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For the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA, see Miss Iowa USA.
Miss Iowa
Formation1924
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersDavenport
Location
Membership
Miss America
Official language
English
Leslie Moore (Executive Director)

Rachael Vopatek (President / Director of Public Relations & Marketing)

Ashley Brown (Secretary / Field Operations)

Lisa Durbin (Treasurer / Scholarships Chair)

Dapo Kolawole (Sponsorship Chair)

Jessica Patel (Judge's Chair)

Bill Lee

Sandy Koester (Competition Week Contestant Coordinator)

Andrea Riley (Princess Camp Coordinator)

Natasha Sottos
WebsiteOfficial website

The Miss Iowa competition is the official preliminary for the state of Iowa in the Miss America Scholarship Competition.

Abi Batu-Tiako of Oskaloosa was crowned Miss Iowa 2024 on June 15, 2024, at the Davenport North High School in Davenport, Iowa. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.

No contestant from Iowa has ever won the national Miss America title although two Miss Iowa Titleholders have been named first runner-up.[citation needed]

Cheryl Browne, Miss Iowa 1970, competed in the Miss America 1971 pageant as the first African American contestant.[1]

[edit]
  • Taylor Wiebers, Miss Iowa 2015
    Taylor Wiebers,
    Miss Iowa 2015
  • Olivia Myers, Miss Iowa 2008
    Olivia Myers,
    Miss Iowa 2008

Results summary

[edit]

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

[edit]
  • 1st runners-up: Joanne MacDonald (1959), Catherine Lemkau (1993)
  • 2nd runners-up: Susan Thompson (1969), Olivia Myers (2009)
  • 3rd runners-up: Lisa Somodi (1992)
  • 4th runners-up: Mariah Cary (2013)
  • Top 10: Lynda Jeanne Formanek (1968), Renee Stuedemann (1973), Lori Froeling (1980), Kerri Rosenberg (1991), Diana Reed (2008), Jessica Pray (2012), Kelly Koch (2017)
  • Top 12: Aly Olson (2015), Taylor Wiebers (2016)

Awards

[edit]

Preliminary awards

[edit]
  • Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness: Susan Thompson (1969), Catherine Lemkau (1993) (tie), Taylor Wiebers (2016)
  • Preliminary Talent: Lisa Somodi (1992), Catherine Lemkau (1993), Diana Reed (2008), Taylor Wiebers (2016)
  • Preliminary Social Impact Pitch: Bailey Hodson (2023)

Non-finalist awards

[edit]
  • Non-finalist Talent: Martha Barsness (1957), Joleen Wolf (1963), Carolyn Northway (1964), Marie Mushro (1966), Lois Koth (1970), Cheryl Browne (1971), Jean Bollhoefer (1975), Darla Blocker (1982), Linda Simon (1983), Robin Wolfram (1987), Jayna Sanchez (1990), Lisa Dondlinger (1999), Jennifer Caudle (2000), Carolyn Nicholas (2005), Anne Langguth (2010), Chelsea Dubczak (2018)
  • Non-finalist Interview: Pauli Mayfield (2011)

Other awards

[edit]
  • Miss Congeniality: Marie Mushro (1966)
  • Miss America Scholar Award: Erin Smith (2002)
  • Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up: Theresa Uchytil (2001)
  • Quality of Life Award 2nd runners-up: Nancy Van Meter (1994)
  • Quality of Life Award Finalists: Anne Langguth (2010)

Winners

[edit]
  •   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 Abi Batu-Tiako Oskaloosa 21 Miss Polk County Vocal TBA TBA
2023 Alysa Goethe Bettendorf 23 Vocal
2022 Bailey Hodson[2] Des Moines 24 Miss Metro Vocal
2021 Grace Lynn Keller[3] Island Lake, IL 22 Miss Eastern Iowa Contemporary Dance Eligible as a student and recent graduate of the University of Iowa[3]
2019–20[a] Emily Tinsman[5] Bettendorf 22 Miss Wild Rose Classical Vocal Held the title for 2 years due to COVID-19
2018 Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw[6] Rock Island, IL 21 Miss Clinton County Violin, "Chrystalize" by Lindsey Stirling Eligible as a student and recent graduate of the University of Iowa[6]
2017 Chelsea Dubczak[7] Urbandale[7] 23 Miss Metro Operatic Vocal, "Sempre Libera" from La traviata Non-finalist Talent Award[8] Later Iowa Sweetheart 2019[citation needed]
2016 Kelly Koch[9] Waukee 20 Miss Polk County Dance Top 10
2015 Taylor Wiebers[10] Clinton 21 Miss Clinton County Vocal, "Don't Forget Me" from Smash Top 12 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award

Preliminary Talent Award
2014 Aly Olson[11] Des Moines 21 Miss Scott County Vocal, "How Could I Ever Know" from The Secret Garden Top 12 Previously Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen 2010[12]
2013 Nicole Kelly Keokuk 23 Miss Metro Vocal, "Brave" by Sara Bareilles Born without left forearm[13]
2012 Mariah Cary Burlington 20 Miss Muscatine Tap Dance, "Scatman (Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop)" 4th runner-up
2011 Jessica Pray[14] Johnston 18 Miss Muscatine Vocal, "You Raise Me Up" Top 10
2010 Pauli Mayfield Davenport 24 Miss Scott County Vocal, "I Know Where I've Been" from Hairspray Non-finalist Interview Award
2009 Anne Langguth Iowa City 22 Miss Johnson County Violin, Zigeunerweisen Non-finalist Talent Award

Quality of Life Award Finalist 		Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2008 pageant
2008 Olivia Myers[15] Sperry 22 Miss Burlington Tap Dance, "Fever" 2nd runner-up
2007 Diana Reed[16] Norwalk 23 Miss Capital City Baton, "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award
2006 Emily Nicholas Clear Lake 21 Miss Cedar River Vocal, "Over the Rainbow" Sister of Miss Iowa 2004, Carolyn Nicholas
2005 Kay Pauszek Bettendorf 23 Miss Muscatine Irish Step Dance, "Tipping Wheel"
2004 Carolyn Nicholas Clear Lake 22 Miss Cedar River Flute, "The Heebie Jeebies" Non-finalist Talent Award Sister of Miss Iowa 2006, Emily Nicholas
2003 Nicole White Eldridge 22 Miss Scott County Vocal, "If I Had My Way"
2002 Stephanie Moore Okoboji 22 Miss Golden Circle Vocal, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from The Phantom of the Opera
2001 Erin Smith Bettendorf 20 Miss Mississippi Valley Fair Piano, "Toccata in E-flat minor" by Aram Khachaturian Miss America Scholar
2000 Theresa Uchytil Urbandale 24 Miss Johnson County Baton, "The Cup of Life" Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up
1999 Jennifer Caudle Davenport 21 Miss Scott County Cello, "Sabre Dance" Non-finalist Talent Award
1998 Lisa Dondlinger Des Moines 24 Miss Capital City Violin, "Hoe-Down" from Rodeo Non-finalist Talent Award
1997 Sheri Riley Clear Lake 19 Miss Cedar Valley Gospel Vocal, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow"
1996 Natasha Courter Davenport 23 Miss Mississippi Valley Fair Tap Dance, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"
1995 Jennifer Curry Muscatine 21 Miss Johnson County Vocal, "The Last Man In My Life" from Song and Dance
1994 Tammy Truitt Davenport 21 Miss Scott County Dramatic Vocal, "I Still Believe" from Miss Saigon
1993 Nancy Van Meter Burlington 24 Miss Burlington Vocal, "Stand by Your Man" Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up
1992 Catherine Lemkau Muscatine 24 Miss Mississippi Valley Fair Vocal, "Someone Like You" from Jekyll & Hyde 1st runner-up Preliminary Talent Award

Preliminary Swimsuit Award (tie)
1991 Lisa Somodi 23 Miss Muscatine County Classical Piano, "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 15" 3rd runner-up Preliminary Talent Award
1990 Kerri Rosenberg Burlington 26 Miss Mississippi Valley Fair Classical Vocal, "Ah, Je Veux Vivre" from Roméo et Juliette Top 10
1989 Jayna Sanchez Davenport 24 Miss Cedar-Johnson County Dance / Twirl, "Another Cha-Cha" by Santa Esmeralda Non-finalist Talent Award
1988 Tiffany DiBernardo Bettendorf 19 Miss Scott County Vocal, "I Go To Rio"
1987 Robin Wolfram Davenport 24 Popular Vocal, "Only You"
1986 Darcy Benton Delmar 19 Miss Clinton County Vocal, "Someone to Watch Over Me"
1985 Sherri Bowman Council Bluffs 24 Miss Nishna Valley Piano
1984 Debra Deitering Missouri Valley 23 Miss Southwest Iowa Vocal, "This Is My Life"
1983 Karri Nussle Des Moines 19 Miss Polk County Vocal, "Minute Waltz"
1982 Linda Simon DeWitt 23 Miss Clinton County Baton Twirling Non-finalist Talent Award[citation needed]
1981 Darla Blocker Davenport 19 Miss Scott County Vocal, "But the World Goes Round" Non-finalist Talent Award
1980 Jane Patton Council Bluffs 24 Miss Nishna Valley Semi-Classical Vocal, "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" from The Sound of Music
1979 Lori Froeling Keokuk 20 Miss Keokuk Flute, "Carnival of Venice" Top 10
1978 Mary England[17] Davenport 20 Miss Scott County Piano, "Spellbound"
1977 Debra Jo Scheller[18] Fort Dodge 23 Miss Emmet County Popular Vocal, "Country Girl"
1976 Ronda Frogley[19] Davenport 20 Miss Scott County Popular Vocal, "Tomorrow"
1975 Debbie Weuve[20] State Center 20 Miss Marshall County Vocal, "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret
1974 Jean Bollhoefer[21] Haverhill 25 Popular Vocal, "Starting Here, Starting Now" Non-finalist Talent Award
1973 Lynette Henninger[22] Bettendorf 19 Miss Scott County Ballet, "Color My World" & "Make No Sound"
1972 Renee Stuedemann[23] Clinton 23 Miss Clinton County Baton Twirling, "Can-Can" from Orpheus in the Underworld Top 10
1971 Judith Stephens[24] Clarinda 21 Miss Southwest Iowa Piano, Rhapsody In Blue
1970 Cheryl Browne[25] Decorah 20 Miss Decorah Ballet, "Deep Purple" Non-finalist Talent Award First African American contestant to compete at a Miss America pageant[citation needed] Cheryl Adrienne Browne was a native of Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York who attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
1969 Lois Koth[26] Alta 20 Miss Storm Lake Pipe Organ, "Toccata" by Charles-Marie Widor Non-finalist Talent Award
1968 Susan Thompson[27] Des Moines 21 Miss Des Moines Piano, Warsaw Concerto 2nd runner-up Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1967 Lynda Jeanne Formanek[28] Belle Plaine 23 Miss Newton Character Portrayal from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Top 10
1966 Pamela Ericson[29] Sioux City 19 Miss Sioux City Semi-classical Vocal, "Love Is Where You Find It" from The Kissing Bandit
1965 Marie Mushro[30] 19 Ballet en Pointe, The Dying Swan Miss Congeniality

Non-finalist Talent Award
1964 Carol Johnson[31] Ames 21 Miss Ames Folk Vocal & Guitar
1963 Carolyn Northway[32] Davenport 19 Miss Davenport Piano, "Étude Op. 25, No. 8" by Frédéric Chopin Non-finalist Talent Award
1962 Joleen Wolf[33] Des Moines 19 Miss Des Moines Interpretive Ballet, "Autumn Concerto" from The Four Seasons Non-finalist Talent Award
1961 Patti Whalen[34] Clinton 18 Miss Clinton County Vocal Medley, "I Feel Pretty" & "Tonight" from West Side Story
1960 Sally Neville[35] Davenport 18 Miss Davenport Dramatic Reading, "Mother on a Moment's Notice"
1959 Jacquelyn Baker[36] Grinnell 20 Miss Grinnell Modern Interpretive Dance
1958 Joanne MacDonald[37] Ames 20 Miss Ames Dramatic Recitation from The White Cliffs of Dover 1st runner-up
1957 Carol Fleck[38] Oskaloosa 19 Miss Southeast Iowa Dance
1956 Martha Barsness[39] Decorah 20 Miss Decorah Vocal, "Ah, Fors'e Lui" from La Traviata Non-finalist Talent Award
1955 Kay Taylor[40] Iowa City 20 Miss Cedar Rapids Tap Dance, "French Maids Dreaming of Marriage"
1954 Carol Morris[41] Ottumwa 18 Miss Ottumwa Violin Later Miss Iowa USA 1956
Later Miss USA 1956[42] and Miss Universe 1956
1953 Constance VerHoef[43] Sheldon 18 Miss Sheldon Vocal
1952 Carolyn Hill[44] Cedar Falls 19 Miss Waterloo Vocal, "You're My Everything"
1951 Nancy Jane Norman[45] Shenandoah 19 Miss Southwest Iowa Vocal, "Romance" from The Desert Song
1950 Mary Virginia Lines[46] Clarinda 18 Miss Southwest Iowa Piano / Marimba, "Stardust"
1949 Barbara Juel[47] Council Bluffs 20 Miss Council Bluffs Classical Vocal, "Strie la Vampa" from Il trovatore
1948 No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant[48]
1947 Ruth Janet Anderson[49] Oelwein 19 Miss Fayette County Vocal, "You Made Me Love You"
1946 Jacquline Means[50] Des Moines 19 Miss Des Moines Acrobatic Dance
1945 Jeanne Gordon[51] 19
1944 No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant[52][53][54]
1943
1942
1941 Lorene Snoddy[55] Des Moines 20
1940 No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant[56][57][58][59]
1939
1938
1937
1936 Carol Bailey Waterloo 16 Miss Waterloo
1935 Connie Rosefield Des Moines 18 Miss Des Moines No Miss Iowa

Competed as Miss Des Moines at Miss America pageant
1934 No national pageant was held[60]
1933 Eleanor Dankenbring Manning 20
1932 No national pageants were held[60]
1931
1930
1929
1928
1927 Geneva Roberts Storm Lake 19 Miss Storm Lake
1926 No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant[61]
1925 Dorothy Nordyke Miss Sioux City No Miss Iowa

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
1924 Alta Sterling
1923 No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant[62][63][64]
1922
1921
Notes
  1. ^ Titleholder extended to a second full year in 2020 after state and national pageants postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Photographs by Paul Cauley, 1971 Door Gunner, A Co 101st Avn
  2. ^ Geyer, Thomas. "Bailey Hodson of Berwick, Iowa, named Miss Iowa 2022". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  3. ^ a b Geyer, Thomas. "Grace Lynn Keller named Miss Iowa 2021". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
  4. ^ Kuperinsky, Amy (May 8, 2020). "Miss America postpones pageant until 2021, N.J. pageant still set for September". Press of Atlantic City.
  5. ^ Geyer, Thomas (June 15, 2019). "Bettendorf's Emily Tinsman is crowned Miss Iowa". Quad-City Times.
  6. ^ a b "Miss Clinton County dazzles to state title". Clinton Herald. June 17, 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  7. ^ a b Geyer, Thomas (June 24, 2017). "Chelsea Dubczak of Urbandale named Miss Iowa 2017". Quad-City Times.
  8. ^ "Miss America Scholarship Awards". Miss America Organization.
  9. ^ "Iowa State Student from Waukee Crowned Miss Iowa". whotv.com. June 12, 2016.
  10. ^ Geyer, Thomas (June 13, 2015). "Miss Clinton County, Taylor Wiebers, crowned Miss Iowa 2015". Quad-City Times. Davenport, IA: Lee Enterprises.
  11. ^ Geyer, Thomas (June 14, 2014). "Miss Scott County crowned Miss Iowa". Quad-City Times. Davenport, IA: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  12. ^ Geyer, Thomas (June 12, 2010). "Davenport woman wins Miss Iowa crown". Quad-City Times. Davenport, IA: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved June 23, 2015. Iowa also has a new Outstanding Teen. Aly Olson, 17, of Des Moines, who is Miss Capital City's Outstanding Teen, was crowned Friday during competition at the Adler Theatre.
  13. ^ Miss America contestant born without forearm: 'I'm just like you'
  14. ^ "Miss Muscatine wins Iowa crown". Quad-City Times. June 11, 2011.
  15. ^ "Miss Burlington becomes Miss Iowa 2008". WQAD 8 News. WQAD. June 15, 2008.
  16. ^ Geyer, Thomas; Fedderson, Dawn (June 10, 2007). "Reed wins Miss Iowa competition". The Quad-City Times.
  17. ^ "Mary Beth Finds The Key". Quad-City Times. June 11, 1978.
  18. ^ "Miss Emmet Takes Crown". Quad-City Times. June 12, 1977.
  19. ^ "Miss Scott Crowned Miss Iowa". Quad-City Times. June 13, 1976.
  20. ^ "Marshall County Wins Crown Again". Quad-City Times. June 15, 1975.
  21. ^ "The Second Time is The Charm". Quad-City Times. June 17, 1974.
  22. ^ "Scott County Gal Wins!". Quad-City Times. June 17, 1973.
  23. ^ "Clinton Gal Wins!". Quad-City Times. June 18, 1972.
  24. ^ "Southwest Iowa Girl Wins Title". Quad-City Times. June 20, 1971.
  25. ^ "Decorah's Gal is New Miss Iowa". Quad-City Times. June 14, 1970.
  26. ^ "Miss Storm Lake Wins". Sioux City Journal. June 22, 1969.
  27. ^ "Miss Des Moines is New Miss Iowa". Quad-City Times. June 23, 1968.
  28. ^ "Miss Iowa of '67 Dies in Crash". Waterloo Daily Courier. March 17, 1969.
  29. ^ "Sioux City Gal New Miss Iowa". Quad-City Times. July 17, 1966.
  30. ^ "Miss Sioux City Wins Iowa Beauty Crown". Quad-City Times. July 18, 1965.
  31. ^ "ISU Coed New Miss Iowa". Globe Gazette. July 20, 1964.
  32. ^ "Davenport Lass is New Miss Iowa". Globe Gazette. July 29, 1963.
  33. ^ "Joleen Wolf, 19, a Drake Coed Named Miss Iowa". The Des Moines Register. July 30, 1962.
  34. ^ "Pat Whalen, Clinton, is Miss Iowa". Globe Gazette. July 24, 1961.
  35. ^ "Davenport Girl New Miss Iowa". Globe Gazette. August 1, 1960.
  36. ^ "Grinnell Coed Named Miss Iowa". The Courier. July 27, 1959.
  37. ^ "Miss Iowa is Floridan ISC Student". Carroll Daily Times Herald. August 4, 1958.
  38. ^ "Grinnell College Coed is Named Miss Iowa". Estherville Daily News. July 29, 1957.
  39. ^ "Decorah Coed is Crowned". Globe-Gazette. July 30, 1956.
  40. ^ "University of Iowa Student Chosen Miss Iowa of 1955". Iowa City Press-Citizen. August 1, 1955.
  41. ^ "Crowned Miss Iowa of 1954". The Courier. August 2, 1954.
  42. ^ "Iowa Beauty Wins Title of Miss U.S.A." Toledo Blade. Associated Press. July 19, 1956. p. 2.
  43. ^ "Connie VerHoef of Sheldon is Named Miss Iowa". The Courier. July 27, 1953.
  44. ^ "Carolyn Hill Miss Iowa". The Courier. August 4, 1952.
  45. ^ "A Governor Crowns a Queen". Globe-Gazette. August 6, 1951.
  46. ^ "Marian Rees 2nd in Miss Iowa Contest". Carroll Daily Times Herald. July 24, 1950.
  47. ^ "Barbara Juel, Songstress, Captures Miss Iowa Title". Council Bluffs Nonpareil. August 6, 1949.
  48. ^ "1948 Candidates". Miss America.
  49. ^ "A Cinderella Who Dodged The Pumpkin at Midnight". Iowa City Press-Citizen. July 11, 1947.
  50. ^ "Des Moines Entry is Selected Miss Iowa". The Des Moines Register. July 2, 1946.
  51. ^ "Jeann Gordon, 19, is Crowned Miss Iowa". The Des Moines Register. August 1, 1945.
  52. ^ "1944 Candidates". Miss America.
  53. ^ "1943 Candidates". Miss America.
  54. ^ "1942 Candidates". Miss America.
  55. ^ "Miss Iowa of 1941 Eats As She Likes". The Des Moines Register. August 1, 1945.
  56. ^ "1940 Candidates". Miss America.
  57. ^ "1939 Candidates". Miss America.
  58. ^ "1938 Candidates". Miss America.
  59. ^ "1937 Candidates". Miss America.
  60. ^ a b "Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950". PBS. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  61. ^ "1926 Candidates". Miss America.
  62. ^ "1923 Candidates". Miss America.
  63. ^ "1922 Candidates". Miss America.
  64. ^ "1921 Candidates". Miss America.
[edit]
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