Miss Maryland USA


The Miss Maryland USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Maryland in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by D&D Productions.
The first Miss USA winner from Maryland, Mary Leona Gage, won Miss USA 1957. However, she was later discovered to be a mother of two sons and was therefore dethroned. In 2012, Nana Meriwether placed 1st runner-up, but became Miss USA 2012 when Olivia Culpo won Miss Universe 2012.
Seven Maryland titleholders are former Miss Maryland Teen USAs. These four all reigned in the early 1990s, and in fact four out of seven titleholders from 1990 to 1995 were former teens. Only four Miss Maryland USA has competed at Miss America.
From 2006 to 2008, each woman who won Miss Maryland USA was the previous year's first runner-up.
Lexia Gillette of Chevy Chase was crowned Miss Maryland USA 2025 on August 24, 2025 at Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Rockville. She will represent Maryland at Miss USA 2025.

Results summary

Miss USA placements

  • Miss USAs: Mary Leona Gage
  • 1st runners-up: Paulette Reck, Nana Meriwether
  • 4th runners-up: Betty Jo Grove, Mamé Adjei
  • Top 8/10/'12: Carol Theis, Tonja Walker, Linda Lambert, Angie Boyer, Rowann Brewer, Jennifer Wilhoit, Marina Harrison, Allyn Rose, Taylor Burton, Mariela Pepin, Layilah Nasser
  • Top 15/20: Barbara Eschenburg, Charlene Holt, Diane White, Royette Tarry, Roselaine Zetter, Sandy Clevering, Kasey Staniszewski, Brittinay Nicolette, Savena Mushinge
Maryland' holds a record of 25 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Photogenic: Rowann Brewer
  • Style Award: Megan Gunning

    Winners

;Color key
YearNameHometownAgeLocal titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2025Lexia GilletteChevy Chase29Miss Chevy Chase
2024Bailey Anne KennedyWilliamsport31Miss WilliamsportFirst trans woman to win the title.
2023Savena MushingeGermantown26Miss GermantownTop 20
2022Caleigh ShadeCumberland22
  • Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 2018
  • *Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2018
    • 2021Layilah NasserMontgomery Village26Top 8
    2020Taelyr RobinsonAnnapolis27
  • Minor part in The Vineyard
  • Represented USA at Miss Model of the World 2016
  • Longest reigning Miss Maryland USA
    • 2019Mariela PepinSevern23Top 10
  • Born in Puerto Rico
  • Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 2014
  • Previously Top 10 finalist at Miss World America 2017
  • Later contestant on season 25 of The Bachelor and season 7 of Bachelor in Paradise.
  • Later Miss Intercontinental Puerto Rico 2022 and 1st runner-up at Miss Intercontinental 2022
    • 2018Brittinay NicoletteFallston26Top 15
    2017Adrianna DavidRockville22Miss University of Maryland
  • Later Miss Maryland 2018
    • 2016Christina DennyOwings Mills25
  • Previously Miss Maryland 2013
  • *Top 10 at Miss America 2014
  • Represented Maryland at Miss World America 2016
  • *Top 12 at Miss World America 2016
  • Previously Miss Globe United States 2017
  • *1st runner-up at Miss Globe International 2017
    • 2015Mamé AdjeiSilver Spring234th runner-up
  • 1st runner-up on America's Next Top Model Cycle 22
    • 2014Taylor BurtonLa Plata25Top 10
    2013Kasey StaniszewskiAnnapolis21Top 15Triple crown winner
  • Previously Miss Maryland's Outstanding Teen 2007
  • Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 2009
  • *3rd runner-up to Miss Teen USA 2009
    • 2012Nana MeriwetherPotomac271st runner-up
  • Became Miss USA 2012 after Olivia Culpo became Miss Universe 2012
  • Born in South Africa
    • 2011Allyn RoseNewburg22Top 8
  • Later Miss District of Columbia 2012
  • Later Miss U.S. Supranational 2014
  • 3rd Runner-up at Miss Supranational 2014
    • 2010Simone FeldmanNorth Potomac23
    2009Gabrielle CarlsonMarion Station24
    2008Casandra TresslerDamascus22
  • Later Miss U.S. International 2010
    • 2007Michaé HollomanFort Washington25
  • Cheerleader for Washington Redskins
    • 2006Melissa DiGiulianBowie20
    2005Marina HarrisonSevern24Top 10
  • Previously Miss Maryland 2003
  • 3rd runner-up at Miss America 2004 pageant
    • 2004Tia ShortsGaithersburg24
    2003Jamie KramerPasadena
    2002Mistie Renee AdamsSilver Spring
    2001Megan GunningFallstonStyle Award
    2000Christie S. DavisSilver Spring
  • Sister of Wendy Davis, Miss Maryland USA 1994
    • 1999Kelly DonohueUnion Bridge
    1998Maria Lynn SheriffBowie
    1997Ann CoaleBaltimore
    1996Michele MichaelAnnapolis
    1995Jennifer Danielle WilhoitAnnapolis22Top 12
  • Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 1991
    • 1994Wendy DavisSilver Spring
  • Sister of Christy Davis, Miss Maryland USA 2000
    • 1993Mary Ann CiminoBaltimore
  • Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 1990
    • 1992Renee RebstockPasadena
  • Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 1987
    • 1991Lisa Marie LawsonCrofton
    1990Julie StanfordEdgewater
  • Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 1986
    • 1989Jackie CarrollGaithersburg
    1988Rowanne BrewerSilver Spring23Semi-finalist
  • Married rock musician Jani Lane
    • 1987Michelle SnowGermantown
    1986Kelly KoehlerChurchton
    1985Christine MarieBaldwin
    1984Betsy CookBethesda
    1983Shawn KellerAshton
    1982Angie BoyerDunkirk18Semi-finalist
    1981Linda Susan LambertBaltimore22Semi-finalist
    1980Tonja Annette WalkerKingsville19Top 12
  • Previously Miss Teen All American 1979
    • 1979Jean BourneSilver Spring
    1978Rhonda KochBrookevilleUnplaced at Miss World USA 1976, as Miss District of Columbia World.
    1977Twyla LittletonOxon Hill
    1976Linda Lee PotterAdelphi
    1975Ellen BowieTempleville
    1974Mary Jo RuppertCollege Park
    1973Betty Jo GroveCollege Park194th runner-up
    1972Patty TownsendSilver Spring
    1971Carol Jeanne TheisSilver Spring20Semi-finalist
    1970Beckie PriceCamp Springs
    1969Ardis FowlerEllicott City
    1968Paulette ReckPerry Hall20Miss Perry Hall1st runner-up
  • 2nd runner up at Miss World USA 1969
    • 1967Sandra CleveringSilver Spring19Semi-finalist
    1966Roselaine ZetterBowie22Semi-finalist
    1965Barbara KieferBaltimore
    1964Royette Michele TarryBaltimore19Semi-finalist
  • Represented Delaware in Miss World USA 1970
    • 1963Marsha Barbara MetrinkoLaurel
  • Represented New York City at the Miss America 1964 pageant
  • Sister of Michele Metrinko, Miss District of Columbia USA 1963 and United States representative at Miss World
    • 1962Shelda FarleyCatonsville
    1961Gail BaxterHigh Point
    1960Jerri FiorilliBaltimore
    1959Diane Dolores WhiteBaltimore24Semi-finalist
  • 3rd runner up at Miss World USA 1961
  • Mother of Miss Georgia USA 1989
    • 1958Patricia VogtsSilver Spring
    1957Mary Leona GageGlen Burnie18Miss USA 1957
  • Dethroned after it was discovered she was married and had two children
    • 1956Charlene HoltAnnapolis28Semi-finalist
    1955Gloria Ruth KingBaltimore
    1954Barbara EschenburgBerlinSemi-finalistDisqualified
    1953Diane Gale DurhamSilver Spring
    1952Did not compete