# Miss Montana

The Miss Montana competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Montana in the Miss America pageant.
Unlike most state pageants in the Miss America system, Montana does not use preliminary local pageants to limit entrants to the state-level competition. They accept at large contestants after an application and interview process.
Kaylee Wolfensberger of Bozeman was crowned Miss Montana 2024 on July 13, 2024, at the Montana State University Billings Petro Theater. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.
The 2024 state pageant can be viewed at this link: https://vimeo.com/1032557023/368dc2a811

## Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Montana 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

* Top 10: Joanna Lester (1962), Yvonne Dehner (1995)
* Top 15: Kay Kittendorf (1940), Patti Luer (1948)
* Top 16: Alexis Wineman (2013)

### Awards
#### Preliminary awards

* Preliminary Talent: Kay Kittendorf (1940), Patti Luer (1948), Diana Pacini (1976), Yvonne Dehner (1995)

#### Non-finalist awards

* Non-finalist Talent: Dianne Feller (1966), Debbie Reber (1974), Lilly Cruise (1981), Jenni Ramseth (1992), Laura Haller (2019)

#### Other awards

* Miss Congeniality: Carol Fraser (1949) (tie)
* America's Choice: Alexis Wineman (2013)
* Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship: Janice Frankino (1977), Julie Reil (1988), Mo Shea (2020)
* Quality of Life Award Finalists: Brittany Wiser (2010)
* STEM Scholarship Award Winners: Laura Haller (2019)
* STEM Scholarship Award Finalists: Lauren Scofield (2017), Mo Shea (2020)

## 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 | Kaylee Wolfensberger | Bozeman | 20 | Miss Bozeman | Piano - Great Balls of Fire | | | |
| 2023 | Faith Johnson | Helena | 23 | Miss Queen City | Vocal "Phantom of the Opera" | | | Previously Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2016 |
| 2022 | Alexa Baisch | Glendive | 22 | | Tap Dance "Runaway Baby" | | | Previously Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2017 |
| 2020–21 | Jessica Criss | Bozeman | 23 | - | Vocal | | | |
| 2019 | Mo Shea | Helena | 22 | - | Vocal | | Dr. & Mrs. David Allman Medical Scholarship STEM Scholarship Award Finalist | Previously Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2012 |
| 2018 | Laura Haller | Helena | 24 | - | Ballet en Pointe, "Spanish Dance" | | Non-finalist Talent Award STEM Scholarship Award | |
| 2017 | Maddie Murray | Corvallis | 18 | | Vocal, "God Help the Outcasts" | | | 1st Runner to Miss Montana Teen USA 2016 & 2017 |
| 2016 | Lauren Scofield | Havre | 22 | | Piano, "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven | | STEM Scholarship Award Finalist | Niece of Miss Montana 1986, Kamala Compton |
| 2015 | Danielle Wineman | Cut Bank | 23 | | Piano, "Pirates of the Caribbean" | | | Sister of Alexis Wineman, Miss Montana 2012 Previously Montana's Junior Miss 2010 |
| 2014 | Victoria Valentine | Missoula | 22 | | Harp/Vocal, "I Won't Give Up" | | | Previously Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2008 |
| 2013 | Sheridan Pope | Sidney | 21 | | Tap Dance, "Kiss" | | | 4th runner-up at Miss Montana Teen USA 2010 pageant} Resigned from position as special education teacher in April 2017 for inappropriate Twitter posts about her job and students |
| 2012 | Alexis Wineman | Cut Bank | 18 | | Monologue, "I Think, Therefore I Am Fat" | Top 16 | America's Choice | Sister of Danielle Wineman, Miss Montana 2015 First contestant with autism to compete at Miss America |
| 2011 | Veronika Ohlinger | Cooke City | 23 | | Vocal, "Alone" | | | Previously Miss West Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2005 Assumed the title when Chuter resigned |
| 2011 | Taryn Chuter | Corvallis | 23 | | Contemporary Dance | N/A | N/A | Resigned for personal reasons |
| 2010 | Kacie West | Kalispell | 21 | | Vocal, "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl | | | Later Miss Montana USA 2013 |
| 2009 | Brittany Wiser | Bozeman | 21 | | Vocal, "Sway" | | Quality of Life Award Finalist | Later Miss Montana USA 2011 |
| 2008 | Jennifer Hepner | Great Falls | 23 | | Raqs Sharqi Dance | | | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2006 pageant Suspended of duties on February 16, 2009, due to DUI charge |
| 2007 | Kristen Mantooth | Lewistown | 22 | | Lyrical Dance, "Beauty from Pain" | | | |
| 2006 | Christie Hageman | Billings | 23 | | Classical Vocal, "Il Bacio" by Luigi Arditi | | | |
| 2005 | Sophia Steinbeisser | Sidney | 21 | | Tap Dance, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" | | | |
| 2004 | Evangelina Duke | Billings | 20 | | Vocal, "Man of La Mancha" from Man of La Mancha | | | |
| 2003 | Amber Shipman | Glendive | 19 | | Dance, "Save Tonight" | | | Relieved of her duties on February 27, 2004, due to controversy with pageant directors |
| 2002 | Heather Rathbun | Darby | 24 | | Taekwondo Demonstration, Music from Mortal Kombat | | | |
| 2001 | Kara Svennungsen | Shelby | 22 | | Vocal, "On My Own" from Les Misérables | | | |
| 2000 | Jana LaBree | Ekalaka | 24 | Miss Southeastern Montana | Gospel Vocal, "Because of Who You Are" | | | |
| 1999 | Elissa Schwarz | Terry | 19 | Miss Big Sky | Flute, "Carmen Fantasy" | | | |
| 1998 | Delight Michelle Scheck | Helena | 21 | Miss Missoula/Garden City | Semi-classical Vocal, "And This Is My Beloved" | | | |
| 1997 | Kristen Garlock | Billings | 24 | Miss Billings | Vocal, "Romany Life" from The Fortune Teller | | | |
| 1996 | Aubrey Hiller | Missoula | 22 | Miss Treasure State | Vocal, "All the Things You Are" | | | Previously Miss Montana Teen USA 1992 |
| 1995 | Amanda Granrud | Great Falls | 23 | Miss Helena | Dramatic Reading | | | |
| 1994 | Yvonne Dehner | Brockton | 24 | Miss Western Montana | Semi-classical Vocal, "One Kiss" from The New Moon | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1993 | Erica Havig | Billings | 19 | Miss Billings | Ballet en Pointe | | | |
| 1992 | JoAnn Jorgensen | Helena | 24 | Miss Central Montana | Gymnastics / Dance | | | Previously Miss Montana USA 1991 |
| 1991 | Jenni Ramseth | Billings | 18 | Miss Yellowstone County | Classical Piano, Variations sérieuses by Felix Mendelssohn | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1990 | Karen McNenny | Missoula | 18 | Miss Missoula County | Classical Ballet en Pointe, Coppélia | | | |
| 1989 | Cathy Brewer | Hamilton | 20 | Miss Western Montana | Ballet en Pointe | | | |
| 1988 | Becky McRae | Miles City | 17 | Miss Southeastern Montana | Vocal, "On My Own" from Les Misérables | | | |
| 1987 | Julie Reil | Miles City | 19 | Miss Missoula County | Vocal, "Being Alive" from Company | | Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship | |
| 1986 | Kamala Compton | Havre | 21 | Miss Eastern Montana College | Gymnastics Dance | | | |
| 1985 | Julie Culbertson | Billings | 19 | Miss Yellowstone Valley | Jazz Dance | | | |
| 1984 | Michele Larson | Billings | 21 | Miss Rocky Mountain College | Vocal, "My Tribute" by Andraé Crouch | | | |
| 1983 | Laurie Nelson | Billings | 19 | Miss Eastern Montana College | Classical Piano, L'isle joyeuse by Claude Debussy | | | |
| 1982 | Kimberly Knauf | Billings | 21 | Miss Rocky Mountain College | Piano Medley, "Jump Shout Boogie" & "Sonata Pathétique" | | | |
| 1981 | Sue Harris | Helena | 19 | Miss Helena | Gymnastics Dance, Theme from Hawaii Five-O | | | |
| 1980 | Lilly Cruise | Miles City | 20 | Miss Eastern Montana College | Popular Vocal, "I Can See It" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1979 | Lori Conlon | Billings | 20 | Miss Rocky Mountain College | Piano, "Toccata" | | | |
| 1978 | Vanessa Ochsner | Missoula | 18 | Miss Missoula County | Popular Vocal / Dance, "Yes" | | | |
| 1977 | Sue Stanaway | Billings | 22 | Miss Missoula County | Classical Vocal, "The Doll's Song" from The Tales of Hoffmann | | | |
| 1976 | Janice Frankino | Helena | 19 | Miss Helena | Gymnastics / Jazz Dance, "The Yankee Doodle Boy" | | Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship | |
| 1975 | Diana Pacini | Great Falls | 20 | Miss Garden City | Classical Piano, "Études Op. 10" by Chopin | | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1974 | Pamela Royer | Billings | 20 | Miss Eastern Montana College | Gymnastic Floor Exercise, "Love Story" | | | |
| 1973 | Debbie Reber | Helena | 22 | Miss Helena | Vocal Medley & Guitar | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1972 | Debra DeBiase | Billings | 21 | Miss Rocky Mountain College | Ballet, "Summer of '42" | | | |
| 1971 | Nancy Harper | Helena | 18 | Miss Helena | Vocal, "I'm the Greatest Star" from Funny Girl | | | |
| 1970 | Jane Opp | Billings | 20 | Miss West Billings | Piano, Le Cavalier Fantastique by Benjamin Godard | | | Took over title after original winner, Kathy Huppe, resigned due to pageant officials asking her to stop speaking out against the Vietnam War |
| 1969 | Jeanne Meek | Bridger | 22 | Miss Rocky Mountain College | Piano, "Toccata" by Paul Ben-Haim | | | |
| 1968 | Karen Frank | Park City | 21 | Miss Eastern Montana College | Western Vocal & Guitar, "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" | | | |
| 1967 | Linda Rhein | Helena | 20 | Miss University of Montana | Original Piano Composition, "What the West Contributed to America" | | | |
| 1966 | Nancy McLeod | Kalispell | 19 | Miss Kalispell | Popular Vocal / Drama | | | |
| 1965 | Dianne Feller | Helena | 21 | Miss West Billings | Classical Vocal, "Un bel dì vedremo" from Madama Butterfly | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1964 | Merilee Miller | Radersburg | 20 | Miss Western Montana College | Dance | | | |
| 1963 | Roberta Tarbox | Missoula | | Miss Missoula | Classical Vocal | | | |
| 1962 | Marsha Thompson | Bozeman | 21 | Miss Montana State College | Dress Making & Design | | | |
| 1961 | Joanna Lester | Missoula | 20 | Miss Montana State University, Missoula | Vocal Medley, "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" & "There Once Was a Man" from The Pajama Game | Top 10 | | |
| 1960 | Lois Marie Volkel | Missoula | 18 | Miss Missoula | Classical Vocal, "Voi lo Sapete" from Cavalleria rusticana | | | |
| 1959 | Sharon D. Tietjen | Great Falls | | | Original Humorous Interpretation | | | |
| 1958 | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1957 | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1956 | Alice Jean White | Great Falls | | | Art | | | The original winner, Marjorie Edmondson, was disqualified as she was married |
| 1955 | Bertha Mae Huebl | Glendive | | | Vocal | | | |
| 1954 | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1953 | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1952 | Karen Whittet | Livingston | | | Piano | | | |
| 1951 | Patricia McGinty | Great Falls | | | Classical Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" from Samson and Delilah | | | |
| 1950 | Donna Marie Buls | Missoula | | | | | | |
| 1949 | Carol Fraser | Billings | | | Equestrian Display | | Miss Congeniality (tie) | After her horse nearly fell into the orchestra pit, the use of live animals was banned from Miss America talent competition |
| 1948 | Patti Luer | Anaconda | | | Vocal / Dance, "Gypsy Song" | Top 15 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1947 | Carol Chaffen | Corvallis | | | Classical Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" from Samson and Delilah | | | |
| 1941–1946 | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1940 | Kay Kittendorf | Missoula | | | Classical Vocal, "Un bel dì vedremo" from Madama Butterfly | Top 15 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1939 | Lucille Chouinard | Fort Peck | | | | | | |
| 1935–1938 | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant |
| 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 | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant |
| 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 |
| 1921–27 | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant | No Montana representative at Miss America pageant |