National Sweetheart 2004 as Miss Maryland
    • 2006Kimberly ForsythCabot26
    2005Jessica FurrerConway22Top 15
    2004Jennifer SherrillSherwood19Miss Photogenic
    2003Taylor CarlisleJacksonville21
    2002Amber BoatmanNorphlet23
    2001Jessie DavisHarrison
    2000Whitney MooreCabot22
    1999Allison Heavener
    1998Kami TiceHuntsville
    1997Tamara HenryLittle Rock25
    1996Tiffany Parks20
  • Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 1993
    • 1995Kristen Bettis
    1994Hannah HilliardLittle Rock
    1993Kati FishHot Springs
    1992Jona Garner
    1991Angela Rockwell
    1990Kathryn HarrisPine Bluff18
    1989Paige YandellGreenwood
  • Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 1987
    • 1988Melissa StaplesCalion
  • Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 1984
    • 1987Sheri Donette SmeltzerSmackover
    1986Rhonda BlaylockSpringdale
    1985Susan DeanOsceola
    1984Shelly BoydManila
    1983Debra BaltzParis
    1982Terri UtleyCabot20Miss USA 1982
    1981Lynnanne DerryberryJerusalem
    1980Susie OwensJacksonville
    1979Cynthia CaldwellJacksonville
    1978Donna FunderburkEl Dorado22
    1977Debra DureeTexarkana
    1976Sonia Kay JinesConway
    1975Robin FieldsHot Springs
    1974Gina Huddle
    1973Christal PhifferTexarkana
    1972Susan TichenorPine Bluff21
    1971Paula KeithLittle Rock20
    1970Mary DialMalvern21Top 15
    1969Leonette Reed
    1968Ann SmithwickJacksonville19Top 15
    1967Katy WurstFort Smith19
    1966Peggy Jones
    1965Jeri HaynieEl Dorado
    1964Barbara McGlothlin
    1963Cheryl Jane Bechtelheimer
    1962Linda RigganLeola
  • 2nd runner up at Miss American Beauty 1964
    • 1961Mickey Lambert
    1960Gene Chambers
  • Married to Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys
    • 1959Donna NeedhamTop 15
    1958Nancy Hill
    1957Helen GarrottTop 15
    1956Nancy McCollum2nd Runner-Up
    1955Margaret HaywoodJonesboro1st Runner-Up
  • 1st runner up at Miss World 1955 as Miss USA
  • 2nd runner-up Miss Dixie 1955
    • 1954Waydine NesbittMagnolia21Top 21
    1953Jackie Stucker
    1952Barbara Wathen