# Miss Florida USA

The Miss Florida USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Florida in the Miss USA pageant.
Up until the 2017 pageant, both Miss and Teen state pageants were held separately in different months. In recent years, the organization was decided that both pageants would compete at the same time from 2018 onwards, just like the most of state pageants in the Miss USA system.
While Florida has had number of runners-up, finalists, and semi-finalists, the state has yet to win the Miss USA title. Although Cheryl Patton, who placed 2nd runner-up in Miss USA 1967, became Miss USA after Sylvia Hitchcock won Miss Universe. The most recent placement was Caroline Dixon who placed Top 20 in 2023.
Two former Miss Florida Teen USA titleholders have won this competition, and five titleholders have also competed at Miss America.
In 2019, contestant Madison Anderson (who finished first runner-up in that pageant) would go on to become Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2019, and then competed in Miss Universe 2019, placed first runner-up to Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa. On 11 August 2022, contestant Ashley Cariño (who finished second runner-up at Miss USA 2021) was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022 and represented Puerto Rico at Miss Universe 2022, ultimately placing in the Top 5
The current titleholder is Peyton Lewis of Orlando and was crowned on July 7, 2024, at the Coral Springs Center For The Arts in Coral Springs. She will represent Florida at Miss USA 2024.

## Gallery of titleholders

* Monique Evans, Miss Florida USA 2020
* Génesis Dávila, Miss Florida USA 2018
* Megan Clementi, Miss Florida USA 2010
* Jessica Rafalowski, Miss Florida USA 2008
* Jenna Edwards, Miss Florida USA 2007
* Melissa Witek, Miss Florida USA 2005
* Kristen Berset, Miss Florida USA 2004
* Julie Donaldson, Miss Florida USA 2001
* Shannon Dupuy Bream, Miss Florida USA 1995

## Results summary
### Placements

* 1st runners-up: Marcia Valibus (1958), Clo Cabrera (1987)
* 2nd runners-up: Nanita Greene (1959), Cheryl Patton (1967), Barbara Bowser (1980), Ashley Cariño (2021)
* 3rd runners-up: Connie Ensor (1972), Mary-Margaret Humes (1975), Monica Farrell (1988)
* 4th runners-up: Nancy Wakefield (1960), Randy Beard (1966), Melissa Witek (2005), Cristin Duren (2006), Brittany Oldehoff (2014)
* Top 5/6: Shannon Depuy (1995), Angelia Savage (1997), Génesis Dávila (2018)
* Top 10/12: Susan Aileen Deaton (1971), Stacy Evans (1973), Cynthia Zach (1974), April Shaw (1978), Kristen Berset (2004), Jessica Rafalowski (2008), Nicolette Jennings (2019)
* Top 15/16/20: Kay Duggar (1953), Mariles Gessler (1955), Maria Junquera (1969), Cheryl Johnson (1970), Lissette Garcia (2011), Caroline Dixon (2023)
Florida holds a record of 30 placements at Miss USA.

### Awards

* Miss Photogenic: Shannon Ford (2002), Cristin Duren (2006)
* Miss Congeniality: Linda LeFevre (1977)
* Best State Costume: Nancy England (1963)

## Winners
### Color key

* Declared as Winner
* Ended as runner-up or finalist
* Ended as one of the semifinalists
| Year | Name | Hometown | Age | Local title | Placement at Miss USA | Special awards at Miss USA | Notes |
| 2024 | Peyton Lewis | Orlando | 26 | Miss Lake Nona | | |
| 2023 | Caroline Dixon | Palm Harbor | 25 | Miss Palm Harbor | Top 20 | | |
| 2022 | Taylor Fulford | Okeechobee | 27 | Miss Okeechobee | | | |
| 2021 | Ashley Cariño | Kissimmee | 26 | Miss South Kissimmee | 2nd runner-up | | Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022, Top 5 at Miss Universe 2022 Previously Miss Florida World 2018 as Ashley Barreto Born in Puerto Rico Shortest reigning titleholder (10 months and 11 days) |
| 2020 | Monique Evans | Naples | 28 | Miss South Naples | | | Previously Miss Texas 2014 Top 16 semifinalist at Miss America 2015, University of Texas graduate Longest reigning Miss Florida USA (1 year, 5 months, and 29 days) |
| 2019 | Nicolette Jennings | Clearwater | 22 | Miss Clearwater Beach | Top 10 | | |
| 2018 | Génesis Dávila | Miami | 27 | Miss Miami | Top 5 | | Previously Miss Florida USA 2017; see below Previously Miss World Puerto Rico 2014 Born in Puerto Rico |
| 2017 | Linette De Los Santos | Sunny Isles Beach | 24 | Miss Sunny Isles Beach | | | Originally first runner-up; succeeded the title after Génesis Dávila was dethroned Born in Dominican Republic |
| 2017 | Génesis Dávila | Miami | 25 | Miss Miami Beach | did not compete | did not compete | Davila was dethroned on July 22, 2016, after it was revealed that she allegedly hired outside hair and makeup professionals during the Miss Florida USA state pageant instead of the ones provided by the organization, which is explicitly against pageant rules. The pageant stated it gave Dávila an unfair advantage. She was later found to be innocent of the accusation. |
| 2016 | Brie Gabrielle | Palm Beach | 25 | Miss Palm Beach | | | |
| 2015 | Ashleigh Lollie | Grand Ridge | 25 | Miss Emerald Coast | | | |
| 2014 | Brittany Oldehoff | Fort Lauderdale | 24 | Miss Fort Lauderdale | 4th Runner-Up | | Model in season 7 of Project Runway Contestant on season 28 of The Amazing Race |
| 2013 | Michelle Aguirre | Hialeah | 20 | Miss Broward County Fair | | | |
| 2012 | Karina Brez | Wellington | 23 | Miss South Florida | | | Born in Ukraine |
| 2011 | Lissette Garcia | Miami | 25 | Miss Miami Tropic | Top 16 Semi-finalist | | Previously Miss Reina Hispanoamerica Cuba 2007 Top 8 finalist in Reina Hispanoamericana 2007 |
| 2010 | Megan Clementi | Orlando | 25 | Miss South Miami | | | Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2006 |
| 2009 | Anastagia Pierre | Plantation | 20 | Miss Plantation | | | Previously Miss Florida Teen USA 2004 Later Miss Bahamas Universe 2011 |
| 2008 | Jessica Rafalowski | DeLand | 21 | Miss Volusia County | Top 10 Finalist, Finishing in 8th Place | | Miss Polonia World 2010 |
| 2007 | Jenna Edwards | North Miami | 25 | Miss North Miami | | | Previously Miss Florida 2004 Miss Oktoberfest 2000 as Miss Mississippi Miss Teen All American 1999 as Miss Mississippi |
| 2006 | Cristin Leigh Duren | Panama City | 24 | Miss Emerald Coast | 4th runner-up | Miss Photogenic | Previously Miss Florida Teen USA 1997 First woman to win Miss Photogenic at Miss Teen USA and Miss USA |
| 2005 | Melissa Witek | Cocoa Beach | 24 | Miss Florida Panhandle | 4th runner-up | | Contestant on NBC's Treasure Hunters |
| 2004 | Kristen Berset | St. Petersburg | 22 | Miss Central Florida | Top 10 Finalist, Finishing in 7th Place | | |
| 2003 | Carrie Ann Mewha | Fort Lauderdale | 24 | Miss Broward | | | |
| 2002 | Shannon Ford | Miami | 25 | Miss Miami | | Miss Photogenic | Miami Dolphins NFL Cheerleader and a contestant on the third season of The Bachelor |
| 2001 | Julie Donaldson | Ponte Vedra Beach | 23 | Miss Ponte Vedra Beach | | | Hired as the NFL's first female team broadcaster in 2020 for the Washington Football Team |
| 2000 | Kristin Ludecke | Eustis | 23 | Miss Eustis | | Style Award | Previously Miss Florida 1995; daughter of Miss Florida USA 1970 Cheryl Johnson |
| 1999 | Melissa Quesada | Tampa | | | | | Miss Teen All American 1995 Miss United States Teen 1997 |
| 1998 | Jamie Converse | Gainesville | | | | | Later Mrs. Florida America 2007 under her married name, Jamie Converse-Estrada. |
| 1997 | Angelia Savage | Jacksonville | 25 | | Top 6 Finalist, Finishing in 4th Place | | |
| 1996 | Idalmis Vidal | Miami | 21 | | | | |
| 1995 | Shannon Depuy | Tallahassee | 24 | | Top 6 Finalist, Finishing in 4th Place | | Previously Miss Virginia 1990 and semifinalist in Miss America 1991 |
| 1994 | Cynthia Redding | Deltona | | | | | |
| 1993 | Shakeela Gajadha | Coral Gables | | | | | |
| 1992 | Sharon Belden | Coral Gables | | | | | Later Miss Florida World 1992 Miss World America 1992 and Top 10 semi-finalist at Miss World 1992 |
| 1991 | Rosa Velilla | Miami | | | | | |
| 1990 | Tricia Hahn | Panama City | | | | | |
| 1989 | Jennifer Parker | Tallahassee | 17 | | | | |
| 1988 | Monica Farrell | Jacksonville | | | 3rd runner-up | | Previously Miss Florida 1985 |
| 1987 | Clotilde Helen Cabrera | Tampa | 22 | | 1st runner-up | | First African American to win Miss Florida USA Later Miss World USA 1987 and competed at Miss World 1987 |
| 1986 | Kathy Rosenwinkel | Orlando | | | | | |
| 1985 | Barbi Losh | North Miami Beach | | | | | |
| 1984 | Stacy Hassfurder | Tallahassee | | | | | |
| 1983 | Janet Chesser | Daytona Beach | | | | | |
| 1982 | Lisa Smith | Margate | | | | | Previously Miss Florida World 1980 Top 10 finalist in Miss World America 1980. |
| 1981 | Valerie Lundeen | Miami | | | | | Valerie Lundeen Ely, 62, married to "Tarzan" actor Ron Ely, was murdered by their son Cameron Ely at their Southern California home on Oct. 15, 2019. |
| 1980 | Barbara Bowser | Miami | | | 2nd runner-up | | |
| 1979 | Penny Sheridan | Merritt Island | | | | | |
| 1978 | April Shaw | Lakeland | | | Semi-finalist | | |
| 1977 | Linda LeFevre | Gainesville | | | | Miss Congeniality | |
| 1976 | Leigh Walsh | Coral Gables | | | | | |
| 1975 | Mary-Margaret Humes | Coral Gables | | | 3rd runner-up | | actress best known for playing Gail Leery on the television drama Dawson's Creek. |
| 1974 | Cynthia Zach | Miami | | | Semi-finalist | | |
| 1973 | Stacy Evans | Daytona Beach | | | Semi-finalist | | |
| 1972 | Coni Ensor | Miami | | | 3rd runner-up | | |
| 1971 | Susan Deaton | Jacksonville | | | Semi-finalist | | |
| 1970 | Cheryl Johnson | Orlando | | | Semi-finalist | | Mother of Miss Florida USA 2000 Kristin Ludecke, Previously crowned Miss Dixie 1967. |
| 1969 | Maria Junquera | Plant City | | | Semi-finalist | | |
| 1968 | Leslie Bauer | New Port Richey | | | | | |
| 1967 | Cheryl Patton | North Miami Beach | | | 2nd runner-up | | Became Miss USA 1967 after Sylvia Hitchcock became Miss Universe 1967 and 1st runner up declined to succeed the title. |
| 1966 | Randy Beard | Cypress Gardens | | | 4th runner-up | | |
| 1965 | Karol Kelly | Zephyrhills | | | | | semifinalist in Miss American Beauty 1967, title of usa rep to Miss International pageant |
| 1964 | Candace Davenport | | | | | | |
| 1963 | Linda Egland | South Miami | 18 | | | Best State Costume | |
| 1962 | Sharon Conrad | | | | | | |
| 1961 | Peggy Defreitas | | | | | | |
| 1960 | Nancy Wakefield | | | | 4th runner-up | | |
| 1959 | Nanita Greene | | | | 2nd runner-up | | |
| 1958 | Marcia Valibus | | | | 1st runner-up | | Competed in the 1958 Miss Dixie Pageant |
| 1957 | Deanie Cates | | | | | | |
| 1956 | Kim Meyer | | | | | | |
| 1955 | Mariles Gessler | | | | Semi-finalist | | |
| 1954 | Rosemary Talucci | | | | | | |
| 1953 | Kay Duggar | | | | Semi-finalist | | Competed as "Miss Miami Beach" instead of Miss Florida USA. |
| 1952 | Yvonne Peairs | | | | | | |