18 states that have never won Miss USA

The closest Alaska has come to the Miss USA crown was in 1964, when Patricia Marlin placed second runner-up. 

Alaska has placed four additional times in the pageant’s history, most recently with Alyssa London, who made the top 10 in 2017. 

Four of the state’s queens have won the Miss Congeniality prize, including in 2022 and 2023.

While Arizona has never won Miss USA, it assumed the title in 1980 when Jineane Ford, who originally placed first runner-up, inherited the crown after Shawn Weatherly won Miss Universe. 

Arizona has frequently appeared in the Miss USA semifinals, with three second runners-up and two third runners-up. But it has not placed at Miss USA since 2016, when Chelsea Myers made the top 15. 

Colorado was closest to the Miss USA crown in 1963 and 2010, when Rhea Looney and Jessica Hartman placed third runner-up. 

The state most recently placed at the Miss USA 2024 pageant, when titleholder Jessi Kalambayi reached the top 10. It was the first time Colorado had placed at Miss USA since 2012.

Delaware has only placed once at Miss USA, becoming the last state to ever place in the pageant’s history. 

Renee Bull broke the streak in 2015 when she made it to the top 11. She also tied for the Miss Congeniality title with Miss Alaska Kimberly Agron. 

Miss Delaware 2025 Tetra Shockley made history as the oldest woman to compete at Miss USA. The 44-year-old also won the Miss Congeniality title that year.

While Florida has never won Miss USA, it assumed the title in 1967. Cheryl Patton, who placed second runner-up, inherited the crown after Sylvia Hitchcock won Miss Universe and the first runner-up, Susan Ellen Bradley, declined to take the title. 

Florida has also had two first runners-up, and more than a dozen contestants have made it to the semifinals. The state last placed at Miss USA in 2025 with titleholder Lou Schieffelin, who made it to the top 10.

The closest Georgia has come to the Miss USA crown was in 1993, when Erin Nance was named first runner-up. Contestants from Georgia have also won second runner-up six times — in 1986, 1988, 2001, 2006, 2014, and 2016. 

Georgia last placed at Miss USA in 2025, when Savannah Miles reached the top 10.

Holli Rene Dennis almost nabbed the Miss USA crown for Indiana in 1981, when she won first runner-up. 

Indiana contestants also won second runner-up in 1966 and 2002. Indiana last placed in 2020 when Alexis Nicole Lete was third runner-up. 

The closest Maine has come to the Miss USA crown was in 2010, when Katie Whittier placed fourth runner-up.

Maine last placed during the Miss USA 2025 competition, when Shelby Howell made the top 20. She also won Miss Photogenic.

Miss Maine 2023 Juliana Morehouse made history as the first married woman to compete at Miss USA.

Miss Maryland Mary Leona Gage won Miss USA in 1957, but she was dethroned after it was discovered that she was married and had two children. Married women and mothers were not allowed to compete at Miss USA or Miss Universe until 2023.

Maryland assumed the title of Miss USA in 2012 after Nana Meriwether inherited the crown from Olivia Culpo, who won Miss Universe that year. 

Maryland last placed at Miss USA in 2023, when Savena Mushinge reached the top 20.

Montana has placed three times at Miss USA, all before 1960. 

Montana last placed in the Miss USA competition in 1958, when Sharon Tietjen made it to the top 15. 

The closest New Hampshire has gotten to the Miss USA crown was in 2000, when Bridget Vezina was named first runner-up. 

The state has placed six times at Miss USA, most recently in 2025 when Mona Lesa Brackett made the top 20.

Brackett made history as the first woman to compete in Miss USA wearing a hijab and a burkini.

New Jersey nearly nabbed the Miss USA crown in 2025 when Ivy Harrington placed first runner-up.

Contestants from the Garden State also placed first runner-up at Miss USA in 2017 and 1991, and took the second runner-up spot three times — in 1989, 1990, and 2008. 

North Dakota has come close to the Miss USA crown twice. Audra Mari placed first runner-up in 2014, as did Caitlyn Vogel in 2021. 

Vogel was the last Miss North Dakota titleholder to place at Miss USA.

Oregon came closest to winning the Miss USA crown in 2025, when Chantéa McIntyre was named second runner-up.

McIntyre, a mother of four, became the first married woman and the first mother to ever reach the top five at Miss USA.

Oregon also won second runner-up in 1976.

Miss South Dakota Madison Nipe landed the state’s best placement at Miss USA in 2018 when she made the top five. 

South Dakota most recently placed at Miss USA in 2021, when Caroline Pettey made the top 16. 

West Virginia has almost won the Miss USA crown twice. Ruth Parr won first runner-up in 1957, as did Kelly Anderson in 1984. 

The state last placed at Miss USA in 2022, when Krystian Leonard made it to the top 16. 

Wisconsin nearly won the Miss USA crown in 1974 and 2023, when Mary Lynn Cook and Alexis Loomans placed second runner-up.

The last Miss Wisconsin titleholder to place at Miss USA was Aneisha Cox, who made it to the top 20 during the 2025 pageant.

Wyoming’s closest attempt at the Miss USA crown was in 1986, when Beth King placed in the top 10. 

The state has only placed twice in the Miss USA competition, most recently with Claire Schreiner, who made the top 15 in 2010.