Miss Nevada
Beauty pageant competition
The Miss Nevada competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Nevada in the Miss America competition, and the name of the title held by that winner. The first Nevadan to compete at Miss America was Carol Lampe in 1949.[ 1]
The competition currently takes place in Lake Tahoe, Nevada . Other venues have included Reno , Elko , Las Vegas , Carson City and Mesquite .[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] It has at various times been hosted by the Reno Lions Club and the Soroptimist club of Nevada.[ 5] [ 6]
Karrina Ferris of Reno was crowned Miss Nevada 2024 on June 21, 2024, at Bally's Lake Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada . She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.
Results summary
The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Nevada titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.
Placements
2nd runners-up: Stacie James (1988)
3rd runners-up: Teresa Benitez (2003)
Top 7: Heather Renner (2023)
Top 10: Loni Gravelle (1958), Cheryle Thompson (1964), Joan Burachio (1972)
Top 16: Tosca Masini (1951)
Awards
Preliminary awards
Non-finalist awards
Non-finalist Interview: Elizabeth Muto (2005)
Non-finalist Talent: Vicky Jo Todd (1971), Helen Bennett (1973), Sandra Kastel (1977), Megan Anderson (1979), Sonja Nall (1986), Jennifer Joseph-Lier (1996), Tiffanie Story (2001), Ellie Smith (2015)
Other awards
Equity & Justice Winners: Heather Renner (2023)
Overall Interview Award: Teresa Benitez (2003)
Quality of Life Award Winners: Teresa Benitez (2003), Caleche Manos (2008)
Quality of Life Award 2nd runners-up: Elizabeth Muto (2005), Christina Keegan (2010)
Quality of Life Award/Social Impact Initiative Scholarship Finalists: Bailey Gumm (2017), Nasya Mancini (2020)
STEM Scholarship Award Winners: Alexis Hilts (2019)
STEM Scholarship Award Finalists: Katherine Kelley (2016), Andrea Martinez (2018)
Winners
Declared as winner
Ended as a runner-up
Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist
Year
Name
Hometown
Age
Local Title
Miss America Talent
Placement at Miss America
Special scholarships at Miss America
Notes
2024
Karrina Ferris
Carson City
21
Miss Silver State
Lyrical Dance
TBA
TBA
2023
Taylor Blatchford
Boulder City
23
Miss Boulder City
Violin
Distinguished Young Woman of Nevada 2018
2022
Heather Renner
Reno
23
Miss Las Vegas
Vocal
Top 7
Equity & Justice Winner
Previously Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2016
2021
Macie Tuell[ 7]
Gardnerville
24
Miss Las Vegas
Vocal
Former personal assistant to David Copperfield [ 7]
2019 –20
Nasya Mancini[ 8]
Sparks
22
Miss Washoe County
Comedic Monologue
Social Impact Initiative Scholarship Finalist[ 9]
2018
Alexis Hilts[ 10]
Las Vegas
23
Miss UNLV
Piano, "Transcendental Étude No. 4 " by Franz Liszt
STEM Scholarship Award[ 11]
Previously Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2008[ 12]
2017
Andrea Martinez[ 13]
23
Miss Clark County
Vocal, "His Eye in on the Sparrow"
STEM Scholarship Award Finalist[ 14]
2016
Bailey Gumm[ 15]
Minden
20
Miss Pleasant Valley
Tap Dance, "Sax " by Fleur East
Quality of Life Award Finalist[ 16]
Previously Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2011[ 17] Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant
2015
Katherine Kelley[ 18]
Madisonville
23[ 18]
Miss Summerlin
Piano, "Etude in D Minor"
STEM Scholarship Award Finalist[ 19]
2014
Ellie Smith[ 20]
Henderson [ 20]
17
Miss North East Nevada
Vocal, "Somebody to Love "
Non-finalist Talent Award[ 20]
Sister of Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2014, Amy Smith[ 21] Previously Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2012
2013
Diana Sweeney[ 22]
Mound House
19
Miss Carson City
Lyrical Dance, "Roads "
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2012 pageant
2012
Randi Sundquist[ 3]
Elko [ 3]
22[ 3]
Miss Southern Counties
Contemporary Jazz Dance, "I Won't Give Up "
2011
Alana Lee
Las Vegas
21
Miss Clark County
Vocal, "At This Moment "
2010
Cris Crotz
Mesquite
24
Miss Southern Counties
Popular Vocal, "Alone "
2009
Christina Keegan[ 23]
Gardnerville
23
Miss Northern Counties
Ballet en Pointe, "Bohemian Rhapsody "
Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up
2008
Julianna Erdesz[ 4]
Reno
24
Miss Carson City
Vocal
Later Miss Nevada USA 2010
2007
Caleche Manos
23
Vocal, "Love Is a Battlefield "
Quality of Life Award Winner
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2006 pageant
2006
Caydi Cole
Las Vegas
22
Miss Clark County
Vocal, "Blues in the Night "
2005
Crystal Wosik
23
Miss Las Vegas
Lyrical Dance, "Don't Rain on My Parade " from Funny Girl
2004
Elizabeth Muto[ 24]
24
Dramatic Monologue, "Who Will Cry?"
Non-finalist Interview Award Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up
Received Presidential Volunteer Service Award from President George W. Bush [ 25]
2003
Christina O'Neil
Carson City
24
Miss Gold Country
Vocal, "Your Daddy's Son" from Ragtime
Contestant at National Sweetheart 1999 pageant
2002
Teresa Benitez [ 26]
Reno
24
Miss Silver State
Dramatic Monologue from The Laramie Project
3rd runner-up[ 2] [ 26]
Overall Interview Award Preliminary Interview Award Quality of Life Award Winner
Majority Floor Leader of the Nevada Assembly [ 27] [ 26]
2001
Ashley Huff[ 28]
Las Vegas
21
Miss Las Vegas
Polynesian Dance, "Welcome to Polynesia"
Later Miss Nevada USA 2003
2000
Tiffanie Story
Reno
19
Miss UNR/Truckee Meadows
Vocal, "Ain't Misbehavin' "
Non-finalist Talent Award
1999
Gina Giacinto
Las Vegas
24
Miss Las Vegas
Original Vocal Presentation, "Dreams Were Given Wings To Fly"
Preliminary Swimsuit Award[ 29]
Later Miss Nevada USA 2001 3rd runner-up at Miss USA 2001 pageant[ 30]
1998
Anna Carpenter
Mesquite
18
Miss Mesquite
Monologue
1997
Amanda Gunderson
Reno
19
Miss Northern Counties
Classical Vocal, "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen "
1996
Annette Albertson
24
Miss Truckee Meadows
Vocal, "Luck Be a Lady "
1995
Jennifer Joseph-Lier
Wendover
24
Miss Elko County/Northeast Nevada
Vocal, "I Am Changing "
Non-finalist Talent Award
Contestant on the E! reality show "The Entertainer"[citation needed ]
1994
Laura Hubach
Reno
22
Miss Reno
Classical Piano
1993
Mitzie Cox[ 31]
Sparks
20
Miss Sparks
Vocal / Dance, "I'm a Brass Band" from Sweet Charity
1992
Sandra Dornak
Las Vegas
25
Miss Las Vegas
Ventriloquism, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious " from Mary Poppins
1991
Malia Winn
Minden
17
Miss Douglas County
Interpretive Ballet, music from Somewhere in Time
1990
Tia Marie Zorne
Las Vegas
21
Miss Las Vegas
Acro-Jazz Dance, "Julie's Theme" from American Anthem
1989
Brenda Linscott
Incline Village
23
Miss Cosmopolitan Counties
Vocal, "Memory " from Cats
1988
Deborah Schuler
22
Vocal, "The Woman in the Moon" from A Star Is Born
1987
Stacie James
Las Vegas
23
Miss Las Vegas
Vocal, "On My Own " from Les Misérables
2nd runner-up
Preliminary Talent Award
1986
Kelsey Kara
Las Vegas
23
Miss Las Vegas
Flamenco Dance
1985
Sonja Nall
23
Classical Ballet en Pointe, "Kitri's Variation" from Don Quixote
Non-finalist Talent Award
1984
LeAnna Grant
22
Vocal, "I Love Paris "
Later Miss Nevada USA 1986
1983
Kim Pacini
Incline Village
24
Miss North Lake Tahoe
Vocal, "You're the Top "
1982
Kim King
Las Vegas
21
Miss Clark County
Banjo, "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee"
1981
Suzanne Bowman
Reno
20
Miss Reno
Modern Rhythmic Gymnastics, "Zero to Sixty in Five"
1980
Phyllis Hamlin[ 32]
23
Piano, Warsaw Concerto
1979
Jeanne Cangemi
North Lake Tahoe
22
Miss North Lake Tahoe
Classical & Jazz Saxophone, "Harlem Nocturne " & "Csárdás "
1978
Megan Anderson
Reno
19
Miss Washoe County
Classical Vocal, "Vissi d'arte " from Tosca
Non-finalist Talent Award
1977
Lori Isom
Las Vegas
18
Miss Clark County
Jazz Dance, "Classical Blues"
1976
Sandra Kastel
21
Miss Las Vegas
Vocal, "My Man "
Non-finalist Talent Award
1975
Sherri Ann Lowe
21
Baton Twirling / Variety Act
1974
Jacqueline Barker
Sparks
19
Miss Sparks
Popular Vocal, "The Way We Were "
1973
Echo Rost
20
Modern Jazz Dance, "I Feel the Earth Move "
Neat As A Pin Award (tie)
1972
Helen Bennett[ 33]
Reno
23
Miss Reno
Classical Ballet, "Dance of the Gypsy"
Non-finalist Talent Award[ 33]
1971
Joan Burachio
Las Vegas
21
Miss Las Vegas
Accordion, "Csárdás"
Top 10
1970
Vicky Jo Todd
Sparks
20
Miss Sparks
Vocal / Guitar, "Time"
Non-finalist Talent Award
1969
Karen Wastun
Yerington
21
Miss Lyon County
Dramatic Presentation, "Lizzie" from The Rainmaker
1968
Sharon Davis
Reno
19
Miss University of Nevada
Classical Vocal, "Quando m'en vò " from La bohème
1967
Vicky Landeck
18
Miss Reno
Dramatic Reading, "Ruth, the Moabitess" by N.A. Truell
1966
Roberta Sharp
Carson City
18
Miss Carson City
Piano
1965
Kathryn Blaikie
18
Musical Comedy, "I'm Late"
Preliminary Swimsuit Award[ 34]
1964
Ellen Roseman
Sparks
21
Miss South Lake Tahoe
Comedy Skit
1963
Cheryle Thompson
Las Vegas
Miss Las Vegas
Folk Singing, "My Lover Has Gone"
Top 10
1962
Audrey Chambers
Las Vegas
19
Miss Reno
Baton Twirling, Fire Baton & Dance
1961
Sherry Wagner
Reno
19
Miss Reno
Tap Dance, "Oh Them Golden Slippers"
1960
Nancy Bowen[ 35]
McGill
19
Humorous Reading & Piano
1959
Dawn Wells
Reno
20
Miss Reno
Dramatic Reading from Antigone
Played role of Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island [ 36]
1958
Judy Wadsworth
Sparks
18
Dramatic Monologue from The Lark
1957
Loni Gravelle[ 37]
Reno
19
Miss Reno
Piano, "Piano Concerto in A Minor " by Edvard Grieg
Top 10 – 6th place
1956
Carmen Ruggeroli
Las Vegas
19
Vocal
1955
Vivienne Potter
Reno
21
Miss Reno
Dramatic Monologue, "An Address to the Jury"
1954
Janice Babcock
17
Miss Reno
Grecian Interpretive Dance
1953
Jeannine McColl
Las Vegas
18
Miss Las Vegas
Ballet, "Something to Dance About"
1952
Bonnie Wilson
Reno
Miss Reno
Ballet, "Something to Dance About"
Assumed the title after the original winner, Sylvia Russell, chose to marry[ 38]
1951
Donna Sollars
21
Miss Reno
Vocal & Ukulele, "Has Anybody Seen My Gal? " & "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man "
1950
Tosca Masini
Sparks
24
Miss Sparks
Comedy Characterization
Top 16 – 7th place
1949
Carol Lampe
Reno
20
Speech, "4-H"[ 39]
1935 –1948
No Nevada representative at Miss America pageant[ 40] [ 41] [ 42] [ 43] [ 44] [ 45] [ 46] [ 47] [ 48] [ 49] [ 50] [ 51] [ 52] [ 53]
1934
No national pageant was held[ 54]
1933
No Nevada representative at Miss America pageant[ 55]
1932
No national pageants were held[ 54]
1931
1930
1929
1928
1921 –1927
No Nevada representative at Miss America pageant[ 56] [ 57] [ 58] [ 59] [ 60] [ 61] [ 62]
References
^ "Miss Nevada" . Portland Press Herald . June 25, 1949.
^ a b Harding, Adella (June 24, 2003). "Miss Nevada: Pageant winner to be crowned Saturday in Elko" . Elko Daily Free Press .
^ a b c d Leach, Robin (July 3, 2012). "UNLV student Randi Sundquist is new Miss Nevada; Henderson's Ellie Smith is Miss Nevada Teen" . Las Vegas Sun .
^ a b "Miss Carson City named Miss Nevada, Keegan runner-up" . The Record Courier . July 22, 2008.
^ "Signs contract" . Reno Evening Gazette . December 31, 1957.
^ "Miss Nevada Day slated for June 24" . Reno Evening Gazette . March 22, 1961.
^ a b Hildebr, Kurt. "Macie Tuell named fifth Miss Nevada from Douglas County" . www.recordcourier.com . Retrieved July 5, 2021 .
^ Katsilometes, John (July 3, 2019). "Pageant winner has Las Vegas fairy-tale story" . Las Vegas Review-Journal .
^ Brunetti, Michelle (December 14, 2019). "Miss America scholarships finalists to be interviewed in public at Mohegan Sun" . Press of Atlantic City .
^ Sims, Mia (July 3, 2018). "UNLV graduate, bound for medical school, crowned Miss Nevada" . Las Vegas Review-Journal .
^ "Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin Crowned in Atlantic City" . Miss America Organization . September 9, 2018.
^ Leach, Robin (April 30, 2014). "2014 Miss Nevada and Outstanding Teen pageants are a family affair" . Las Vegas Sun . 2014 is a unique year for the Miss Nevada Scholarship Organization with three former Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen titleholders competing for the Miss Nevada title: Alexis Hilts (2008)...
^ "Andrea Martinez from Las Vegas crowned Miss Nevada" . Las Vegas Review-Journal. June 16, 2017.
^ Ray, Andrea (September 8, 2017). "Zucco wins $5,000 science scholarship from Miss America" . Sippican Week.
^ Leach, Robin (May 11, 2016). "2016 Miss Nevada America Bailey Gumm: 'It's sink or swim with that onstage question' " . Las Vegas Sun .
^ "Miss America 2017 will be one of these 52 contestants" . AL.com. September 6, 2016.
^ "2014 Miss Nevada and Outstanding Teen pageants are a family affair" . LasVegasSun.com . April 30, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ a b Clarke, Norm (June 27, 2015). "Miss Summerlin crowned new Miss Nevada" . Las Vegas Review-Journal .
^ "Miss America arrival ceremony 2016" .
^ a b c Leach, Robin (April 26, 2016). "2014 Miss Nevada Ellie Smith lands Disney contract on boat cruise" . Las Vegas Sun .
^ "Miss Nevada crowned" . The Spectrum . June 2, 2014.
^ Vance, Teri (June 17, 2013). "Miss Carson City wins state crown" . The Record-Courier .
^ Katsilometes, John (January 26, 2010). "Miss Nevada Christina Keegan's Miss America path hasn't been all pageantry" . Las Vegas Sun .
^ "Abandoned baby goes on to become Miss Nevada" . Santa Cruz Sentinel . Associated Press. July 5, 2004.
^ "10 past Nevada pageant winners who have gained notoriety" . LasVegasSun.com . June 17, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2018 .
^ a b c "Former beauty queen eyes education funding" . Las Vegas Review-Journal . January 1, 2011.
^ "Assemblywoman Teresa Benitez-Thompson" . Legislator Information .
^ Malone, Rebecca (August 6, 2001). "Miss Nevada carries abstinence message to nation's teens" . Las Vegas Sun .
^ "Miss Nevada, Miss Virginia win preliminaries" . The Index-Journal . September 17, 1999.
^ "Judges name Miss Texas, Kandace Krueger, Miss USA for 2001" . The Salina Journal . March 4, 2001.
^ Moore, Debra (June 29, 1993). "Former Plumas sweetheart is Miss Nevada" . Lassen County Times .
^ "Phyllis Hamlin: New Miss Nevada" . Santa Cruz Sentinel . July 24, 1980.
^ a b Schaff, Susan (March 28, 1973). "Miss Nevada feels pageants develop personality " . Nevada Evening Gazette .
^ "Lanky Miss Nevada is early winner" . The El Dorado Times . September 10, 1965.
^ "Miss Nevada to Quit at Y" . Salt Lake Tribune . June 28, 1960.
^ Johnson, Erskine (August 6, 1964). "Dawn definitely female gender" . The Abilene Reporter-News .
^ "Loni Gravelle is Miss Nevada" . Santa Cruz Sentinel . June 17, 1957.
^ "Miss Nevada Rids Title for her Husband" . Salt Lake Tribune . June 4, 1952.
^ Nichols, Harman (September 5, 1949). "Horse ruled in, cow ruled out in Miss America contest" . The Ottawa Journal .
^ "1948 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1947 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1946 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1945 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1944 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1943 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1942 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1941 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1940 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1939 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1938 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1937 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1936 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1935 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ a b "Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950" . PBS . Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2019 .
^ "1933 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1927 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1926 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1925 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1924 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1923 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1922 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1921 Candidates" . Miss America .
External links
Miss America state pageants
Active (1921-present) Inactive since 2019 (under Miss America 2.0)