Miss USA Special Awards
The following tables list the winners of the special awards given to candidates at the Miss USA pageant.
Miss Congeniality
The first Miss Congeniality award specific to the Miss USA pageant was given out in 1965, as prior to this the award could be won by both Miss USA and Miss Universe contestants. This is the only award voted on by the delegates themselves. The name of the award has changed a number of times over the years, and has been known as "Miss Unity" and "Miss Amity". The current definition of the award is that it "reflects the respect and admiration of the delegate's peers, who voted for her as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant."
As of 2007, Vermont has received the most awards (five), with Minnesota second (three). Only one Miss USA winner, Chelsi Smith, has also been voted Miss Congeniality, although three first runner-ups have also received this award.
Year |
Winner |
State |
Placement at MUSA |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1952-1964 |
NO AWARD |
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1965 |
Elizabeth Carroll |
Minnesota |
Semi-finalist |
|
Bonnie Perkins |
Tennessee |
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1966 |
Linda Leafdale |
Wyoming |
||
1967 |
Sandra Baldwin |
Idaho |
Semi-finalist |
|
1968 |
Julia Pinkley |
Kentucky |
||
1969 |
Mary Verdiana |
Vermont |
1st runner-up |
|
1970 |
Diane Swendeman |
Texas |
Top 15 |
|
1971 |
Diane Knaub |
Colorado |
||
1972 |
Peggy Moore |
Utah |
||
1973 |
Kiki Kirkland |
South Carolina |
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1974 |
Donna Thornton |
Vermont |
||
1975 |
Constance Crabtree |
Vermont |
||
1976 |
Connie Clark (tie) |
Kentucky |
||
Dorothy Westphal (tie) |
South DAKOTA |
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1977 |
Linda LeFevre |
Florida |
||
1978 |
Nancy Wierzbicki |
Vermont |
||
1979 |
Pam Williams |
Wyoming |
||
1980 |
Robbin English |
Montana |
||
1981 |
Cynthia Kirby |
California |
3rd runner-up |
Also Miss Photogenic |
1982 |
Toni McFadden |
Alaska |
||
1983 |
Dan Ruth Mintzer |
Iowa |
||
1984 |
Diane Gadoury |
New Hampshire |
||
1985 |
Martha Browning |
Tennessee |
||
1986 |
Lisa Summerour-Perry |
New Jersey |
||
1987 |
Lori Lynn Dickerson |
California |
||
1988 |
Elva Anderson |
District of Columbia |
||
1989 |
Kimberly Nicewonder |
Virginia |
||
1990 |
Janet Tveita |
Minnesota |
Semi-finalist |
|
1991 |
Charlotte Ray |
New Jersey |
1st runner-up |
|
1992 |
Alesia Prentiss |
Nevada |
||
1993 |
Stacey Blaine |
Massachusetts |
||
1994 |
Denise White |
Oregon |
||
1995 |
Chelsi Smith |
Texas |
Miss USA 1995 |
Miss Universe 1995 |
1996 |
Hawaii |
|||
1997 |
Napiera Groves |
District of Columbia |
||
1998 |
Vera Morris |
North Carolina |
||
1999 |
Cara Jackson |
Arizona |
||
2000 |
Michele Kaplan |
Hawaii |
||
2001 |
Monica Palumbo |
North Carolina |
||
2002 |
Meredith McCannel |
Montana |
||
2003 |
Breann Parriott |
Washington |
||
2004 |
Michelle Fongemie |
Vermont |
||
2005 |
Melissa Young |
Wisconsin |
||
2006 |
Dottie Cannon |
Minnesota |
||
2007 |
Stephanie Trudeau |
Montana |
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Miss Photogenic
Like Miss Congeniality first Miss Photogenic award was given in 1965. The winner of the award was initially chosen by the press, however this was changed to an internet vote in the late 1990s. The most recent definition of the Miss Photogenic award is that it defines "beauty behind the lens of a camera".
The most successful state as of 2007 is Virginia, which has garnered six awards. The next most successful state is California, with three.
Year |
Winner |
State |
Placement at MUSA |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1952-1964 |
NO AWARD |
|||
1965 |
Cheryl Semrad |
Oklahoma |
Semi-finalist |
|
1966 |
Maria Remenyi |
California |
Miss USA 1966 |
|
1967 |
Elizabeth Kallmyer |
Virginia |
Semi-finalist |
|
1968 |
Kathy Hebert |
Louisiana |
||
1969 |
Susan Hawkins |
Colorado |
||
1970 |
Deborah Shelton |
Virginia |
Miss USA 1970 |
|
1971 |
Brenda Miller |
Virginia |
Semi-finalist |
|
1972 |
Susan Peters |
Texas |
||
1973 |
Janice Geiler |
Nebraska |
Semi-finalist |
|
1974 |
Barbara Cooper |
New York |
1st runner-up |
|
1975 |
Pamela Flowers |
Alabama |
1st runner-up |
|
1976 |
Liz Wickersham |
Georgia |
Semi-finalist |
|
1977 |
Elizabeth Curran |
Illinois |
||
1978 |
Suzanna Timberlake |
Tennessee |
||
1979 |
Michele Sandoval |
New Mexico |
||
1980 |
Jineane Marie Ford (tie) |
Arizona |
1st Runner-Up |
|
Elizabeth Thomas (tie) |
Ohio |
|||
1981 |
Cynthia Kerby |
California |
3rd runner-up |
Also Miss Congeniality |
1982 |
Sandra Dee Jones |
Virginia |
Semi-finalist |
|
1983 |
Lisa Allred |
Texas |
1st runner-up |
|
1984 |
Laura Shaw |
Texas |
||
1985 |
Robin Kay Overby |
Kentucky |
||
1986 |
Beth King |
Wyoming |
Semi-finalist |
|
1987 |
Sophia Bowen |
Georgia |
4th runner-up |
|
1988 |
Rowanne Brewer |
Maryland |
||
1989 |
Elizabeth Primm |
Louisiana |
3rd runner-up |
|
1990 |
Stephanie Teneyck |
Mississippi |
Semi-finalist |
|
1991 |
Pat Arnold |
North Carolina |
Finalist |
|
1992 |
Shannon Marketic |
California |
Miss USA 1992 |
|
1993 |
Kelly Hu |
Hawaii |
Top 5 Finalist |
Previously Miss Hawaii Teen USA 1985 and Miss Teen USA 1985 |
1994 |
Patricia Southall |
Virginia |
1st Runner-Up |
|
1995 |
Nichole Holmes |
Illinois |
2nd runner-up |
|
1996 |
Ali Landry |
Louisiana |
Miss USA 1996 |
Previously Miss Louisiana Teen USA 1990 |
1997 |
Audra Wilks |
Virginia |
Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 1988 |
|
1998 |
Sonja Glenn |
South Carolina |
||
1999 |
Elyzabeth Pham |
Wisconsin |
||
2000 |
Paige Swenson |
Minnesota |
Previously Miss Minnesota Teen USA 1994 |
|
2001 |
Colorado |
|||
2002 |
Shannon Ford |
Florida |
||
2003 |
Sarah Cahill |
Minnesota |
Previously Miss Minnesota Teen USA 1996 |
|
2004 |
Arkansas |
|||
2005 |
Tyler Willis |
Texas |
Top 15 |
|
2006 |
Cristin Duren |
Florida |
4th runner-up |
First woman to win Miss Photogenic at both Miss Teen USA (1997) and Miss USA (previously Miss Florida Teen USA 1997) |
2007 |
Rebecca Moore |
Alabama |
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Best in Swimsuit Award
- This award was first awarded in 1992. Since 2002, it is no longer handed out.
Year |
Winner |
State |
Placement at MUSA |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1992 |
Candace Brown |
Alabama |
1st Runner-up |
|
1993 |
Erin Nance |
Georgia |
1st Runner-up |
Previously Miss Georgia Teen USA 1988 |
1994 |
Patricia Southall |
Virginia |
1st Runner-up |
|
1995 |
Chelsi Smith |
Texas |
MISS USA 1995 |
MISS UNIVERSE 1995 |
1996 |
Danielle Boatwright |
Kansas |
1st Runner-up |
Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 1992 |
1997 |
Angelia Savage |
Florida |
Top 6 Finalist |
|
1998 |
Shawnae Jebbia |
Massachusetts |
MISS USA 1998 |
|
1999 |
Lauren Poppell (tie) |
South Carolina |
3rd Runner-up |
Previously Miss South Carolina Teen USA 1993 |
Angelique Breaux (tie) |
California |
2nd Runner-up |
||
2000 |
Lynnette Cole |
Tennessee |
MISS USA 2000 |
Previously Miss Tennessee Teen USA 1995 |
2001 |
Larissa Meek |
Missouri |
4th Runner-up |
Previously Miss Missouri Teen USA 1997 |
2002 |
Lanore Vanburen |
Minnesota |
3rd Runner-up |
Style Award
- This award was first awarded in 1995 By Vibrance for the Best Sense of Hair Style, The award was given out by Finesse Shampoo in 1996, it was not presented in 1997-1998. In 1999-2001 the award was presented by Clairol Shampoo. Since 2002, it is no longer handed out.
Year |
Winner |
State |
Placement at MUSA |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1995 |
Lynn Vesnefski |
Hawaii |
||
1996 |
Becca Lee |
Tennessee |
2nd Runner-up |
|
1997-1998 |
NO AWARD |
|||
1999 |
Kellie Lightbourne |
Virginia |
Semi-Finalist |
|
2000 |
Kristin Ludecke |
Florida |
||
2001 |
Megan Gunning |
Maryland |
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