Miss Kansas USA


The Miss Kansas USA pageant is a competition that selects the representative for the state of Kansas in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by Vanbros and Associates, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas. In 1992, the state joined the Vanbros group, under the directorship of Miss Kansas 1998 Jennifer Vannatta-Fisher.
Kansas did not place at Miss USA until 1973, the third-to-last state to make their first placement. From then, no delegate from Kansas made the cut until 1991, when Kelli McCarty won the crown. McCarty's win makes Wichita, Kansas the only state to host one Miss USA and Miss Teen USA to win in their home state. This included two first runners-up, including Danielle Boatwright, winner of , one second runner-up, one third runner-up, and one fourth runner-up, among others. All but three of Kansas's ten placements have been runners-up.
Seven former Miss Kansas Teen USAs went on to win the Miss title, and also two Miss Missouri Teen USAs.
Hayden Brax of Leawood was crowned Miss Kansas USA 2020 on January 19, 2020 at Lied Center of Kansas in Lawrence. She will represent Kansas for the title of Miss USA 2020.

Gallery of titleholders

Results summary

Placements

Kansas holds a record of 11 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

;Color key
YearNameHometownAge1Placement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2020Hayden BraxLeawood20TBACousin of Hope Driskill, Miss Missouri USA 2011
2019Alyssa KlinzingOlathe20Top 10
2018Melanie ShanerOverland Park20
  • Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2015
  • 2017Catherine CarmichaelManhattan25
  • Previously Miss Kansas World 2015
  • Top 12 at Miss World America 2015
  • 2016Victoria WigginsJunction City24
    2015Alexis RailsbackShawnee19
    2014Audrey BanachKansas City22
    2013Staci KlinginsmithLenexa26
    2012Gentry MillerKansas City24
  • Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2006
  • Top 10 finalist at Miss Teen USA 2006
  • 2011Jaymie StokesLenexa20
  • Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2007
  • Top 10 finalist at Miss Teen USA 2007
  • 2010Bethany GerberWinfield21Top 15, Finishing in 13th PlaceFeatured in January 2011 issue of Industrial Engineer about her titleholding role
    2009Courtney CourterOlathe23
    2008Michelle GillespieMission Hills22
    2007Cara GorgesClearwater192nd runner-up
    2006Ashley AullLansing20
    2005Rachel SaundersTonganoxie21
    2004Lisa ForbesOverland Park22Later Miss Earth USA 2007, USA representative to Miss Earth 2007.
    2003Alicia CabreraLeawood23
    2002Lindsay DouglasLawrence231st Runner-up
    2001Kristie KnoxHutchinson25
    2000Tiffany Meyer25Top 5 Previously Miss Missouri Teen USA 1992 Top 6 at Miss Teen USA 1994
    1999Leah DarbyWellington
    1998Cammie MorisseauWichita18
    1997Kathryn TaylorOverland Park24
    1996Danielle BoatwrightTonganoxie201st Runner-upBest in SwimsuitPreviously Miss Kansas Teen USA 1992 2nd runner up at Miss Teen USA 1992, sports broadcaster and winner of
    1995Deborah DaultonSalina18
    1994Carol HovenkampOverland Park19Top 12 Semi-finalist, Finishing in 11th Place
    1993Tavia ShacklesShawnee212nd Runner-upBest State Costume & Most Beautiful Eyes AwardPreviously Miss Missouri Teen USA 1990 and top 12 at Miss Teen USA 1990. Later married Clark Hunt.
    1992Kimberlee GirrensWichita26Top 6 Finalist, Finishing in 5th PlacePreviously Miss Kansas Teen USA 1986, Later Mrs. Kansas America 2004 under her married name, Kimberlee Easter.
    1991Kelli McCartyLiberal21Miss USA 1991Top 6 finalist at Miss Universe 1991Starred as Beth Wallace in the NBC show Passions
    1990Rebecca PorterWichita
    1989Nancy BurrisColby
    1988Cynthia DeckerManhattan
    1987Martina CastleOverland Park
    1986Audra OckermanWichitaMother of Claire-Bailey Lee Miss Kansas Teen USA 2014
    1985Jill DenzinLeawood
    1984Elizabeth JohnsonPrairie View
    1983Renee RuchMissionJulia Renee Talge,
    Lake Quivera,
    First Runner-Up
    1982Stefani LarsonOverland Park
    1981Missy KaserWichita
    1980Lisa BoydWichita
    1979Linda ShieldsLawrence
    1978Mary BellWichita
    1977Sherry BraneWichita
    1976Deborah ViteraOttawa
    1975Robbin LoomasOverland Park
    1974Lorraine BreckenridgeWichita
    1973Brenda KopmeyerOverland ParkSemi-finalist
    1972Mona GuesnierGreat Bend
    1971Nancy BishopOverland Park
    1970Norma DeckerTecumseh
    1969Molly McGuginFrankfurt
    1968Anne LaytonBaldwin City
    1967Regina Wolfe
    1966Pat RavenscroftOverland Park
    1965Linda Bergsten
    1964Barbara Ford
    1963Diane Victoria Stalker
    1962Linda Light
    1961Dixie Cook
    1960Peggy Patterson
    1955-59No Representative
    1954Sue Ravencroft
    1953No Representative
    1952Bette Renick

    1 Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant