# Miss Missouri

The Miss Missouri competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Missouri in the Miss America pageant.
Ashley Berry of Clinton was crowned Miss Missouri 2024 on June 15, 2024, at Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.

## History

From 1935 to 1970, the Miss Missouri pageant was held in a number of locations, including St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield. In 1970, the pageant was held for the first time in Mexico, which would become the pageant's home. The pageant has been held in Mexico in all following years.
Missouri has produced one Miss America: Debbye Turner (Miss America 1990). Three Miss Missouri pageant winners have won the Miss Missouri USA crown and competed in the annual Miss USA pageant, most notably Miss Missouri 2002, Shandi Finnessey, who won the Miss USA 2004 title and placed 1st runner-up at Miss Universe. Sarah French, Miss Missouri 2006, is the only titleholder who has also competed at Miss Teen USA, representing Arkansas.

## Gallery of past titleholders

* Debbye Turner, Miss Missouri 1989 and Miss America 1990
* Shandi Finnessey, Miss Missouri 2002 (during reign as Miss USA 2004)

## Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Missouri titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.

### Placements

* Miss Americas: Debbye Turner (1990)
* 1st runners-up: Edna Smith (1935), Jennifer Davis (2018)
* 2nd runners-up: Soncee Brown (1992), Simone Esters (2020)
* 3rd runners-up: Charlotte Nash (1923), Susan Wilson (1980), Deborah McDonald (1999)
* 4th runners-up: Tamara Tungate (1987), Kimberly Massaro (1997)
* Top 10: Sara Cooper (1958), Barbara Webster (1984), Robin Riley (1988), Stephanie Patterson (1993)
* Top 12: Shelby Ringdahl (2014)
* Top 15: Corinne Groves (1926), Marguerite Jordan (1926), Virginia Morrison (1940), Amber Etheridge (2004)
* Top 16: Wauneta Bates (1937)
* Top 18: Marie Marks (1933)
* Top 20: Jennifer Hover (2002)

### Awards
#### Preliminary awards

* Preliminary Evening Gown: Shandi Finnessey (2003)
* Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Tamara Tungate (1987), Debbye Turner (1990)
* Preliminary Talent: Sara Cooper (1958), Barbara Webster (1984)

#### Non-finalist awards

* Non-finalist Talent: Sharon Knickmeyer (1956), Frances Biesemeyer (1970), Heather Smith (1989), Whitney Weeks (2005)

#### Other awards

* Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship: Ann Marie Sun (1995)
* Beacom College STEM Scholarship: Simone Esters (2020)
* Quality of Life Award Finalists: Tara Osseck (2010)
* Roller Chair Parade Grand Prize: Charlotte Nash (1923)

## Winners

* Declared as winner
* Ended as a runner-up
* Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist
| Year | Name | Hometown | Age | Local Title | Miss America Talent | Placement at Miss America | Special scholarships at Miss America | Notes |
| 2024 | Ashley Berry | Clinton | 20 | Miss Kansas City | Contemporary Ballet en Pointe | | | Previously Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen 2021 |
| 2023 | Hayley Leach | St.Louis | 25 | Miss Southern Missouri | Monologue | | | |
| 2022 | Claire Marie Kuebler | Wildwood | 21 | Miss Spirit of St. Louis | Vocal | | | |
| 2021 | Callie Cox | Mexico | 21 | Miss Zona Rosa | Vocal | | | |
| 2019–20 | Simone Esters | Columbia | 20 | Miss Metro St. Louis | Baton Twirling, "Turn the Beat Around" | 2nd runner-up | Beacom College STEM Scholarship | Founded Writeous Girls, Inc., a nonprofit mentoring program that works to empower young women through the craft of writing |
| 2018 | Katelyn Lewis | Lake St. Louis | 22 | Miss Fleur De Lis | Vocal, "Memory" from Cats | | | |
| 2017 | Jennifer Davis | St. Charles | 23 | Miss Jackson | Bollywood Dance, "Naacho Re" | 1st runner-up | | Published author of children's book, Diversity Matters |
| 2016 | Erin O'Flaherty | St. Louis | 23 | Miss City of Fountains | Vocal | | | First openly gay contestant to compete at Miss America |
| 2015 | McKensie Garber | Hale | 22 | Miss Gateway St. Louis | Jazz Ballet en Pointe, "P.Y.T." | | | Previously Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen 2011 |
| 2014 | Jessica Hartman | Pueblo | 23 | Miss Springfield | Dance, "Steppin' Out with My Baby" | | | Previously Miss Colorado USA 2010 3rd runner-up at Miss USA 2010 pageant Previously Miss Intercontinental 2011 |
| 2013 | Shelby Ringdahl | Columbia | 21 | Miss Springfield | Vocal, "Defying Gravity" from Wicked | Top 12 | | |
| 2012 | Tippe Emmott | Springfield | 21 | Miss Branson | Ballet en Pointe, "Un Dia Llegara" | | | 1st runner-up at National Sweetheart 2011 pageant |
| 2011 | Sydney Friar | El Dorado Springs | 22 | Miss Branson | Vocal, "Dream On" | | | |
| 2010 | Erika Hebron | O'Fallon | 23 | Miss Gateway St. Louis | Lyrical Dance, "Dream In Color" | | | |
| 2009 | Tara Osseck | St. Charles | 23 | Miss Lake of the Ozarks | Tap Dance, "Sing, Sing, Sing" | | Quality of Life Award Finalist | |
| 2008 | Lacey Fitzgerald | Kansas City | 24 | Miss Gateway of the West | Vocal | | | |
| 2007 | Lindsay Casmaer | Florissant | 24 | Miss River City | Ballet en Pointe, "Piano Fantasy" | | | |
| 2006 | Sarah French | Columbia | 21 | Miss Mid-Missouri | Vocal, "I've Got the World on a String" | | | Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2004 Named Miss Photogenic at Miss Teen USA 2004 pageant |
| 2005 | Stacie Cooley | Liberty | 22 | Miss Columbia | Jazz Dance, "Last Dance" | | | |
| 2004 | Whitney Weeks | Chesterfield | 24 | Miss Jackson | Tap Dance, "Tico-Tico no Fubá" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | Daughter of Miss West Virginia 1961, Carole Johnson |
| 2003 | Amber Etheridge | St. Louis | 23 | Miss Northwest Missouri | Vocal, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" | Top 15 | | |
| 2002 | Shandi Finnessey | Florissant | 24 | Miss Metro St. Louis | Piano, "Bumble Boogie" | | Preliminary Evening Gown Award | Later Miss Missouri USA 2004 Later Miss USA 2004 1st runner-up at Miss Universe 2004 pageant |
| 2001 | Jennifer Hover | Springfield | 23 | Miss Springfield | Vocal Medley, "Somewhere" & "Over the Rainbow" | Top 20 | | |
| 2000 | Arron Wendel | Lawson | 23 | Miss Ray County | Modern Dance, "This Is Your Time" | | | |
| 1999 | Patryce King | New Cambria | 23 | Miss Mid-Missouri | Piano, Rhapsody in Blue | | | |
| 1998 | Deborah McDonald | Alton | 24 | Miss West Plains | Vocal, "I Will Always Love You" | 3rd runner-up | | |
| 1997 | Michele Eise | St. Louis | 24 | Miss Malden | Gospel Vocal, "How Great Thou Art" | | | |
| 1996 | Kimberly Massaro | St. Louis | 24 | Miss Mid-Missouri | Tap Dance, "Favorite Son" from The Will Rogers Follies | 4th runner-up | | |
| 1995 | Erin Phillips | Mexico | 23 | Miss Audrain | Tap Dance to Gershwin Medley | | | |
| 1994 | Ann Marie Sun | Springfield | 22 | Miss Mid-Missouri | Piano | | Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship | |
| 1993 | Amber Green | Steelville | 23 | Miss North Central | Piano, "Battle Hymn of the Republic" | | | |
| 1992 | Stephanie Patterson | Kansas City | 23 | Miss Aurora | Vocal Medley, "I Have Dreamed" & "If I Loved You" | Top 10 | | |
| 1991 | Soncee Brown | Springfield | 24 | Miss Lake of the Ozarks | Vocal / Piano, "He Touched Me" from Drat! The Cat! | 2nd runner-up | | |
| 1990 | Sherry Traylor | Mexico | 26 | Miss North Central | Vocal, "What's New" | | | |
| 1989 | Patricia Ann Meusburger | | 25 | Miss Twin Counties | | Did not compete; originally 6th place as a semifinalist, later assumed title after Turner won Miss America 1990 as all of the runners-up declined to take the title | Did not compete; originally 6th place as a semifinalist, later assumed title after Turner won Miss America 1990 as all of the runners-up declined to take the title | Did not compete; originally 6th place as a semifinalist, later assumed title after Turner won Miss America 1990 as all of the runners-up declined to take the title |
| 1989 | Debbye Turner | Mexico | 23 | Miss Columbia | Marimba Medley, "Flight of the Bumblebee," "Csárdás," & "Can-Can" | Winner | Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award | Previously National Sweetheart 1988 as Miss Arkansas Later a medical reporter and anchor for CBS' The Early Show |
| 1988 | Heather Smith | Maryland Heights | 21 | Miss Columbia | Baton Twirling, "Whistler and his Dog" by Arthur Pryor | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1987 | Robin Riley | Columbia | 25 | Miss Columbia | Ballet, "Overture" from Funny Girl | Top 10 | | Previously Miss Missouri USA 1983 |
| 1986 | Tamara Tungate | St. Peters | 21 | Miss North Central | Vocal, "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl | 4th runner-up | Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award | |
| 1985 | Lisa Coverdale | Columbia | 24 | Miss North Central | Classical Piano | | | |
| 1984 | Anna Schell | Kennett | 26 | Miss Springfield | Semi-classical Vocal, Medley from The Sound of Music | | | |
| 1983 | Barbara Webster | Jefferson City | 21 | Miss Santa Fe Trails | Violin Medley, "Listen to the Mocking Bird" & "Orange Blossom Special" | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | Later Miss Missouri USA 1986 |
| 1982 | Julie Phillips | Ava | 18 | Miss Queen of the Ozarks | Classical/Jazz Piano | | | |
| 1981 | Theresa McDonnell | Florissant | 22 | Miss Trenton | Vocal, "Let's Hear it for Me" from Funny Lady | | | |
| 1980 | Carla LeFevre | Harrisonville | 22 | Miss Kansas City | Semi-classical Vocal, "And This Is My Beloved" | | | |
| 1979 | Susan Wilson | Columbia | 21 | Miss Jefferson County | Piano, Fantaisie-Impromptu | 3rd runner-up | | |
| 1978 | Tamara Fister | Poplar Bluff | 21 | Miss St. Louis | Vocal, "Beautiful" | | | |
| 1977 | Jayne Scherder | Bowling Green | 20 | Miss William Woods College | Piano, "The Firefly" | | | |
| 1976 | Marcia Kolich | Sugar Creek | 22 | Miss Jackson County | Jazz Dance, "Everything's Coming up Roses," "On Broadway," & "That's Entertainment!" | | | |
| 1975 | Rebecca Rives | Stoutsville | 22 | Miss Kirksville | Vocal Medley, "The Trolley Song" & "Over the Rainbow" | | | |
| 1974 | Michelle Marshall | Florissant | 20 | Miss St. Louis | Vocal / Dance, "Sweet Charity" from Sweet Charity | | | |
| 1973 | Terri Dodson | Fulton | 22 | Miss William Woods College | Piano, "Dizzy Fingers" | | | |
| 1972 | Anita Columbo | St. Louis | 21 | Miss St. Louis | Vocal / Dance, "It's Today" from Mame | | | |
| 1971 | Deborah Duff | Kansas City | 19 | Miss Kansas City | Modern Jazz Dance, "Big Noise from Winnetka" | | | |
| 1970 | Marcia Mossbarger | Brookfield | 22 | Miss Brookfield | Tap Dance, "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" | | | |
| 1969 | Frances Biesemeyer | New Franklin | 18 | Miss Fayette | Art Presentation, "Talk to the Animals" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1968 | Kathleen Goff | DeSoto | 21 | Miss Southwest Missouri State College | Vocal, "I'm Gonna Live til I Die" | | | |
| 1967 | Ronnee Brunk | St. Louis | 19 | Miss Camdenton | Vocal, "I Feel a Song Coming On" | | | |
| 1966 | Janice Robinson | Marshfield | 20 | Miss Southwest Missouri State College | Skit with Piano, Vocal, & Dance, "Calling Billy Names" | | | |
| 1965 | Lesley Fleenor | Springfield | 20 | Miss West Plains | Vocal, "Hard Hearted Hannah" | | | |
| 1964 | Carol Browning | Lee's Summit | 20 | Miss Lee's Summit | Marimba & Accordion Medley | | | |
| 1963 | Judith Engelhardt | Affton | | Miss St. Charles | Classical Vocal, "The Jewel Song" from Faust | | | |
| 1962 | Sandra Lyle | Springfield | 19 | Miss Springfield | Dramatic Reading, "The Potion Scene" from Romeo & Juliet | | | |
| 1961 | Sarah Burns | Caruthersville | 20 | Miss Caruthersville | Vocal / Dance, "Put on a Happy Face" from Bye Bye Birdie | | | |
| 1960 | Dusene Vunovich | Kansas City | 19 | Miss Kansas City | Vocal, "Honey Bun" from South Pacific | | | |
| 1959 | Linda Long | Independence | 19 | Miss Independence | Dramatic Reading from The White Cliffs of Dover | | | |
| 1958 | Marjorie Critten | Kansas City | | Miss Kansas City | Tap Dance, "Opus No. 1" | | | |
| 1957 | Sara Cooper | Buckner | | Miss Kansas City | Charleston Dance | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | Daughter of Major League Baseball player, Walker Cooper |
| 1956 | Roseann Teri | St. Louis | | Miss St. Louis | Dress Design | | | |
| 1955 | Sharon Knickmeyer | St. Louis | | Miss St. Louis | Synchronized Swimming | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1954 | Carole Wilkinson | Maplewood | | Miss Maplewood | Vocal | | | |
| 1953 | Laura Holmes | Northwoods | | Miss Northwoods | Dance | | | |
| 1952 | Florence Spack | Clayton | | Miss Clayton | Vocal | | | |
| 1951 | Carol Romann | St. Charles | | Miss St. Charles | Bassoon | | | |
| 1950 | Beverly Rotroff | Kansas City | | Miss Kansas City | Vocal / Piano | | | |
| 1949 | Mary Stone | Jefferson City | | Miss Jefferson City | | | | |
| 1948 | Dorothy Smith | Kansas City | | Miss Kansas City | | | | |
| 1947 | Mary Jean Burke | Kansas City | | Miss Kansas City | Vocal, "I'm a Big Girl Now" | | | |
| 1946 | Nadine LaVerne Fugett | Kansas City | | Miss Kansas City | | | | Competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1945 | Betty Ream | Hughesville | | Miss Hughesville | | | | |
| 1944 | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1943 | Emma Jean Adams | St. Louis | | Miss St. Louis | | | | Competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1942 | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1941 | Leila Bell Wright | Kansas City | | Miss Kansas City | | | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1941 | Geraldine Koehler | St. Louis | | Miss Missouri | | | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1940 | Gloria Kathleen Gipson | Kansas City | | Miss Kansas City | | | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1940 | Virginia Morrison | St. Louis | | Miss Missouri | | Top 15 | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1940 | LaFern Mueller | St. Louis | | Miss St. Louis | | | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1939 | Margaret Ley | St. Louis | | Miss St. Louis | | | | |
| 1938 | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1937 | Mary Sue Klein | Moberly | | Miss Moberly | | | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1937 | Wauneta Bates | St. Louis | | Miss St. Louis | | Top 16 | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1936 | Margaret Price | Lexington | | Miss Lexington | | | | |
| 1935 | Edna Smith | Fayette | 19 | Miss Fayette | Piano / Vocal, "Prelude No. 20 by Chopin" & "When Day Is Done" | 1st runner-up | | Edna Smith Glenn died at age 90 on June 10, 2007. |
| 1934 | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held |
| 1933 | Marie LaTourette Marks | St. Louis | 16 | | N/A | Top 18 | | |
| 1932 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1931 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1930 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1929 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1928 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1927 | Marion Kenser | | | Miss Kansas City | N/A | | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1927 | Katherine Calloway | | | Miss Missouri | N/A | | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1926 | Marguerite Jordan | | | Miss Kansas City | N/A | Top 15 | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1926 | Ruby Wallace | | | Miss Missouri | N/A | | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1926 | Corinne Groves | | | Miss St. Louis | N/A | Top 15 | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1925 | Eileen Wenzel | | | Miss St. Louis | N/A | | | Competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1924 | Helen Moore | | | Miss St. Louis | N/A | | | Competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1923 | Charlotte Nash | St. Louis | 17 | Miss St. Louis | N/A | 3rd runner-up | Roller Chair Parade Grand Prize | Competed under local title at national pageant Married millionaire and theatre magnate, Fred Nixon-Nirdlinger, twice Shot and killed Nixon-Nirdlinger in March 1931 in Nice, France Was acquitted after successfully arguing act was in self-defense |
| 1922 | Miriam Chafee | Kansas City | | Miss Kansas City | N/A | | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at national pageant |
| 1922 | Mildred Hose | St. Louis | | Miss St. Louis | N/A | | | Multiple Missouri representatives Contestants competed under local title at national pageant |
| 1921 | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant | No Missouri representative at Miss America pageant |