# Miss Orlando

The Miss Orlando has been a staple of the Orlando community since 1933, serving as an official preliminary to the Miss Florida and Miss America. In January 2023, Makaila Nichols was named the incoming Executive Director of the Miss Orlando Scholarship Competition. Later that year, Nichols took over the program as the current Executive Director, following the announced retirement of then Executive Director, David Wheeler, heading into the 2023/24 competition season. Wheeler continues to serve as Ex Officio/Advisor and Historian for the organization, providing valuable insights and guidance to the team.
The Miss Orlando 2024 will be held on February 11, 2024, returning to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
At the end of the event, Miss Orlando 2023 Madison Zavitz will crown her successor.

## Winners: Miss Category (official Miss America Local annual operating reports)

| Year | Name | Hometown | University | Placement at Miss Florida | Special scholarships at Miss Florida | Notes |
| 2024 | Amber Boykin | Thonotosassa | Warner University | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 2023 | Madison Zavitz | Orlando | Bowling Green State University | Top 10 | | Madison Zavitz was crowned Miss City Beautiful 2023 and 1st runner-up to the title, Miss Orlando 2023. Zavitz was crowned Miss Orlando 2023 following Juliette Valle's win and crowning as Miss Florida in June 2023. |
| 2023 | Juliette Valle | South Florida | University of Miami | Crowned Miss Florida 2023 | | |
| 2022 | Aanchal Shah | Jacksonville | FSU College of Medicine | Top 10 Finalist | Social Impact Scholarship Award (1st RU) Natalie Lang Athlete Scholar Memorial Scholarship | First Indian American to ever be crowned Miss Orlando. She went on to become the first candidate of Indian American descent to be a top 10 finalist at Miss Florida. All $7,000 will be going to her medical school tuition. |
| 2021 | Archie Sanders | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2020 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2019 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2018 | Michaela Mclean | Orlando | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2017 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2016 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2015 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2014 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2013 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2012 | Amanda Harris | Jacksonville | UCF | TBD | TBD | $8,000 in scholarships won at Miss Orlando |
| 2012 | Sara York, Miss Orange County | Dothan | UCF | TBD | TBD | Miss Orange County (2nd title at Miss Orlando Pageant; $4,000 in scholarships won at Miss Orlando |
| 2011 | Ashley Ramsey | Tampa | USF | Top 15 | n/a | $10,500 won at Miss Orlando |
| 2011* | Brittany Hagan, Miss Orange County | Tampa | University of Tampa | Top 10 | Miss America Community Service Award | *Miss Orange County (2nd Title), $3,500 won at Miss Orlando, formerly 2010 National Sweetheart |
| 2010 | Vicky DiSanto | Orlando | UCF | Semi-finalist (Top 15) | | |
| 2009 | Mandi Jo John | Fort Myers | UCF | | | Miss Black & Gold titleholder |
| 2008 | Lisa Van Alstine | | Rollins College | Top 10 at Miss Florida 2008 Preliminary Evening Gown Award | | |
| 2007 | Megan Clementi | Orlando | UCF | Miss Florida top 10 | | Miss Florida USA 2010 |
| 2005 | Ashley Hux | | | Top 10 at Miss Florida 2005 | | |
| 2004 | Ameigh Verderosa | Melbourne | Rollins College, Boston University Medical School | Miss Florida top 10 | Preliminary Interview Award, Community Service Award | Won $18,500 at Miss Orlando; Miss America national Allman Medical Scholarship recipient |
| 2003 | Valerie Lynch | | | 2nd Runner up at Miss Florida | Preliminary Talent Winner | |
| 2002 | Charlene Closshey* | | | Top 10; Preliminary Talent | | |
| 2001 | Ericka Dunlap | Orlando | UCF | Miss FL 2003 | | First African-American to win the title of Miss Florida; Miss America 2004 |
| 2000 | Charlene Closshey | | | | | |
| 1999 | Kristin Cimock | | | Miss Florida Top 10 | | |
| 1998 | Heidi Koscicki | | | | | |
| 1997 | Kristi Sheffield | Orlando | | 3rd runner up to Miss Florida | | |
| 1996 | Jennifer Alvarez | Orlando | | 3rd runner up to Miss Florida | | |
| 1995 | Kelli Meierhenry | | | | | |
| 1994 | Melissa Holt | | | 3rd runner up to Miss Florida | | Miss Orlando judge 2010; now Melissa Minyard; appeared in Les Misérables on Broadway |
| 1993 | Kristi Vannatter | | | | | |
| 1992 | Jennifer Ragsdale | | | Top 10 | | |
| 1991 | Christina Chauncey | | | Top 10 | | |
| 1990 | Dana Rhinehart Dalton | | | | | WINNER - Miss Florida 1990 Preliminary Swimsuit winner at Miss America |
| 1989 | Patricia Wresh | | | | | |
| 1986 | Mary Iles | | | Non-finalist Talent | | |
| 1985 | Susan Jones | | | | | |
| 1984 | Lori Block | | | 4th runner up; Preliminary Swimsuit | | |
| 1983 | Lisa Fernandez | | | | | |
| 1982 | Lynn Peghiny | | | | | |
| 1981 | Lory Mercer | | | Top 10 | | |
| 1980 | Karen Culliver | | | | | |
| 1979 | Laura Trasport | | | 1st runner up; Preliminary Swimsuit | | |
| 1978 | Kristen Tetsworth | | | | | |
| 1977 | Leslie Norris | | | 1st runner up Preliminary Swimsuit | | |
| 1976 | Patricia Perkins | | | 1st runner up; Preliminary Talent | | |
| 1975 | Donna Hatcher | | | 4th runner up | | |
| 1974 | Delta Burke | | | WINNER Miss Florida 1974 | | Miss America Non-Finalist Talent Award |
| 1973 | Joy Jones | | | | | |
| 1972 | Wanda Miller | | | | | |
| 1971 | Wanda Miller | | | | | |
| 1970 | Deborah Bacchus | | | | | |
| 1969 | Pamela Lab | | | Top 10; Preliminary Talent | | |
| 1968 | Evelyn Peterman | | | | | |
| 1967 | Cherie Bauer | | | | | |
| 1966 | Cheryl Johnson | | | 2nd runner up; Preliminary Talent and Swimsuit | | |
| 1965 | Patricia Magamoll | | | | | |
| 1964 | Lydia Laurel | | | | | |
| 1963 | Nancy Collins | | | 2nd runner up; Preliminary Evening Gown | | |
| 1962 | Becky Jenkins | | | 1st runner up; Preliminary Talent | | |
| 1961 | Connie Quinn | | | 4th runner up | | |
| 1960 | Judy Bradley | | | | | |
| 1959 | Alice Marie Pruitt | Orlando | | | | |
| 1958 | Dianne Tauscher | | | WINNER Miss Florida 1958 | | |
| 1957 | Betty Moch | | | | | |
| 1956 | Deanna Lund | | | | | |
| 1955 | Sandra Walton | | | | | |
| 1954 | Florence Winfree | | | | | |
| 1953 | Shirley Buscher | | | | | |
| 1952 | Evelyn Patrick | | | | | |
| 1951 | Marcia Crane | | | WINNER Miss Florida 1952 | | |
| 1935 | Sara Carroll | | | | | |
| 1933 | Katherine Jones | | | | | |