# Miss Kentucky USA

The Miss Kentucky USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Kentucky in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by Proctor Productions and it was formerly directed by Connie Clark Harrison, Miss Kentucky USA 1976.
Tara Conner became the first Kentucky delegate to win Miss USA, after being crowned Miss USA 2006. She later finished as fourth runner-up at Miss Universe 2006. Elle Smith later became the second Kentucky delegate to win Miss USA, being crowned Miss USA 2021.
Three Miss Kentucky USA titleholders have also held the Miss Kentucky Teen USA title and competed at Miss Teen USA, including Conner. Two Miss Kentucky USA titleholders have also competed at Miss America, with one representing Wyoming.
Connor Perry of Lexington was crowned Miss Kentucky USA 2024 on May 19, 2024, at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset. She will represent Kentucky for the title of Miss USA 2024.

## Media coverage

In 2006, it was reported that Miss Kentucky USA 2002, Elizabeth Arnold was in a relationship with celebrity Nick Lachey. That same year Tara Conner became the first Kentucky delegate to win the Miss USA title, putting Kentucky in the top five for the second consecutive year, after Kristen Johnson placed 2nd runner-up in 2005. She later came under intense scrutiny when it was revealed that she had been drinking underage, tested positive for the use of cocaine, and kissed Miss Teen USA Katie Blair, among other things. Conner was allowed to keep her title, but was ordered into rehab for one month. After her rehab session, she resumed her reign until her year was completed.
In 2008, Miss Kentucky USA Alysha Harris was involved in an incident involving photos in which she was photographed dancing with New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss in a manner some saw as sexually suggestive.

## Results summary
### Placements

* Miss USA: Tara Conner (2006), Elle Smith (2021)
* 1st runners-up: Connor Perry (2024)
* 2nd runners-up: Kristen Johnson (2005)
* 3rd runners-up: Julie Andrus (1965)
* 4th runners-up: Johanna Reid (1964), Patricia Barnstable (1971), Lisa Devillez (1980), Kristina Leah Chapman (1982), Maria Montgomery (2009)
* Top 6: Tiffany Tenfelde (1990), Angela Hines (1992)
* Top 11/12: Carol Wallace (1975), Mitzi Jones (1995), Katie George (2015)
* Top 15/20: Mary Ann Stice (1953), Marcia Chumbler (1961)
Kentucky holds a record of 16 placements at Miss USA.

### Awards

* Miss Congeniality: June Pinkley (1968), Connie Clark (1976), Kia Hampton (2011)
* Miss Photogenic: Robyn Overby (1985)
* Best State Costume: Charlesy Gulick (1974)

## Winners
### Color key

* Declared as Winner
* Ended as runner-up
* Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
| Year | Name | Hometown | Age$^1$ | Local title | Placement at Miss USA | Special awards at Miss USA | Notes |
| 2024 | Connor Perry | Lexington | 23 | Miss Heart of Lexington | 1st Runner-up | | |
| 2023 | Madalyne Kinnett | Lexington | 21 | Miss Greater Lexington | | | |
| 2022 | Elizabeth "Lizzy" Neutz | Louisville | 22 | Miss Greater Louisville | | | |
| 2021 | Elle Smith | Louisville | 23 | Miss Germantown | Miss USA 2021 | | Top 10 at Miss Universe 2021 |
| 2020 | Lexie Iles | Louisville | 23 | Miss Louisville | | | Previously Miss Ohio Teen United States 2016 (top 15 at Miss Teen United States 2016) |
| 2019 | Jordan Weiter | Louisville | 22 | Miss Bluegrass | | | |
| 2018 | Braea Tilford | Louisville | 25 | Miss Jefferson County | | | |
| 2017 | Madelynne Myers | Louisville | 22 | Miss Louisville | | | |
| 2016 | Kyle Hornback | Louisville | 20 | Miss Louisville | | | |
| 2015 | Katie George | Louisville | 21 | Miss Louisville | Top 11 | | Advanced to top 11 as fan vote winner |
| 2014 | Destin Kincer | Whitesburg | 21 | Miss Keeneland | | | |
| 2013 | Allie Leggett | McCreary County | 19 | Miss Lake Cumberland | | | December 2017 Playboy Playmate of the Month |
| 2012 | Amanda Mertz | Louisville | 25 | Miss Louisville | | | Monster Energy Girl |
| 2011 | Kia Hampton | Louisville | 21 | | | Miss Congeniality | Later Pussycat Dolls member |
| 2010 | Kindra Clark | Mt. Washington | 19 | | | | |
| 2009 | Maria Montgomery | Danville | 19 | | 4th runner-up | | |
| 2008 | Alysha Harris | Carrollton | 20 | | | | Later represented Kentucky at Miss United States International 2020 |
| 2007 | Michelle Banzer | Louisville | 24 | | | | First minority woman to win state pageant |
| 2006 | Tara Conner | Russell Springs | 20 | | Miss USA 2006 | | Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2002 (2nd runner-up & Best in Swimsuit at Miss Teen USA 2002) 4th runner-up at Miss Universe 2006 |
| 2005 | Kristen Johnson | Slaughters | 23 | | 2nd runner-up | | Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2000 (2nd runner-up & Miss Photogenic at Miss Teen USA 2000) Contestant on Fear Factor in 2005 on the Miss USA episode #5.29 |
| 2004 | Lauren Stengel | Louisville | 22 | | | | |
| 2003 | Lori Mitchell | Scottsville | 21 | | | | Reporter for WRCB in Chattanooga |
| 2002 | Elizabeth Arnold | Columbia | 24 | | | | Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 1998 Appears on The Real Housewives of Orange County |
| 2001 | Jo Pritchard | Hardin | 20 | | | | |
| 2000 | Jolene Youngster | Glasgow | 18 | | | | |
| 1999 | Lori Menshouse | Ashland | 25 | | | | Previously Miss Kentucky 1997 |
| 1998 | Nancy Bradley | Franklin | 23 | | | | |
| 1997 | Rachyl Hoskins | Liberty | 22 | | | | |
| 1996 | Lorie West | Campbellsville | 22 | | | | |
| 1995 | Mitzi Jones | White Plains | 22 | | Semi-finalist, finishing in 8th Place | | |
| 1994 | Kim Buford | Paducah | 26 | | | | |
| 1993 | Karen Gibson | Kevil | | | | | |
| 1992 | Angela Hines | Maysville | | | Finalist, finishing in 5th place | | |
| 1991 | Susan Farris | Benton | 24 | | | Runner-up state costume | |
| 1990 | Tiffany Tenfelde | Lakeside Park | | | Top 6 finalist | | |
| 1989 | Veronica Hensley | Danville | | | | | |
| 1988 | Suzanne Pitman | Murray | | | | | |
| 1987 | Beth Ann Clark | Mayfield | 21 | | | | Guinness Beer Spokesmodel, Swimwear Illustrated Cover Model of the Year 1989, Mrs. Kentucky United States 1999, Mrs. Georgia America 2001 |
| 1986 | Jackie Taylor | Paducah | | | | | |
| 1985 | Robin Overby | Calvert City | | | | Miss Photogenic | 1st runner-up at Miss World USA 1979 |
| 1984 | Tammy Melendez | Murray | 25 | | | | |
| 1983 | Lee Ann Austin | Benton | | | | | |
| 1982 | Kristina Leah Chapman | Owensboro | 19 | | 4th runner-up | | |
| 1981 | Denise Gibbs | Paducah | | | | | |
| 1980 | Lisa Devillez | Owensboro | | | 4th runner-up | | |
| 1979 | Linda Passmore | Hopkinsville | | | | | |
| 1978 | Linda Woodruff | Louisville | | | | | |
| 1977 | Sandy Smith | Princeton | | | | | |
| 1976 | Connie Clark | Benton | | | | Miss Congeniality | Former director of the Miss Kentucky USA and Miss Kentucky Teen USA pageants under her married name, Connie Clark-Harrison |
| 1975 | Carol June Wallace | Somerset | 23 | | Semi-finalist | | Later Miss Wyoming 1976, mother of Miss Kentucky 2002, Mary Catherine Correll |
| 1974 | Charlesy Gulick | Williamstown | | | | Best State Costume | |
| 1973 | Nancy Coplen | Mayfield | | | | | |
| 1972 | Tamara Branstetter | Summer Shade | | | | | |
| 1971 | Patricia Barnstable | Louisville | | | 4th runner-up | | |
| 1970 | Joanna Smith | Morgantown | | | | | |
| 1969 | Regina Pryor | | | | | | |
| 1968 | Kay Pinkley | | | | | Miss Congeniality | |
| 1967 | Debbie Dibble | | | | | | |
| 1966 | Jennifer Burcham | | | | | | |
| 1965 | Julie Andrus | Mayfield | | | 3rd runner-up | | |
| 1964 | Johanna Reid | | | | 4th runner-up | | |
| 1963 | Mary Ann Arnold | | | | | | |
| 1962 | Sally Margaret Carter | Lowes | | | | | |
| 1961 | Marcia Chumbler | Mayfield | | | Semi-finalist | | |
| 1960 | Barbara Joan Lovins | | | | | | |
| 1959 | Sherree Owens | | | | | | |
| 1958 | Shannon Beasley | | | | | | |
| 1955-57 | Did not compete | | | | | | |
| 1954 | Nikki Horner | | | | | | |
| 1953 | Mary Stice | | | | Semi-finalist | | |
| 1952 | Jean Tingle | | | | | | |
$^1$ Age at the time of the Miss Kentucky USA pageant