Miss Kentucky USA


The Miss Kentucky USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Kentucky in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by Proctor Productions and it was formerly directed by Connie Clark Harrison, Miss Kentucky USA 1976.
Tara Conner became the first Kentucky delegate to win Miss USA, after being crowned Miss USA 2006. She later finished as fourth runner-up at Miss Universe 2006. Elle Smith later became the second Kentucky delegate to win Miss USA, being crowned Miss USA 2021.
Four Miss Kentucky USA titleholders have also held the Miss Kentucky Teen USA title and competed at Miss Teen USA, including Conner. Two Miss Kentucky USA titleholders have also competed at Miss America, with one representing Wyoming.
Mattie Barker of Bowling Green was crowned Miss Kentucky USA 2025 on July 19, 2025, at The Vern Riffe Center for the Arts Shawnee State University in Portsmouth. She represented Kentucky at Miss USA 2025.
WWW misskentuckyusa.com

Media coverage

In 2006, it was reported that Miss Kentucky USA 2002, Elizabeth Arnold, was in a relationship with celebrity Nick Lachey. That same year Tara Conner became the first Kentucky delegate to win the Miss USA title, putting Kentucky in the top five for the second consecutive year, after Kristen Johnson placed 2nd runner-up in 2005. She later came under intense scrutiny when it was revealed that she had been drinking underage, tested positive for the use of cocaine, and kissed Miss Teen USA Katie Blair, among other things. Conner was allowed to keep her title, but was ordered into rehab for one month. After her rehab session, she resumed her reign until her year was completed.
In 2008, Miss Kentucky USA Alysha Harris was involved in an incident involving photos in which she was photographed dancing with New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss in a manner some saw as sexually suggestive.

Results summary

Placements

  • Miss USA: Tara Conner, Elle Smith
  • 1st runners-up: Connor Perry
  • 2nd runners-up: Kristen Johnson
  • 3rd runners-up: Julie Andrus
  • 4th runners-up: Johanna Reid, Patricia Barnstable, Lisa Devillez, Kristina Chapman, Maria Montgomery
  • Top 6: Tiffany Tenfelde, Angela Hines
  • Top 11/'12: Carol Wallace, Mitzi Jones, Katie George
  • Top 15/20: Mary Ann Stice, Marcia Chumbler
Kentucky' holds a record of 17 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Congeniality: Julia Pinkley, Connie Clark, Kia Hampton
  • Miss Photogenic: Robyn Overby
  • Best State Costume: Charlesy Gulick

Winners

;Color key
YearNameHometownAge1Local titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2025Mattie BarkerBowling Green22Miss Run For The Roses
2024Connor PerryLexington23Miss Heart of Lexington1st Runner-up
2023Madalyne KinnettLexington21Miss Greater Lexington
2022Elizabeth "Lizzy" NeutzLouisville22Miss Greater Louisville
2021Elle SmithLouisville23Miss GermantownMiss USA 2021
  • Top 10 at Miss Universe 2021
    • 2020Lexie IlesLouisville23Miss Louisville
  • Previously Miss Ohio Teen United States 2016
    • 2019Jordan WeiterLouisville22Miss Bluegrass
    2018Braea TilfordLouisville25Miss Jefferson County
    2017Madelynne MyersLouisville22Miss Louisville
    2016Kyle HornbackLouisville20Miss Louisville
    2015Katie GeorgeLouisville21Miss LouisvilleTop 11Advanced to top 11 as fan vote winner
    2014Destin KincerWhitesburg21Miss Keeneland
    2013Allie LeggettMcCreary County19Miss Lake CumberlandDecember 2017 Playboy Playmate of the Month
    2012Amanda MertzLouisville25Miss LouisvilleMonster Energy Girl
    2011Kia HamptonLouisville21Miss CongenialityLater Pussycat Dolls member
    2010Kindra ClarkMt. Washington19
    2009Maria MontgomeryDanville194th runner-up
    2008Alysha HarrisCarrollton20
  • Later represented Kentucky at Miss United States International 2020
    • 2007Michelle BanzerLouisville24First minority woman to win state pageant
    2006Tara ConnerRussell Springs20Miss USA 2006
  • Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2002
  • 4th runner-up at Miss Universe 2006
    • 2005Kristen JohnsonSlaughters232nd runner-up
  • Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2000
  • Contestant on Fear Factor in 2005 on the Miss USA episode #5.29
    • 2004Lauren StengelLouisville22
    2003Lori MitchellScottsville21Reporter for WRCB in Chattanooga
    2002Elizabeth Ann "Lizzie" ArnoldColumbia24
  • Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 1998
  • Appears on The Real Housewives of Orange County
    • 2001Jo PritchardHardin20
    2000Jolene YoungsterGlasgow18
    1999Lori MenshouseAshland25
  • Previously Miss Kentucky 1997
    • 1998Nancy BradleyFranklin23
    1997Rachyl HoskinsLiberty22
    1996Lorie Bennett WestCampbellsville22
    1995Mitzi JonesWhite Plains22Semi-finalist, finishing in 8th Place
    1994Kim BufordPaducah26
    1993Karen GibsonKevil
    1992Angela HinesMaysvilleFinalist, finishing in 5th place
    1991Susan FarrisBenton24Runner-up state costume
    1990Tiffany TenfeldeLakeside ParkTop 6 finalist
    1989Veronica HensleyDanville
    1988Suzanne PitmanMurray
    1987Beth Ann ClarkMayfield21Guinness Beer Spokesmodel, Swimwear Illustrated Cover Model of the Year 1989, Mrs. Kentucky United States 1999, Mrs. Georgia America 2001
    1986Jackie TaylorPaducah
    1985Robin OverbyCalvert CityMiss Photogenic
  • 1st runner-up at Miss World USA 1979
    • 1984Tammy MelendezMurray25
    1983Lee Ann AustinBenton
    1982Kristina Leah ChapmanOwensboro194th runner-up
    1981Denise GibbsPaducah
    1980Lisa Louise DevillezOwensboro19Miss Owensboro Hydrofair4th runner-up
    1979Linda PassmoreHopkinsville
    1978Linda WoodruffLouisville
    1977Sandy SmithPrinceton
    1976Connie ClarkBentonMiss CongenialityFormer director of the Miss Kentucky USA and Miss Kentucky Teen USA pageants under her married name, Connie Clark-Harrison
    1975Carol June WallaceSomerset23Semi-finalist
  • Later Miss Wyoming 1976, mother of Miss Kentucky 2002, Mary Catherine Correll
    • 1974Charlesy GulickWilliamstownBest State Costume
    1973Nancy Jane CoplenMayfield
    1972Tamara BranstetterSummer Shade
    1971Patricia BarnstableLouisville4th runner-up
    1970Joanna SmithMorgantown
    1969Regina Pryor
    1968Julia Kay PinkleyMiss Congeniality
    1967Debbie Dibble
    1966Jennifer Burcham
    1965Julie AndrusMayfield3rd runner-up
    1964Johanna Reid4th runner-up
    1963Mary Ann Arnold
    1962Sally Margaret CarterLowes
    1961Marcia ChumblerMayfieldSemi-finalist
    1960Barbara Joan Lovins
    1959Sherree Owens
    1958Shannon Beasley
    1955-57Did not compete
    1954Nikki Horner
    1953Mary SticeSemi-finalist
    1952Jean Tingle
    1 Age at the time of the Miss Kentucky USA pageant