# Miss Kansas

The Miss Kansas competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the US state of Kansas in the Miss America pageant. Kansas has won the Miss America crown on three occasions.
Alexis Smith was crowned Miss Kansas 2024 on June 8, 2024, at Dennis Lesh Sports Arena at Pratt Community College in Pratt. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.

## Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Kansas 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: Deborah Irene Bryant (1966), Debra Dene Barnes (1968), Tara Dawn Holland (1997)
* 2nd runners-up: Michelle Elaine Whitson (1980)
* 3rd runners-up: Vera June Ralston (1948), Mary Ann McGrew (1957) (tie), Pamela McKelvy (1993)
* Top 10: Sandy Rings (1972), Cynthia Sikes (1973), Lori Ann Bergen (1979), Robbin Lee Wasson (1992), Trisha Schaffer (1995), Amy Keller (1996), Megan Bushell (2005), Theresa Vail (2014)
* Top 11: Courtney Wages (2024)
* Top 15: Shirley Hargiss (1949), Annika Wooton (2020)
* Top 16: Lucia Benton (1937)

### Awards
#### Preliminary awards

* Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Vera June Ralston (1948), Deborah Irene Bryant (1966), Debra Dene Barnes (1968), Cynthia Sikes (1973), Karen Dianne Smith (1975), Amy Keller (1996), Tara Dawn Holland (1997)
* Preliminary Talent: Sandy Rings (1972), Lori Ann Bergen (1979), Pamela McKelvy (1993), Trisha Schaffer (1995)

#### Non-finalist awards

* Non-finalist Talent: Sharon O'Neal (1960), Karen Raye Schwartz (1964), Karen Diane Smith (1975), Jill Dirks (1978), Laura Lynn Watters (1984), Kimberly Dugger (1991), Angelea Busby (2004), Annika Wooton (2020)

#### Other awards

* America's Choice: Theresa Vail (2014)
* Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Miracle Maker Award 1st runners-up: Hannah Klaassen (2019)
* CMN Miracle Maker Award 2nd runners-up: Kendall Schoenekase (2017)
* Eleanor "Big Mama" Andrews Performing Arts Award: Kimberlee Grice (2002)
* People's Choice: Courtney Wages (2024)
* Quality of Life Award/Social Impact Initiative Scholarship Award Winners: Annika Wooton (2020)
* Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up: Tara Dawn Holland (1997), Kendall Schoenekase (2017)
* Quality of Life Award Finalists: Megan Bushell (2005), Adrienne Rosel (2006), Krystian Fish (2018)
* STEM Scholarship Award Winners: Kendall Schoenekase (2017)

## 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 | Alexis Smith | Wichita | 25 | Miss Butler County | Ventriloquism | | | |
| 2023 | Courtney Wages | Wichita | 25 | Miss Southern Kansas | Tap Dance | Top 11 | People's Choice | |
| 2022 | Ayanna Hensley | Dodge City | 21 | Miss Kiowa County | Dance | | | |
| 2021 | Taylor Clark | St. John | 21 | Miss Augusta | Drums | | | Previously Miss Kansas' Outstanding Teen 2017 |
| 2019–20 | Annika Wooton | Overland Park | 25 | Miss Wichita | Speed Painting, "Free To Be" Original Poem while painting a portrait of Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Top 15 | Social Impact Initiative Scholarship Award Non-Finalist Talent Award | Competed for the Miss Kansas title a total of seven times Served two years due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2018 | Hannah Klaassen | Arkansas City | 19 | Miss South Central | Tap Dance, "The Greatest Show" from The Greatest Showman | | CMN Miracle Maker Award 1st runner-up | |
| 2017 | Krystian Fish | Wichita | 21 | Miss Heart of the Midwest | Vocal, "They Just Keep Moving the Line" from Smash | | Quality of Life Award Finalist | |
| 2016 | Kendall Schoenekase | Overland Park | 22 | Miss Johnson County | Vocal, "Ain't No Sunshine" | | CMN Miracle Maker Award 2nd runner-up Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up STEM Scholarship Award | 4th runner-up at Miss Kansas Teen USA 2011 competition |
| 2015 | Hannah Wagner | Wichita | 19 | Miss Augusta | Ballet en Pointe, Swan Lake | | | |
| 2014 | Amanda Sasek | Moberly, MO | 23 | Miss Greater Wichita | Vocal, "I Don't Know My Own Strength" | | | |
| 2013 | Theresa Vail | Manhattan | 22 | Miss Leavenworth County | Vocal, "Nessun Dorma" | Top 10 | America's Choice | First Miss America contestant to display tattoos in the swimsuit competition |
| 2012 | Sloane Lewis | Norwich | 22 | Miss Wooded Hills | Self-arranged Piano, "River Storm" | | | |
| 2011 | Carissa Kelley | Winfield | 24 | Miss Wooded Hills | Dance, "Rolling in the Deep" | | | Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2004 |
| 2010 | Lauren Werhan | Wichita | 20 | Miss Southwest | Ballet en Pointe, "Asturias" | | | |
| 2009 | Becki Ronen | Buhler | 20 | Miss Flint Hills | Classical Trumpet, "Stars in a Velvety Sky" | | | |
| 2008 | Emily Deaver | Augusta | 19 | Miss Augusta | Piano / Vocal, "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" | | | |
| 2007 | Alyssa George | Minneapolis | 21 | Miss Sedgwick County | Classical Piano | | | |
| 2006 | Michelle Walthers | Towanda | 21 | Miss Augusta | Vocal, "Shy" from Once Upon a Mattress | | | |
| 2005 | Adrienne Rosel | Liberal | 23 | Miss Wichita | Theatrical Vocal / Dance, "America" from West Side Story | | Quality of Life Award Finalist | |
| 2004 | Megan Bushell | Wichita | 22 | Miss Wheat Capital | Vocal, "When you Say you Love Me" | Top 10 | Quality of Life Award Finalist | |
| 2003 | Angelea Busby | Lenexa | 21 | Miss Cheney Lake | Interpretive Baton Twirling / Dance, Theme from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 2002 | Jeanne Anne Schroeder | Hutchinson | 24 | Miss Chisholm Trail | Classical Vocal, "Time to Say Goodbye" | | | |
| 2001 | Kimberlee Grice | Ulysses | 23 | Miss Kaw Valley | Vocal, "At Last" | | Eleanor "Big Mama" Andrews Performing Arts Award | |
| 2000 | Amy Lea Shaw | Derby | 22 | Miss Arkansas Valley | Classical Piano, "Prelude, Op. 23, No. 5" by Rachmaninoff | | | |
| 1999 | Leah Darby | Derby | 21 | Miss Derby | Vocal "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables | | | |
| 1998 | Jennifer Vannatta | Leawood | 24 | Miss Greater Kansas City | Vocal, "Le Jazz Hot" from Victor/Victoria | | | Co-director of the Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma state pageants for the Miss USA organization Married to JC Fisher of The Texas Tenors |
| 1997 | Lesley Moss | Hoxie | 24 | Miss Greater Kansas City | Vocal, "You'll Have to Swing It" | | | |
| 1996 | Jennifer Parks | Wichita | | Miss Arkansas Valley | | Did not compete; originally 3rd runner-up, later assumed title after Holland won Miss America 1997 when the other runners-up declined to take the title | Did not compete; originally 3rd runner-up, later assumed title after Holland won Miss America 1997 when the other runners-up declined to take the title | Did not compete; originally 3rd runner-up, later assumed title after Holland won Miss America 1997 when the other runners-up declined to take the title |
| 1996 | Tara Dawn Holland | Overland Park | 23 | Miss Flint Hills | Classical Vocal, "Où Va la Jeune Hindoue" from Lakmé | Winner | Preliminary Swimsuit Award Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up | Previously National Sweetheart 1995 as Miss Florida |
| 1995 | Amy Keller | Great Bend | 24 | Miss Heartland | Classical Vocal, "Quando me'n vo'" | Top 10 | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |
| 1994 | Trisha Schaffer | Liberal | 22 | Miss Southwest | Popular Vocal, "Orange Colored Sky" | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1993 | Lori Minnix | Lawrence | 24 | Miss KU/Lawrence | Classical Piano "Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor" by Tchaikovsky | | | |
| 1992 | Pamela McKelvy | Kansas City | 24 | Miss Greater Kansas City | Popular Vocal, "I Am Changing" | 3rd runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1991 | Robbin Lee Wasson | Lenexa | 21 | Miss Greater Kansas City | Vocal Medley, "How Long Has This Been Going On?" & "It's a Miracle" | Top 10 | | |
| 1990 | Kimberly Dugger | Wichita | 22 | Miss Wichita | Semi-classical Vocal, "Love Is Where you Find It" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1989 | Jennifer Lyn Hedrick | Derby | 22 | Miss Fort Scott | Flute, "Carmen Fantasy" by Georges Bizet and François Borne | | | |
| 1988 | Candice Cae Pyle | Dodge City | 20 | Miss Dodge City | Vocal, "Blue Moon" | | | |
| 1987 | Sherri Lee Mayer | Brewster | 26 | Miss Harvey County | Dramatic Interpretation, "Clear Glass Marbles" from Talking With... | | | |
| 1986 | Heather Lynn Clark | Benton | 23 | Miss Wichita | Vocal & Sign Language, "I'll Never Say Goodbye" | | | |
| 1985 | Carolyn Jo Kirgis | Salina | 25 | Miss Blue Stem | Vocal, "Our Love Is Here to Stay" | | | Carolyn Jo Kirgis Johnson passed away in Phillipsburg, Kansas of complications with Multiple Sclerosis on July 24, 2022, at age 61. |
| 1984 | Nancy Lee Cobb | Wichita | 20 | Miss Lawrence | Piano / Vocal, "I Love New Orleans Music" | | | |
| 1983 | Laura Lynn Watters | Colby | 22 | Miss Troia-Thomas County | Trumpet Medley, "Sugar Blues" & "Wood Chopper's Ball" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1982 | Lisa Marie Berwick | Valley Center | 21 | Miss Wheatland | Vocal, "Battle Hymn of the Republic" | | | |
| 1981 | Dawn Holmstrom | Wichita | 20 | Miss Wichita | Vocal Medley, "My Man" & "Happy Days Are Here Again" | | | |
| 1980 | K. Leann Folsom | Wichita | 21 | Miss Center City | Piano / Vocal, "Kiss Me in the Rain" | | | |
| 1979 | Michelle Elaine Whitson | Mission | 21 | Miss Topeka | Harp, "Never on Sunday" | 2nd runner-up | | Previously National Sweetheart 1978 |
| 1978 | Lori Ann Bergen | Salina | 20 | Miss Salina | Violin, "Csárdás" & "Orange Blossom Special" | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1977 | Jill Dirks | Wichita | 22 | Miss Wichita | Vocal, "Open Your Heart" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1976 | Linda Hall | Hill City | 21 | Miss Frontier | Piano, Theme from The Apartment | | | Wife of former United States Senator Tom Daschle |
| 1975 | Jana Salmans | Hanston | 20 | Miss Dodge City | Vocal, "Follow Me" | | | |
| 1974 | Karen Smith | Shawnee | 18 | Miss Shawnee | Jazz / Acrobatic Dance, "The Entertainer" | | Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |
| 1973 | Jane Schulte | Hays | 21 | Miss Fort Hays State College | Vocal Medley, "Happiest Girl in the Whole USA" & "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" | | | |
| 1972 | Cynthia Sikes | Coffeyville | 18 | Miss Wichita | Vocal, "Fame" | Top 10 | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | Starred as Dr. Annie Canavero on St. Elsewhere |
| 1971 | Sandy Rings | Topeka | 20 | Miss Topeka | Vocal / Ventriloquism, "Toyland" | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1970 | Linda Susan Edds | Manhattan | 21 | Miss Manhattan | Popular Vocal, "The Windmills of Your Mind" | | | |
| 1969 | Margo Sue Schroeder | Hillsboro | 18 | Miss Marion County Fair | Piano, "Sunny" | | | |
| 1968 | Jane Kathryn Bair | Parsons | 18 | Miss Kansas State College of Pittsburg | Ballet Interpretation, "My Friend the Sea" | | | |
| 1967 | Kandee Kae Klein | Tribune | | Miss Garden City | | Did not compete; later assumed the title after Barnes won Miss America 1968 | Did not compete; later assumed the title after Barnes won Miss America 1968 | Did not compete; later assumed the title after Barnes won Miss America 1968 |
| 1967 | Debra Dene Barnes | Moran | 20 | Miss Kansas State College of Pittsburg | Piano, "Born Free" | Winner | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |
| 1966 | Betty Louise Fox | Emporia | 20 | Miss Emporia | Popular Vocal Medley, "A Foggy Day" & "The Girl from Ipanema" | | | |
| 1965 | Mimi Frink | Lawrence | | Miss Eudora | | Did not compete; later assumed the title after Bryant won Miss America 1966 | Did not compete; later assumed the title after Bryant won Miss America 1966 | Did not compete; later assumed the title after Bryant won Miss America 1966 |
| 1965 | Deborah Irene Bryant | Overland Park | 19 | Miss Overland Park | Dramatic Interpretation, "The Miserable Miserliness of Midas Moneybags" | Winner | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | Previously Miss Kansas World 1963 and Top 7 finalist at Miss USA World 1963. |
| 1964 | Catherine Bergstrom | Kansas City | 21 | Miss Lawrence | | N/A | N/A | 1st runner-up at Miss Kansas 1964 pageant Assumed title after Savage was killed in an auto accident |
| 1964 | Sharon Margene Savage | Florence | 20 | Miss Marion County Fair | Vocal, "Johnny One Note" & "Ritorna Vincitor" from Aida | | | During her reign she was killed in an auto accident near Peabody, Kansas |
| 1963 | Karen Raye Schwartz | Pratt | 20 | Miss Wichita | Classical Vocal, "Voi la Sapete" from Cavalleria rusticana | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1962 | Beverly June Wood | Prairie Village | 18 | Miss Kansas City | Charleston Dance | | | |
| 1961 | Carolyn Jane Parkinson | Scott City | 20 | Miss Lawrence | Musical Reading, "Hello Kansas" | | | |
| 1960 | Gayla Leigh Shoemake | El Dorado | 19 | Miss El Dorado | Original Dramatic Interpretation, "Rude Awakening" | | | |
| 1959 | Sharon O'Neal | Kansas City | 18 | Miss Kansas City | Dramatic Interpretation | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1958 | Sharon Whitacre | Mission | 18 | Miss Kansas City | Accordion, "3rd Movement of Concerto in A" by Pietro Deiro | | | |
| 1957 | Georgiana Rundle | Axtell | 21 | Miss Kansas State | Vocal, "Habanera" & "Getting to Know You" | | | |
| 1956 | Mary Ann McGrew | Wellington | 19 | Miss Lawrence | Dramatic Reading, "Understanding Others" | 3rd runner-up (tie) | | |
| 1955 | Gail White | Arkansas City | | | Piano | | | |
| 1954 | Phyllis Danielson | Wichita | | | Vocal | | | |
| 1953 | Joanne Milnar | Hutchinson | 23 | | Water Ballet | | | |
| 1952 | Kay Ann Goforth | McPherson | | | Vocal / Dance | | | |
| 1951 | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1950 | Anabel Baker | Wichita | | | Dramatic Monologue from Macbeth | | | |
| 1949 | Shirley Hargiss | Topeka | | | Vocal, "Cecilia On a See-Saw" | Top 15 | | |
| 1948 | Vera June Ralston | Wichita | 18 | Miss Wichita | Oratory | 3rd runner-up | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | Better known as Vera Miles, whose acting career spanned 45 years |
| 1947 | Ruth Ellen Richmond | Fort Scott | | Miss Pittsburg | Vocal, "Wonderful One" | | | |
| 1946 | Joyce Blakemore | Liberal | | | | | | |
| 1945 | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1944 | Grace Louise Pittman | Wichita | | | | | | |
| 1943 | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1942 | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1941 | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1940 | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1939 | Rosemary Winslow | Salina | | | | | | |
| 1938 | Blanche Webb | Humboldt | | | | | | |
| 1937 | Lucia Benton | Norton | | | | Top 16 | | |
| 1936 | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1935 | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas 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 | Pauline Sayre | | 23 | | | | | |
| 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 | Mildred Orr | | | Miss Wichita | | | | No Miss Kansas Competed as Miss Wichita at Miss America pageant |
| 1926 | Ruth Richardson | | | Miss Wichita | | | | No Miss Kansas Competed as Miss Wichita at Miss America pageant |
| 1925 | Wildeana Withers | | | Miss Wichita | | | | No Miss Kansas Competed as Miss Wichita at Miss America pageant |
| 1924 | Donna Frye | | | Miss Wichita | | | | No Miss Kansas Competed as Miss Wichita at Miss America pageant |
| 1923 | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1922 | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1921 | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant | No Kansas representative at Miss America pageant |