Miss Arizona

The Miss Arizona competition is the pageant that selects Arizona's representative for the Miss America pageant. Arizona has twice won the Miss America title. The first Miss Arizona, Anna Marie Barnett, was crowned in 1938.

Tiffany Ellington of Scottsdale was crowned Miss Arizona 2025 on June 28, 2025, at the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, Arizona. She competed for the title of Miss America 2026.

Gallery of past titleholders

Vonda Kay Van Dyke, Miss Arizona 1964 and Miss America 1965 in 2008
Linda Johnson, Miss Arizona 1968 in 2016
Brenda Strong, Miss Arizona 1980 in 2006
Corrie Hill, Miss Arizona 2003
Hilary Griffith, Miss Arizona 2006
Nicole Turner, Miss Arizona 2007
Jennifer Smestad, Miss Arizona 2013 in 2015
Jacqueline Thomas, Miss Arizona 2019

Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Arizona 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

Miss Americas: Jacque Mercer (1949), Vonda Kay Van Dyke (1965)
3rd runners-up: Barbara Hilgenberg (1957) (tie), Stacey Momeyer (1998), Jennifer Sedler (2012)
4th runners-up: Patricia Allebrand (1960), Susan Bergstrom (1964), Stacey Peterson (1976)
Top 10: Beth Andre (1956), Lynn Freyse (1958), Pam Wenzel (1980), Debra Daniels (1983), Kathryn Bulkley (2011)
Top 15: Anna Marie Barnett (1938), Wanda Law (1947), Laura Lawless (2003)

Awards

Preliminary Awards

Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness: Jacque Mercer (1949), Lynn Freyse (1958)
Preliminary Talent: Jacque Mercer (1949), Pam Wenzel (1980)

Non-finalist Awards

Non-finalist Talent: Paula Lou Welch (1963), Linda Gail Sirrine (1973), Sarah Tattersall (1982), Lisa Mandel (1989), Tammy Kettunen (1990), Kimberly Hoskins (1991), Stacy Agren (1995), Erin Gingrich (1997), Erin Nurss (2009), Amber Barto (2021)

Other awards

Miss Congeniality: Vonda Kay Van Dyke (1965)
Quality of Life Award Winners: Amanda Murray (1994), Stacy Agren (1995)
Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up: Hilary Griffith (2007)
Quality of Life Award Finalists: Audrey Sibley (2006)
Special Scholarship: Donna Riggs (1959)
Women in Business Scholarship Award Finalists: Jacqueline Thomas (2020)
Women Who Brand Finalists: Melody Pierce (2023)

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
2025	Tiffany Ellington	Scottsdale	25	Miss Peoria	Ventriloquism
2024	Shailey Ringenbach	Phoenix	20	Miss Ahwatukee	Dance			Older sister of Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2022, Saray Ringenbach
2023	Tiffany Ticlo	Chandler	21	Miss Scottsdale	Vocal			Younger sister of Miss Arizona 2018 and Miss Arizona USA 2022, Isabel Ticlo
2022	Melody Pierce	Phoenix	26	Miss North Phoenix	Tap Dance		Women Who Brand Finalist
2021	Amber Barto	Scottsdale	23	Miss Scottsdale	Contemporary Dance		Non-finalist Talent Award	Previously Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2014
2020	No national competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019	Jacqueline Thomas	Phoenix	24	Miss North Phoenix	Piano		Women in Business Scholarship Finalist
2018	Isabel Ticlo	Chandler	24	Bollywood Dance, "JBJ" by Mahalakshmi Iyer			Later Arizona Sweetheart 2019 Later 1st runner-up at Miss Arizona USA 2021 Later Miss Arizona USA 2022 Older sister of Miss Arizona 2023, Tiffany Ticlo
2017	MaddieRose Holler	Surprise	20	Miss Peoria	Vocal			Previously Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2013
2016	Katelyn Niemiec	Scottsdale	22	Miss Tempe	Twirl Routine			Previously Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2009
2015	Madison Esteves	Chandler	20	Miss Queen Creek	Jazz Dance, "Ain't Nothin' Wrong With That" by Robert Randolph and the Family Band			Previously Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2012
2014	Alexa Rogers	Scottsdale	23	Miss Phoenix	Contemporary Dance, "Human"
2013	Jennifer Smestad	Gilbert	20	Miss City of Maricopa	Vocal, "Over You"
2012	Piper Stoeckel	Prescott	21	Miss Tucson Valley	Jazz Dance, "Man in the Mirror"
2011	Jennifer Sedler	Tempe	19	Miss Phoenix	Jazz Dance, "It's About That Walk" by Prince	3rd runner-up
2010	Kathryn Bulkley	Mesa	20	Miss Pima County	Classical Vocal, "Nessun dorma"	Top 10		Daughter of Miss Hawaii 1981, Pamela Offer Previously Miss Arizona Teen America 2008
2009	Savanna Troupe	Phoenix	23	Miss Maricopa County	Twirl Routine, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
2008	Erin Nurss	Sierra Vista	23	Miss Tucson Valley	Dance		Non-finalist Talent Award	Sister of Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen 2005, Adrienne Nurss Contestant at National Sweetheart 2007 pageant
2007	Nicole Turner	Phoenix	24	Miss Chandler	Jazz Dance, "Proud Mary"
2006	Hilary Griffith	Glendale	20	Vocal, "Don't Know Why"		Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up	Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2005 pageant
2005	Audrey Sibley	Sierra Vista	19	Miss San Marcos	Vocal, "Alone"		Quality of Life Award Finalist
2004	Katherine Kennedy	Tempe	24	Miss Twirling Athlete	Twirl Routine
2003	Corrie Hill	Gilbert	24	Miss Mesa	Dance, "Proud Mary"			Contestant at National Sweetheart 2000 pageant Later Mrs. Arizona America 2010 under her married name, Corrie Francis
2002	Laura Lawless	Tempe	24	Miss Maricopa	Classical Piano, "Revolutionary Etude"	Top 15
2001	Kapri Rose	Gilbert	19	Miss Gilbert	Fiddle, "Orange Blossom Special"
2000	Kristen Vatt	Mesa	20	Character Dance, "I, Don Quixote" from Man of La Mancha
1999	Lori Whiting	20	Miss Desert Sun	Piano, "Malaguena"
1998	Leean Hendrix	Parker	22	Miss Tempe Buttes	Vocal, "Heaven's What I Feel"
1997	Stacey Momeyer	Phoenix	21	Miss Chandler	Vocal, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from Phantom of the Opera	3rd runner-up		Previously National Sweetheart 1996
1996	Erin Gingrich	Yuma	21	Miss Yuma County	Piano, "Rhapsody in Blue"		Non-finalist Talent Award
1995	Cara Jackson	Chandler	22	Miss Chandler	Vocal, "All Is Fair In Love"			Later Miss Arizona USA 1999
1994	Stacy Agren	Mesa	21	Miss Mesa	Classical Piano		Non-finalist Talent Award Quality of Life Award Winner
1993	Amanda Murray	Yuma	19	Miss Yuma County	Vocal, "What Did I Have That I Don't Have" from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever		Quality of Life Award Winner
1992	Robyn Rayborn	Mesa	26	Miss Maricopa County	Vocal, "How Great Thou Art"
1991	Darsi Turner	Yuma	22	Miss Tucson	Ballet, "Through the Eyes of Love" from Ice Castles
1990	Kimberly Hoskins	19	Miss Yuma County	Ballet en Pointe, "Symphony of the Seas"		Non-finalist Talent Award
1989	Tammy Kettunen	21	Miss Maricopa County	Freestyle Roller Skating, "Amazing Grace"		Non-finalist Talent Award	Sister of Miss Arizona 1986, Terri Kettunen
1988	Lisa Mandel	Tucson	22	Miss Tucson	Dance, "Steam Heat"		Non-finalist Talent Award
1987	Theresa Light	18	Miss Western Maricopa	Vocal, "Somewhere"
1986	Terri Kettunen	Yuma	21	Miss Yuma County	Classical Piano			Sister of Miss Arizona 1989, Tammy Kettunen
1985	Diane Martin	Phoenix	23	Miss Phoenix	Vocal, "The Man that Got Away" & "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret			Later Miss Arizona USA 1987 2nd runner-up at Miss USA 1987 pageant
1984	Rhonda White	Central	20	Miss Graham County	Country Vocal Medley
1983	Jennifer Nichols	Tempe	22	Miss Glendale	Classical Vocal, "Glitter and Be Gay"
1982	Debra Daniels	Yuma	20	Miss Yuma County	Free Form Gymnastics, "Chariots of Fire"	Top 10
1981	Sarah Tattersall	Scottsdale	20	Miss Scottsdale	Vocal, "Maybe This Time" & "The Man That Got Away" from Cabaret		Non-finalist Talent Award
1980	Brenda Strong	Tempe	20	Miss Valley West	Vocal, "My Man" & "What Did I Have That I Don't Have"			Played character and narrator, Mary Alice Young, in the TV series, Desperate Housewives[citation needed]
1979	Pam Wenzel	Phoenix	22	Miss North Central Phoenix	Acrobatic Gymnastic Dance, "Theme from Children of Sanchez"	Top 10	Preliminary Talent Award
1978	Susan Kohler	Tempe	23	Miss Arizona State University	Vocal & Dance, "Theme from New York, New York"
1977	Cindy Glenn	Globe	18	Miss Globe	Popular Vocal, "Nothing Can Stop Me Now"
1976	Anne DeVarennes	Tucson	22	Miss Tucson	Vocal, "As Long as He Needs Me" from Oliver!
1975	Vickie Hall	Sierra Vista		Miss Sierra Vista		N/A	Successor to crown when Peterson resigned
Stacey Peterson	Phoenix	21	Miss Tucson	Ventriloquism, "Yankee Doodle"	4th runner-up
1974	Mary Avilla	Glendale	20	Miss Maryvale	Popular Vocal, "Best Thing You've Ever Done"
1973	Susan May	Kingman	19	Miss Coconino County	Piano Medley, "The Glory of Love," "Laura," & "On the Sunny Side of the Street"
1972	Linda Gail Sirrine	Mesa	19	Miss Mesa	Popular Vocal, "Happy Heart"		Non-finalist Talent Award
1971	Celia Sklan	Scottsdale	22	Miss Scottsdale	Dramatic Skit & Song, "English Pub"
1970	Karen Joy Shields	Tucson	19	Miss University of Arizona	Dance and Vocal Medley from My Fair Lady
1969	Kathleen Ennis	20	Miss Tucson	Original Comedy Monologue, "Interview with Cleopatra, Shirley Temple, and Tiny Tim"
1968	Linda Johnson	Warren	20	Miss Cochise County	Authentic Tahitian Dance			Previously Arizona's Junior Miss 1966
1967	Bea Willis	Phoenix	19	Miss Phoenix	Vocal, "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" from My Fair Lady
1966	Launa Gardner	Holbrook	19	Miss Holbrook	Piano
1965	Sandra Montgomery	Yuma	18	Miss Yuma County	Vocal, "Once In a Lifetime" & "I Love Being Here With You"
1964	Vonda Kay Van Dyke	Phoenix	22	Miss Phoenix	Ventriloquism, "Together (Wherever We Go)"	Winner	Miss Congeniality	Semi-finalist at America's Junior Miss 1961 pageant Only Miss America winner to also be named Miss Congeniality
1963	Susan Bergstrom	Phoenix		Miss Phoenix	Modern Jazz Dance, "Tonight"	4th runner-up
1962	Paula Lou Welch	Tucson	20	Miss Tucson	Fire Baton Twirling		Non-finalist Talent Award
1961	Susan Webb	Prescott	19	Miss Prescott	Original Dramatic Composition, "My Heritage: The Stars"
1960	Georgia Ann Garbarino	Flagstaff	18	Miss Flagstaff	Modern Dance Impression, An American in Paris
1959	Patricia Allebrand	Yuma	18	Miss Yuma County	Modern Dance, "Interpretation of Rejected Love"	4th runner-up
1958	Donna Riggs	Phoenix		Miss Phoenix	Vocal / Dance, "Teacher's Pet"		Special Scholarship Award
1957	Lynn Freyse	Tucson		Miss Tucson	Dramatic Reading from The Country Girl	Top 10	Preliminary Swimsuit Award	Later starred in TV series Hazel[citation needed]
1956	Barbara Hilgenberg	Tucson		Miss Tucson	Monologue, "End and the Beginning" by John Mansfield	3rd runner-up (tie)
1955	Beth Andre	Phoenix		Miss Maricopa County	Comic Monologue, "What Do I Do Now, Mr. McLeod?"	Top 10
1954	Marjorie Nylund	Phoenix		Miss Phoenix	Dramatic Reading, "A Marine's Conversation"
1953	Betty Lou Lindly	Tempe		Miss Tempe	Piano
1952	No Arizona representative at Miss America pageant
1951
1950	Kathryn Lunsford	Phoenix		Miss Phoenix	Modern Dance
1949	Jacque Mercer	Litchfield	18	Miss Litchfield	Dramatic Reading from Romeo and Juliet	Winner	Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award Preliminary Talent Award
1948	Donna McElroy	Phoenix		Miss Phoenix	Dramatic Monologue
1947	Wanda Law	Tempe		Miss Tempe		Top 15
1946	No Arizona representative at Miss America pageant
1945
1944
1943
1942
1941
1940	Anna Marie Barnett
1939	No Arizona representative at Miss America pageant
1938	Anna Marie Barnett	Bisbee		Miss Bisbee		Top 15
1934	No national pageant was held
1933	No Arizona representative at Miss America pageant
1932	No national pageants were held
1931
1930
1929
1928
1927	No Arizona representative at Miss America pageant
1926
1925
1924
1923
1922
1921