# Miss World America

The United States has continuously sent a representative to Miss World since its inception in 1951. The United States has won the Miss World crown three times in 1973, 1990 and 2010. Currently, Miss World America is the official national pageant that selects the contestant from the United States to Miss World.
The current Miss World America is Athenna Crosby of California, who was crowned on November 17, 2024, at the Highline Performing Art Center in Burien, Washington. She represented the United States at 72nd Miss World 2025 pageant.

## History

During the mid-1950s, the Miss Universe organization sent delegates from the Miss USA system to compete at Miss World (1953–57). Alfred Patricelli of Bridgeport, Connecticut, was the executive director of the Miss World USA during its existence from 1958 to 1977. From 1958 to 1961, the winner of Miss United States competed at Miss World. Then from 1962 to 1966 Alfred Patricelli organized the Miss USA World pageant annually. In 1967, the pageant was renamed Miss World USA and was held every year until 1977. During this time, Miss World USA 1969 Gail Renshaw was the first person to resign from the title of "Miss World USA" after competing in Miss World 1969 in order to get married. Also in 1973, Marjorie Wallace won the Miss World title and became the first American woman to win the Miss World title. Between 1978 through 1980, BBS Productions, Inc., based in New York City, was given the franchise for the Miss World pageant where Griff O'Neil was the organizer, during this time the pageant was named "Miss World America".
From 1981 to 1991, the Miss Universe organization were the license holders, and the American representative to Miss World ended up being the 1st runner-up of the Miss USA pageant. The Miss World Organization however wanted a public announcement during the finals of the Miss USA pageant that the 1st Runner-up would be going to Miss World, but they refused to do so. Therefore, after 1991 the Miss World Organization did not accept any more Miss USA 1st Runners-up.
From 1992 to 1997, Richard Guy and Rex Holt (GuyRex) were the national directors of Miss World in the United States and organized the Miss World America pageant in 1992, 1993, and 1994. They discontinued the pageant in 1995 but handpicked a representative from 1995 to 1997. In 1998, Hirsh Wilck succeeded GuyRex and became the license holder and sent contestants from 1998 to 2000.
In 2001, the Miss World organization asked Pageantry Magazine to choose a contestant for Miss World 2001 since they did not have a license holder during this year. In 2002, Jean Renard and Miss World Holdings Inc became license holders and handpicked the representative. They dropped the license afterwards due to legal issues with Rebekah Revels, whom they had handpicked to compete in 2002. In 2003, Bruce Vermeulen and Geoff Kearney founded the US Miss World organization. They chose the 2003 representative by mail-in entry and telephone interviews and in 2004 held the US Miss World pageant. In 2005, Barbizon Modeling became the license holders and organized the US Miss World pageant in San Francisco, California.
From 2007 to 2011, Elite Models were the license holders for Miss World in the United States and they handpicked the representative from their list of models. During this time, it was common to know who was going to represent the United States in Miss World a week or two before the international pageant began. Among their designee was Alexandria Mills who in 2010 became one of the few Miss World winners to have won the international pageant without winning a national pageant. In 2012–2013, Lisa-Marie Kohrs, former 2009 U.S. Representative were the national director and she handpicked from the contestants who had the charity background. It is unknown who was in charge of selecting the contestants in 1951, 1952, and 2006. In 2013,
In 2014, in an effort from Julia Morley who wanted all national directors to hold a national pageant to select the representative of their country as opposed to only designate, Christopher Wilmer, the organizer of the Miss United States pageant, was appointed as the national director of Miss World in the United States. As a result, the winner of Miss United States 2014, Elizabeth Safrit, was selected to compete at Miss World because she met the age requirements of the international pageant. In 2015, Wilmer reinstated the Miss World America pageant in order to properly reflect Miss World's age and contest requirements. Miss World America was held in 2015 and 2016.
In 2017, Lynne Scott Safrit and her daughter Elizabeth Safrit, became co-national directors of Miss World in the United States and created 'America's Miss World' and Miss Teen World America.
In 2018, Michael Blakey became the national director of Miss World in the United States with assistance from Liz Fuller. The pageant went back to being named 'Miss World America'. In December 2021, Miss World America 2018 (and then Miss Earth USA 2021), Marisa Butler, and Miss World America 2020, Alissa Andereg, along with several other former state titleholders, interviewed with Jezebel describing their time with the Miss World America organization as 'disrespectful' and 'predatory.'
In 2023, Michael Blakey lost the license to Miss World and Ekta and Sanjay Saini, the parents of Miss World America 2021, Shree Saini, became the new national directors of Miss World America.

## Results summary
### Placements in Miss World

United States holds a record of 50 placements at Miss World, being placed first overall.
* Miss World: Marjorie Wallace (Miss World 1973), Gina Tolleson (Miss World 1990), Alexandria Mills (Miss World 2010)
* 1st Runners-up: Karin Hultman (1954), Margaret Haywood (1955), Betty Cherry (1956), Dianna Batts (1965), Gail Renshaw (1969), Shree Saini (2021)
* 2nd Runners-up: Brenda Denton (1985), Nancy Randall (2004), Elizabeth Safrit (2014)
* 4th Runners-up: Mary Griffin (1953), Judith Achter (1960), Terry Browning (1974), Cindy Miller (1977)
* Top 5: Jill Scheffert (1989)
* Top 7/8: Jo Ann Odum (1961), Amedee Chabot (1962), Denice Blair (1966), Brucene Smith (1971), Brooke Alexander (1980), Lisa Moss (1981), LuAnn Caughey (1982), Lisa Allred (1983), Kelly Anderson (1984), Halle Berry (1985)
* Top 10/11: Diana Magaña (1988), Charlotte Ray (1991), Sharon Belden (1992), Maribeth Brown (1993), Sallie Toussaint (1997), Shauna Gambill (1998), Natasha Allas (1999), Angelique Breaux (2000), Rebekah Revels (2002), Audra Mari (2016)
* Top 14/15/16: Michele Metrinko (1963), Jeanne Quinn (1964), Pamela Pall (1967), Sandra Wolsfeld (1970), Lynda Carter (1972), Debra Freeze (1978), Carter Wilson (1979), Abigail McCary (2007), Claudine Book (2012)
* Top 20/30/40: Olivia Jordan (2013), Marisa Butler (2018), Clarissa Bowers (2017), Emmy Cuvelier (2019)

### Awards

* Miss World Americas: Brenda Denton (1985), Gina Tolleson (1990), Sallie Toussaint (1997), Alexandria Mills (2010), Elizabeth Safrit (2014), Audra Mari (2016), Shree Saini (2021)
* Miss World Dress Designer: Lane Lindell (2008), Victoria DiSorbo (2023)
* Miss World Sports: Abigail McCary (2007), Marisa Butler (2018)
* Beauty with a Purpose: Shree Saini (2021)
* Miss World Multimedia: Elizabeth Safrit (2014)
* Miss World Beach Beauty: Nancy Randall (2004)
* Miss World Talent: Rebekah Revels (2002)
* Miss Personality: Cloe Cabrera (1987)

## Titleholders

This is a list of women who have represented the United States at the Miss World pageant:

### Color key

* Declared as Winner
* Ended as Runner-up
* Ended as one of the Finalists, Semi-finalists or Quarter-finalists
| Year | Name | Age | State Represented | Hometown | Placement at Miss World | Notes |
| 1951 | Annette Gibson | 20 | Kentucky | Louisville | | |
| 1952 | Tally Richards† | 24 | New York | New York City | | |
| 1953 | Mary Kemp Griffin† | 23 | South Carolina | Florence | 4th Runner-up | Miss South Carolina 1952, Top 10 at Miss America 1953; Miss Myrtle Beach USA 1953, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1953. |
| 1954 | Karin Hultman | 22 | New York | Rochester | 1st Runner-up | Miss New York USA 1954, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1954 (Originally 2nd Runner-up, later elevated after original 1st runner-up was disqualified). |
| 1955 | Margaret Anne Haywood† | 19 | Arkansas | Jonesboro | 1st Runner-up | Miss Arkansas USA 1955, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1955. |
| 1956 | Betty Lane Cherry | 20 | South Carolina | Orangeburg | 1st Runner-up | Miss South Carolina USA 1956, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1956. |
| 1957 | Charlotte Sheffield† | 20 | Utah | Salt Lake City | | Miss Utah USA 1957, Miss USA 1957 (Originally 1st Runner-up, later took over after original winner was disqualified). |
| 1958 | Nancy Anne Corcoran | 23 | New York | New York City | | |
| 1959 | Loretta Powell† | 24 | Connecticut | Bridgeport | | |
| 1960 | Annette Driggers† | 15 | New York | Freeport | Did not compete | Driggers was disqualified because she was underaged. |
| 1960 | Judith Achter | 18 | Missouri | St. Louis | 4th Runner-up | Originally 1st Runner-up, later took over after original winner was disqualified. |
| 1961 | Jo Ann Odum | 19 | West Virginia | Huntington | Top 7 | |
| 1962 | Amedee Chabot | 17 | California | Los Angeles | Top 8 | |
| 1963 | Michele Metrinko | 18 | New York | New York City | Top 14 | Miss District of Columbia USA 1963, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1963. |
| 1964 | Jeanne Quinn | 20 | New York | East Meadow | Top 16 | Miss New York USA 1963, Top 15 at Miss USA 1963; 1st Runner-up at Miss American Beauty 1964. |
| 1965 | Dianna Lynn Batts | 19 | District of Columbia | Falls Church, VA | 1st Runner-up | Miss District of Columbia USA 1965, 4th Runner-up at Miss USA 1965. |
| 1966 | Denice Blair | 19 | Utah | Layton | Top 7 | Miss Utah USA 1966, Top 15 at Miss USA 1966. |
| 1967 | Pamela Pall | 20 | California | Norwalk | Top 15 | |
| 1968 | Johnine Avery | 22 | Washington | Los Angeles, CA | | 1st Runner-up at Miss World USA 1967. |
| 1969 | Gail Renshaw | 22 | Virginia | Arlington | 1st Runner-up | Later resigned to get married. |
| 1969 | Connie Haggard | 18 | Texas | Dallas | Did not compete | Originally 1st Runner-up, later took over after original winner resigned. |
| 1970 | Sandra Wolsfeld | 24 | Illinois | Wheaton | Top 15 | Miss Illinois USA 1968. |
| 1971 | Brucene Smith | 20 | Texas | Port Lavaca | Top 7 | Miss International USA 1974, Miss International 1974. |
| 1972 | Lynda Carter | 21 | Arizona | Tempe | Top 15 | |
| 1973 | Marjorie Wallace | 19 | Indiana | Indianapolis | Miss World 1973 | Later was dethroned from Miss World 1973 title, but never officially replaced by the runners-up. |
| 1973 | Lexie Brockway | 19 | Washington | Richland | Did not compete | Originally 1st Runner-up, later took over after original winner won Miss World title. |
| 1974 | Terry Ann Browning | 20 | Florida | Ormond Beach | 4th Runner-up | |
| 1975 | Annelise Ilschenko | 17 | Ohio | Middleburg Heights | | |
| 1976 | Kimberlee Foley | 21 | Michigan | Southfield | | |
| 1977 | Cindy Miller | 20 | Virginia | Chesapeake | 4th Runner-up | |
| 1978 | Debra Freeze | 20 | North Carolina | Mooresville | Top 15 | |
| 1979 | Carter Wilson | 23 | Virginia | Harrisonburg | Top 15 | |
| 1980 | Brooke Alexander | 17 | Hawaii | Kailua | Top 7 | |
| 1981 | Holli Dennis | 21 | Indiana | Fort Wayne | Did not compete | Dennis planned to get married after Miss USA 1981 contest; Miss Indiana USA 1981, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1981. |
| 1981 | Lisa Moss | 23 | Louisiana | Shreveport | Top 7 | Elevated to replace Dennis; Miss Louisiana USA 1981, 2nd Runner-up at Miss USA 1981. |
| 1982 | LuAnn Caughey | 22 | Texas | Abilene | Top 7 | Miss Texas USA 1982, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1982. |
| 1983 | Lisa Allred | 21 | Texas | Fort Worth | Top 7 | Miss Texas USA 1983, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1983. |
| 1984 | Kelly Anderson | 23 | West Virginia | Clarksburg | Top 7 | Miss West Virginia 1982; Miss West Virginia USA 1984, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1984. |
| 1985 | Brenda Denton | 21 | New Mexico | Hobbs | 2nd Runner-up | Miss World Americas; Miss New Mexico USA 1985, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1985. |
| 1986 | Halle Berry | 19 | Ohio | Oakwood | Top 7 | Miss Ohio USA 1986, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1986. |
| 1987 | Clotilde "Cloe" Cabrera | 22 | Florida | Tampa | | Miss Personality; Miss Florida USA 1987, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1987. |
| 1988 | Diana Magaña | 22 | California | Rancho Palos Verdes | Top 10 | Miss California USA 1988, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1988. |
| 1989 | Jill Scheffert | 20 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma City | Top 5 | Miss Oklahoma USA 1989, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1989. |
| 1990 | Gina Tolleson | 20 | South Carolina | Spartanburg | Miss World 1990 | Miss World Americas; Miss South Carolina USA 1990, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1990. |
| 1991 | Charlotte Ray | 24 | New Jersey | Camden | Top 10 | Miss New Jersey USA 1991, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1991. |
| 1992 | Sharon Belden | 26 | Florida | Coral Gables | Top 10 | Miss Florida USA 1992. |
| 1993 | Maribeth Brown | 23 | Massachusetts | Holliston | Top 10 | |
| 1994 | Kristie Harmon | 20 | Georgia | Conyers | | Miss Georgia Teen USA 1992. |
| 1995 | Jill Ankuda | 19 | Texas | El Paso | | |
| 1996 | Kelly Webber | 20 | Texas | El Paso | | |
| 1997 | Sallie Toussaint | 23 | New York | New York City | Top 10 | Miss World Americas; Miss Connecticut USA 2000. |
| 1998 | Shauna Gambill | 22 | California | Los Angeles | Top 10 | Miss California Teen USA 1994, Miss Teen USA 1994; Miss California USA 1998, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1998. |
| 1999 | Natasha Allas | 25 | California | Los Angeles | Top 10 | Miss California Teen USA 1992, Top 6 at Miss Teen USA 1992. |
| 2000 | Angelique Breaux | 22 | California | Vista | Top 10 | Miss California USA 1999, 2nd Runner-up at Miss USA 1999; 1st Runner-up at Miss World USA 1999. |
| 2001 | Carrie Ann Stroup | 19 | North Carolina | Cashiers | | At first the organizer had chosen Stroup for Miss World 2001, but then she was replaced by Smith due to a contractual disagreement. After much confusion, Stroup was confirmed as the U.S. representative. |
| 2001 | Starla Smith | 20 | Alabama | Dothan | Did not compete | Replaced Stroup, but a couple months later Miss World organization didn't approve her; Miss Alabama Teen USA 1999. |
| 2002 | Rebekah Revels | 24 | North Carolina | St. Pauls | Top 10 | Miss World Talent; Miss North Carolina 2002 (dethroned). |
| 2003 | Kimberly Harlan | 19 | Georgia | Marietta | | Miss Georgia Teen USA 2002, 4th Runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2002. |
| 2004 | Nancy Randall | 24 | Illinois | Chicago | 2nd Runner-up | Miss World Beach Beauty and Top 20 in Miss World Top Model; 1st Runner-up at Miss Earth United States 2006. |
| 2005 | Lisette Diaz | 22 | California | San Diego | | |
| 2006 | Brooke Elizabeth Angus | 24 | Vermont | Essex | | Top 20 in Miss World Dress Designer and Top 24 in Miss World Sports; Miss Vermont USA 2002. |
| 2007 | Abigail McCary | 25 | Minnesota | Minneapolis | Top 16 | Miss World Sports. |
| 2008 | Lane Lindell | 18 | Florida | Tampa | | Miss World Dress Designer, Top 25 in Miss World Beach Beauty and Top 32 in Miss World Top Model. |
| 2009 | Brittany Mason | 23 | Indiana | Anderson | Did not compete | Mason didn't compete for unknown reasons; Miss Indiana USA 2008, Top 10 in Miss USA 2008. |
| 2009 | Lisa-Marie Kohrs | 22 | California | Malibu | | Top 20 in Miss World Beach Beauty. |
| 2010 | Alexandria Mills | 18 | Kentucky | Shepherdsville | Miss World 2010 | Miss World Americas, 1st Runner-up in Miss World Beach Beauty and 2nd Runner-up in Miss World Top Model. |
| 2011 | Erin Cummins | 19 | Washington | Arlington | | Top 36 in Miss World Beach Beauty. |
| 2012 | Jessica Dykstra | 24 | Florida | Miami | Did not compete | Dykstra didn't compete due to Elite Model Management lost the Miss World franchise. |
| 2012 | Claudine Book | 20 | California | Malibu | Top 15 | 2nd Runner-up in Beauty with a Purpose, Top 25 in Miss World Talent and Top 56 in Miss World Top Model. |
| 2013 | Olivia Jordan | 24 | Oklahoma | Tulsa | Top 20 | 1st Runner-up in Miss World Top Model; Miss Oklahoma USA 2015, Miss USA 2015, 2nd Runner-up at Miss Universe 2015. |
| 2014 | Elizabeth Safrit | 22 | North Carolina | Kannapolis | 2nd Runner-up | Miss World Americas, Miss World Multimedia, Top 5 in Miss World Talent and Top 32 in Miss World Sports. |
| 2015 | Victoria Mendoza | 19 | Arizona | Phoenix | | Top 25 in Beauty with a Purpose, Top 25 in Miss World People's Choice, Top 30 in Miss World Talent and Top 32 in Miss World Sports. |
| 2016 | Audra Mari | 22 | North Dakota | Fargo | Top 11 | Miss World Americas, Top 24 in Beauty with a Purpose, Top 24 in Miss World Sports and Top 50 in Miss World People's Choice; Miss North Dakota Teen USA 2011, 1st Runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2011; Miss North Dakota USA 2014, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 2014. |
| 2017 | Clarissa Bowers | 19 | Florida | Umatilla | Top 40 | |
| 2018 | Marisa Butler | 24 | Maine | Standish | Top 30 | Miss World Sports and Top 18 in Miss World Talent; Miss Maine USA 2016; Miss Earth USA 2021, 1st Runner-up at Miss Earth 2021. |
| 2019 | Emmy Rose Cuvelier | 23 | South Dakota | Collins, IA | Top 40 | Top 27 in Miss World Talent and Top 32 in Miss World Sports. |
| 2020 | Alissa Anderegg | 26 | New York | New York City | No competition held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | No competition held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 2021 | Shree Saini | 25 | Washington | Moses Lake | 1st Runner-up | Miss World Americas, Beauty with a Purpose and Top 27 in Miss World Talent; Top 10 at Miss World America 2020. |
| 2022 | No competition held due to the delay of the 2021 pageant. | No competition held due to the delay of the 2021 pageant. | No competition held due to the delay of the 2021 pageant. | No competition held due to the delay of the 2021 pageant. | No competition held due to the delay of the 2021 pageant. | No competition held due to the delay of the 2021 pageant. |
| 2023 | Victoria DiSorbo | 25 | Tennessee | Pembroke Pines, FL | | Miss World Dress Designer (Americas) and Top 25 in Miss World Head-to-Head Challenge, Miss Florida Teen USA 2017. |
| 2024 | No competition held due to the delay of the 2023 pageant. | No competition held due to the delay of the 2023 pageant. | No competition held due to the delay of the 2023 pageant. | No competition held due to the delay of the 2023 pageant. | No competition held due to the delay of the 2023 pageant. | No competition held due to the delay of the 2023 pageant. |
| 2025 | Athenna Crosby | 26 | California | San Jose | TBA | Miss California Teen USA 2016, Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2016; 1st Runner-up at Miss World America 2023. |
Notes:
* † Now deceased

### By number of states

| States | Titles | Years |
| California | 10 | 1962, 1967, 1988, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2024 |
| New York | 8 | 1952, 1954, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1997, 2020 |
| Florida | 6 | 1974, 1987, 1992, 2008, 2012, 2017 |
| Texas | 6 | 1969, 1971, 1982, 1983, 1995, 1996 |
| Washington | 4 | 1968, 1973, 2011, 2021 |
| North Carolina | 4 | 1978, 2001, 2002, 2014 |
| Indiana | 3 | 1973, 1981, 2009 |
| South Carolina | 3 | 1953, 1956, 1990 |
| Virginia | 3 | 1969, 1977, 1979 |
| Arizona | 2 | 1972, 2015 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 1989, 2013 |
| Kentucky | 2 | 1951, 2010 |
| Illinois | 2 | 1970, 2004 |
| Georgia | 2 | 1994, 2003 |
| Ohio | 2 | 1975, 1986 |
| West Virginia | 2 | 1961, 1984 |
| Utah | 2 | 1957, 1966 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 2023 |
| South Dakota | 1 | 2019 |
| Maine | 1 | 2018 |
| North Dakota | 1 | 2016 |
| Minnesota | 1 | 2007 |
| Vermont | 1 | 2006 |
| Alabama | 1 | 2001 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1993 |
| New Jersey | 1 | 1991 |
| New Mexico | 1 | 1985 |
| Louisiana | 1 | 1981 |
| Hawaii | 1 | 1980 |
| Michigan | 1 | 1976 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 1965 |
| Missouri | 1 | 1960 |
| Connecticut | 1 | 1959 |
| Arkansas | 1 | 1955 |
* ↑ Ages when crowned the national title.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Took over or held the title for a brief period of time after the original winner resigned or before they were dethroned, and thus did not compete at Miss World.

### Winners' gallery

* Miss United States 2014 Elizabeth Safrit
* Miss World United States 2013 and Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan
* Miss World United States 2010 and Miss World 2010 Alexandria Mills
* Miss World United States 2008 Lane Lindell
* Miss World United States 2007 Abigail McCary
* Miss World United States 2001 Carrie Ann Stroup
* Miss World USA 1986 Halle Berry
* Miss World USA 1983 Lisa Allred
* Miss World USA 1972 Lynda Carter
* Miss USA 1957 Charlotte Sheffield