The Miss Michigan USAcompetition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Michigan in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by Proctor Productions.

Their first Miss USA victory was in 1990, and notable because Carole Gist was the first African-American to win the title. Following in her footsteps, Kenya Moore, also African-American, won the title in 1993. In 2010, Michigan's Rima Fakih became the first Arab-American to win the title. The most recent placement was Alma Cooper in 2024, who won the title.

Until 2012, no Michigan delegate had been previously competed at either Miss Michigan or Miss Michigan Teen USA to appear a crossover with Miss USA. Kristen Danyal became the first Michigan delegate to have a Teen to Miss crossover in Miss USA.

Alma Cooper of Okemos was crowned Miss Michigan USA 2024 on March 21, 2024. She represented Michigan at Miss USA 2024, and eventually won the title. She represented the country at Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico but was unplaced.

Michele Lewandoski of Norton Shores was crowned Miss Michigan USA 2025 on August 9, 2025, at McMorran Entertainment Center in Port Huron, Michigan. She represented Michigan at Miss USA 2025.

Gallery of titleholders

Results summary

Placements in Miss USA

  • Miss USAs: Carole Gist (1990), Kenya Moore (1993), Rima Fakih (2010), Alma Cooper (2024)
  • 1st runner-up: Kevin Gale (1976)
  • 3rd runner-up: Elisa Schleef (2003)
  • Top 6: Natasha Bell (1996)
  • Top 10/11/12: Judy Hatula (1952), Pat Glannon (1971), Marilyn Ann Petty (1972), Diane Arabia (1982), Kimberly Mexicotte (1983), Johnelle Ryan (1998), Shannon Clark (1999), Jill Dobson (2000), Kenya Howard (2001), Rashontae Wawrzyniak (2015)
  • Top 15/16: Barbara Sias (1956), Judith Richards (1960), Patricia Squires (1961), Pamela Lee Sands (1963), Susan Pill (1965), Virginia Clift (1968), Crystal Hayes (2005), Kelly Best (2007), Kristen Danyal (2012), Elizabeth Johnson (2018)

Michigan holds a record of 26 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

Winners

Color key

  • Declared as Winner
  • Ended as runner-up
  • Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
YearNameHometownAge1Local titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2025Michele LewandoskiNorton Shores23Miss Norton Shores
2024Alma Oralia Minerva CooperOkemos22Miss OkemosMiss USA 2024Non-semi-finalist at Miss Universe 2024
2023Alexis Fagan-WilliamsDetroit22Miss Motown
2022Aria HutchinsonPlymouth23Miss PlymouthDaughter of Chris Hutchinson and Melissa Sinkevics Hutchinson, Miss Michigan Teen USA 1988; and sister of Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson
2021Taylor HaleDetroit26Miss Spirit of DetroitMiss CongenialityShortest reigning Miss Michigan USA (9 months and 21 days) Winner of Big Brother 24 and America's Favorite Houseguest.
2020Chanel JohnsonSouthfield25Miss SouthfieldLongest reigning Miss Michigan USA (1 year, 10 months, and 17 days) Second longest reigning Miss USA state titleholder in the organization's history
2019Alyse MadejGarden City25Miss Garden City
2018Elizabeth JohnsonPlymouth25Miss Wayne CountyTop 15
2017Krista FergusonDetroit23Miss North Shore Bay
2016Susie LeicaLivonia25Miss Livonia
2015Rashontae WawrzyniakDetroit24Miss St. Clair LakeTop 11
2014Elizabeth IvezajMacomb24Miss MacombBorn in Albania
2013Jaclyn Schultz[citation needed]Wyandotte24Miss WyandotteRunner-up on Survivor: San Juan del Sur
2012Kristen DanyalSterling Heights21Miss Blue WaterTop 16Previously Miss Michigan Teen USA 2009 and top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2009
2011Channing PierceRoyal Oak23Miss Royal Oak
2010Rima FakihDearborn24Miss Wayne CountyMiss USA 2010Born in Lebanon Non-semi-finalist at Miss Universe 2010
2009Lindsey TycholizSterling Heights26Miss Great Lakes
2008Elisabeth CrawfordCanton25Miss East Michigan
2007Kelly BestTroy20Miss TroyTop 15Later Miss U.S. International 2008 Non-finalist at Miss International 2008
2006Danelle GayLapeer24Miss Lapeer
2005Crystal HayesRock20Miss NorthvilleTop 15
2004Stacey LeeRochester Hills26Miss Oakland County
2003Elisa SchleefSt. Joseph23Miss Great Lakes3rd runner-up
2002Rebekah Lynn DeckerFerndale24
2001Kenya HowardDetroit24Top 10
2000Jill DobsonQuincy22Top 10Michigan's Junior Miss 1995
1999Shannon Grace ClarkTroy26Top 10Semi-finalist at Miss World America 1993
1998Johnelle RyanCassopolis25Top 10
1997Jennifer ReedTaylor25Later Mrs. Michigan America 2001
1996Natasha BellBerrien Springs20Top 6 finalist
1995Keisha EichelbergerDetroit
1994Kelly Richelle PawlowskiAllen Park
1993Kenya Summer MooreDetroit22Miss USA 1993Top 6 at Miss Universe 1993
1992Lainie Lu HowardSt. Joseph1st runner-up at Miss World America 1994
1991Leann Rothi18
1990Carole Anne Marie GistDetroit20Miss USA 19901st runner-up at Miss Universe 1990
1989Karen FinucanBirmingham
1988Anthonia DotsonDetroit
1987Elizabeth PuleoGrosse Pointe
1986Lisa BernardiCarleton
1985Nancy MazuroWashington
1984Adriana KrambeckDearborn Heights
1983Kimberly MexicotteLivoniaSemi-finalist
1982Diane Marie ArabiaWarrenSemi-finalist4th runner-up in Miss Oktoberfest 1981 Previously Miss Michigan World 1980 and Top 15 semi-finalist at Miss World America 1980.
1981Karen EidsonHazel Park
1980Teena HammondsDetroit
1979Susan JamesHazel Park
1978April PatrickDetroit
1977Jenny PinksTrenton
1976Kevin GaleDearborn Heights1st runner-up
1975Debra HollandDetroit
1974Patricia LoftisDetroit
1973Linda EastWarren
1972Marilyn Ann PettyRosevilleSemi-finalistRepresented Michigan in Miss World USA 1974, 2nd runner-up
1971Pat GlannanDetroitSemi-finalist
1970Duane Marie BergenDetroit19
1969Lisa BrennerReed City
1968Virginia CliftNoviTop 15Top 15 Best in Swimsuit
1967Sonja DunsonDetroit
1966Kathlene BlascakAllen Park
1965Susan Lynne PillTop 15represented Michigan in the Miss USA World 1964, 3rd runner up
1964Johneane TeeterRepresented Michigan in the Miss USA World 1966
1963Pamela Lee SandsLudingtonTop 15
1962Judith Lamparter
1961Patricia SquiresTop 15
1960Judith RichardsTop 15
1959Susan Westergaard
1958Shirley Ann BlackFlint19
1957Sharon Moore
1956Barbara SiasTop 15
1955Martha Smith
1954Gerri Hoffman
1953Jo Ann Page
1952Judy HatulaTop 10

1 Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

External links

  • at Official Website