Miss Michigan USA


The Miss Michigan USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Michigan in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by Proctor Productions.
Their first Miss USA victory was in 1990, and notable because Carole Gist was the first African-American to win the title. Following in her footsteps, Kenya Moore, also African-American, won the title in 1993. In 2010, Michigan's Rima Fakih became the first Arab-American to win the title. The most recent placement was Alma Cooper in 2024, who won the title.
Until 2012, no Michigan delegate had been previously competed at either Miss Michigan or Miss Michigan Teen USA to appear a crossover with Miss USA. Kristen Danyal became the first Michigan delegate to have a Teen to Miss crossover in Miss USA.
Alma Cooper of Okemos was crowned Miss Michigan USA 2024 on March 21, 2024. She represented Michigan at Miss USA 2024, and eventually won the title. She represented the country at Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico but was unplaced.
Michele Lewandoski of Norton Shores was crowned Miss Michigan USA 2025 on August 9, 2025, at McMorran Entertainment Center in Port Huron, Michigan. She represented Michigan at Miss USA 2025.

Results summary

Placements in Miss USA

  • Miss USAs: Carole Gist, Kenya Moore, Rima Fakih, Alma Cooper
  • 1st runner-up: Kevin Gale
  • 3rd runner-up: Elisa Schleef
  • Top 6: Natasha Bell
  • Top 10/11/12: Judy Hatula, Pat Glannon, Marilyn Ann Petty, Diane Arabia, Kimberly Mexicotte, Johnelle Ryan, Shannon Clark, Jill Dobson, Kenya Howard, Rashontae Wawrzyniak
  • Top 15/16: Barbara Sias, Judith Richards, Patricia Squires, Pamela Lee Sands, Susan Pill, Virginia Clift, Crystal Hayes, Kelly Best, Kristen Danyal, Elizabeth Johnson
Michigan holds a record of 26 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Congeniality: Taylor Hale

    Winners

;Color key
YearNameHometownAge1Local titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2025Michele LewandoskiNorton Shores23Miss Norton Shores
2024Alma Oralia Minerva CooperOkemos22Miss OkemosMiss USA 2024
  • Non-semi-finalist at Miss Universe 2024
2023Alexis Fagan-WilliamsDetroit22Miss Motown
2022Aria HutchinsonPlymouth23Miss Plymouth
  • Daughter of Chris Hutchinson and Melissa Sinkevics Hutchinson, Miss Michigan Teen USA 1988; and sister of Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson
    • 2021Taylor HaleDetroit26Miss Spirit of DetroitMiss Congeniality
  • Shortest reigning Miss Michigan USA
  • Winner of Big Brother 24 and America's Favorite Houseguest.
    • 2020Chanel JohnsonSouthfield25Miss Southfield
  • Longest reigning Miss Michigan USA
  • Second longest reigning Miss USA state titleholder in the organization's history
    • 2019Alyse MadejGarden City25Miss Garden City
    2018Elizabeth JohnsonPlymouth25Miss Wayne CountyTop 15
    2017Krista FergusonDetroit23Miss North Shore Bay
    2016Susie LeicaLivonia25Miss Livonia
    2015Rashontae WawrzyniakDetroit24Miss St. Clair LakeTop 11
    2014Elizabeth IvezajMacomb24Miss MacombBorn in Albania
    2013Jaclyn SchultzWyandotte24Miss WyandotteRunner-up on Survivor: San Juan del Sur
    2012Kristen DanyalSterling Heights21Miss Blue WaterTop 16
  • Previously Miss Michigan Teen USA 2009 and top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2009
    • 2011Channing PierceRoyal Oak23Miss Royal Oak
    2010Rima FakihDearborn24Miss Wayne CountyMiss USA 2010
  • Born in Lebanon
  • Non-semi-finalist at Miss Universe 2010
    • 2009Lindsey TycholizSterling Heights26Miss Great Lakes
    2008Elisabeth CrawfordCanton25Miss East Michigan
    2007Kelly BestTroy20Miss TroyTop 15
  • Later Miss U.S. International 2008
  • Non-finalist at Miss International 2008
    • 2006Danelle GayLapeer24Miss Lapeer
    2005Crystal HayesRock20Miss NorthvilleTop 15
    2004Stacey LeeRochester Hills26Miss Oakland County
    2003Elisa SchleefSt. Joseph23Miss Great Lakes3rd runner-up
    2002Rebekah Lynn DeckerFerndale24
    2001Kenya HowardDetroit24Top 10
    2000Jill DobsonQuincy22Top 10Michigan's Junior Miss 1995
    1999Shannon Grace ClarkTroy26Top 10Semi-finalist at Miss World America 1993
    1998Johnelle RyanCassopolis25Top 10
    1997Jennifer ReedTaylor25
  • Later Mrs. Michigan America 2001
    • 1996Natasha BellBerrien Springs20Top 6 finalist
    1995Keisha EichelbergerDetroit
    1994Kelly Richelle PawlowskiAllen Park
    1993Kenya Summer MooreDetroit22Miss USA 1993Top 6 at Miss Universe 1993
    1992Lainie Lu HowardSt. Joseph
  • 1st runner-up at Miss World America 1994
    • 1991Leann Rothi18
    1990Carole Anne Marie GistDetroit20Miss USA 1990
  • 1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1990
    • 1989Karen FinucanBirmingham
    1988Anthonia DotsonDetroit
    1987Elizabeth PuleoGrosse Pointe
    1986Lisa BernardiCarleton
    1985Nancy MazuroWashington
    1984Adriana KrambeckDearborn Heights
    1983Kimberly MexicotteLivoniaSemi-finalist
    1982Diane Marie ArabiaWarrenSemi-finalist
  • 4th runner-up in Miss Oktoberfest 1981
    • Previously Miss Michigan World 1980 and Top 15 semi-finalist at Miss World America 1980.
    1981Karen EidsonHazel Park
    1980Teena HammondsDetroit
    1979Susan JamesHazel Park
    1978April PatrickDetroit
    1977Jenny PinksTrenton
    1976Kevin GaleDearborn Heights1st runner-up
    1975Debra HollandDetroit
    1974Patricia LoftisDetroit
    1973Linda EastWarren
    1972Marilyn Ann PettyRosevilleSemi-finalistRepresented Michigan in Miss World USA 1974, 2nd runner-up
    1971Pat GlannanDetroitSemi-finalist
    1970Duane Marie BergenDetroit19
    1969Lisa BrennerReed City
    1968Virginia CliftNoviTop 15
    1967Sonja DunsonDetroit
    1966Kathlene BlascakAllen Park
    1965Susan Lynne PillTop 15represented Michigan in the Miss USA World 1964, 3rd runner up
    1964Johneane TeeterRepresented Michigan in the Miss USA World 1966
    1963Pamela Lee SandsLudingtonTop 15
    1962Judith Lamparter
    1961Patricia SquiresTop 15
    1960Judith RichardsTop 15
    1959Susan Westergaard
    1958Shirley Ann BlackFlint19
    1957Sharon Moore
    1956Barbara SiasTop 15
    1955Martha Smith
    1954Gerri Hoffman
    1953Jo Ann Page
    1952Judy HatulaTop 10

    1 Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant