# Miss Delaware

The Miss Delaware competition is the pageant that selects the representative of Delaware in the Miss America pageant. The event takes place annually in the month of June and has previously been held in Rehoboth Beach at Convention Hall, in the state capital of Dover, Delaware at the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, and in Milton at the Milton Theatre. Miss Delaware serves as the official hostess to the state of Delaware.
Nova Rae Gaffney of Milford was crowned Miss Delaware on June 15, 2024, at the Independence School in Newark. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

## Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Delaware 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: Lois Anne Alava (1954), Catherine Lawton (1973), Debora Rica Lipford (1977), Kayla Martell (2011)
* Top 15: Peggy Insolo (1940), Galen Giaccone (2009)

### Awards
#### Preliminary awards

* Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Janice Anne Albro (1979)
* Preliminary Talent: Lois Anne Alava (1954), Catherine Lawton (1973), Junnie Cross (2001), Galen Giaccone (2009)

#### Non-finalist awards

* Non-finalist Talent: Robin Jane Whemper (1962), Elaine Campanelli (1976), Sandra Louise Aiken (1978), Lisa Marie Munzert (1991), Jennifer Lin Kaczmarczyk (1994), Alison White (1998), Rebecca Bledsoe (2006), Maria Cahill (2012), Rebecca Jackson (2014), Brooke Mitchell (2016)
* Non-finalist Interview: Alyssa Murray (2013)

#### Other awards

* Miss Congeniality: Paula Kusmer (1972)
* Equity and Justice Finalist: Sophie Phillips (2022)
* George Cavalier Talent Award: Anne Marie Jarka (1988)
* Bernie Wayne Scholarship for the Performing Arts: Junnie Cross (2001)
* Bert Parks Talent Award: Michelle Harris (1996), Junnie Cross (2001)
* Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up: Kayla Martell (2011), Brittany Lewis (2015)
* Quality of Life Award Finalists: Junnie Cross (2001), Linda Kurtz (2005), Alyssa Murray (2012)
* Forever Miss Americas Scholarship: Grace Otley (2023)

## 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 | Nova Gaffney | Milford | 24 | Miss Southern Delaware | Ballet, “Carmen” | | | |
| 2023 | Emily Beale | Ocean View | 27 | Miss Ocean View | Tap Dance, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” | | | |
| 2022 | Grace Otley | Hockessin | 22 | Miss Dover | Violin, "Smooth Criminal" | | Forever Miss Americas Scholarship | Previously Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2014 |
| 2021 | Sophie Phillips | Bear | 25 | Miss Milford | Piano, "Good Golly, Miss Molly" | | Equity and Justice Finalist | |
| 2019–2020 | Hillary May | Mount Vernon, IN | 23 | Miss Hockessin | Vocal, "I Could Have Danced All Night" | | | 2020 competition was postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2018 | Joanna Wicks | Wilmington | 24 | Miss Wilmington | Speed Painting, "Confident" | | | |
| 2017 | Chelsea Bruce | Manasquan, NJ | 21 | Miss Newark | Contemporary Dance | | | Eligible as a student at the University of Delaware |
| 2016 | Amanda Debus | Middletown | 23 | Miss First State | Contemporary Ballet, "Fight Song" | | | Previously Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2008 Previously Miss Delaware Teen USA 2011 3rd runner-up at Miss Delaware USA 2018 pageant 1st runner-up at Miss Delaware USA 2019 pageant |
| 2015 | Brooke Mitchell | Selbyville | 19 | Miss Milford | Tap Dance/Baton Twirling, "Uptown Funk" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant |
| 2014 | Brittany Lewis | Brigantine, NJ | 23 | Miss Wilmington | Jazz Dance | | Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up | Originally first runner-up, assumed title when Longacre was dethroned |
| 2014 | Amanda Longacre | Bear | 24 | Miss Pike Creek | Vocal | Unable to compete; dethroned due to her not meeting the Miss America Organization's age requirement | Unable to compete; dethroned due to her not meeting the Miss America Organization's age requirement | Unable to compete; dethroned due to her not meeting the Miss America Organization's age requirement |
| 2013 | Rebecca Jackson | Kennett Square, PA | 21 | Miss Dover | Vocal, "Think of Me" from The Phantom of the Opera | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 2012 | Alyssa Murray | Selbyville | 20 | Miss Coastal Bay | Jazz Dance, "River Deep – Mountain High" | | Non-finalist Interview Award Quality of Life Award Finalist | 4th runner-up at Miss Delaware USA 2015 competition 1st runner-up at Miss Delaware USA 2018 competition |
| 2011 | Maria Cahill | Newark | 20 | Miss Rehoboth Beach | Irish Dance, "Lord of the Dance" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 2010 | Kayla Martell | Milford | 21 | Miss Kent County | Contemporary Ballet en Pointe, "The Way You Make Me Feel" | Top 10 | Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up | Voted into the Top 15 as a "People's Choice" by public voting First contestant with alopecia areata to compete in Miss America pageant |
| 2009 | Heather Lehman | Magnolia | 20 | Miss Diamond State | Classical Vocal, "Adele's Laughing Song" from Die Fledermaus | | | |
| 2008 | Galen Giaccone | Wyoming | 20 | Miss Diamond State | Piano, "El Cumbanchero" by Rafael Hernández Marín | Top 15 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 2007 | Brittany Dempsey | Dover | 20 | Miss Capital | Jazz Dance, "Rhythm of the Night" | | | Previously Delaware's Junior Miss 2005 |
| 2006 | Jamie Ginn | Wilmington | 25 | Miss Brandywine | Dance, "Dancin' Fool" from Copacabana | | | 4th runner-up at National Sweetheart 2005 pageant as Miss New Jersey |
| 2005 | Rebecca Bledsoe | Middletown | 22 | Miss Central Delaware | Classical Vocal, "Una Voce Poco Fa" from The Barber of Seville | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 2004 | Linda Kurtz | Dover | 21 | Miss Dover | Ballet, "Man of La Mancha" | | Quality of Life Award Finalist | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2003 pageant |
| 2003 | Erin Elizabeth Williams | Lincoln | 20 | Miss Eastern Shore | Classical Vocal, "Time to Say Goodbye" | | | |
| 2002 | Shoha Parekh | Newark | 24 | Miss Greenville | Bharatnatyam Style Dance | | | |
| 2001 | Erin Cooper | Camden | 22 | Miss Hockessin | Lyrical Ballet, "Book of Days" | | | |
| 2000 | Junnie Cross | Dover | 22 | Miss Hockessin | Vocal, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from The Phantom of the Opera | | Bert Parks Talent Award Bernie Wayne Scholarship for the Performing Arts Award Preliminary Talent Award Quality of Life Award Finalist | |
| 1999 | Kama Boland | Hockessin | 22 | Miss Diamond State | Piano, "Jerry Lee Lewis Medley" | | | |
| 1998 | Jody Kelly | Dover | 22 | Miss Hockessin | Flute, "Shenandoah" and "Dueling Banjos" | | | |
| 1997 | Alison White | Millsboro | 18 | Miss Millsboro | Classical Vocal, "Poor Wand'ring One" from The Pirates of Penzance | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1996 | Aimee Michelle Voshell | Felton | 18 | Miss Dover | Ballet en Pointe "Return to Innocence" | | | Mother to Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2022, Brynn String |
| 1995 | Michelle Harris | Newark | 24 | Miss Brandywine | Vocal, "I Will Always Love You" | | Bert Parks Talent Award | |
| 1994 | Letitia Lee Pusey | Millsboro | 23 | Miss Sussex County | Lyrical Tap Dance | | | |
| 1993 | Jennifer Lin Kaczmarczyk | Hockessin | 20 | Miss Brandywine | Popular Vocal, "This Is the Moment" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1992 | Kathleen Ann Slavin | Dagsboro | 25 | Miss Sussex County | Vocal, "My Man" | | | |
| 1991 | Beth Ann Jones | Wilmington | 22 | Miss Brandywine | Vocal Medley | | | |
| 1990 | Lisa Marie Munzert | New Castle | 20 | Miss Brandywine | Dance / Twirling, "They're Playing Our Song" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1989 | Robin Lee Coutant | Millsboro | 21 | Miss University | Vocal, "Think of Me" | | | |
| 1988 | Laura Kathleen Ludwig | Lewes | 21 | Miss Sussex County | Popular Vocal, "Happy Days Are Here Again" | | | |
| 1987 | Anne Marie Jarka | Newark | 21 | Miss University | Vocal / Piano, "Almost Over You" | | George Cavalier Talent Award | |
| 1986 | Lori Ann Scott | Wilmington | 23 | Miss Wilmington | Popular Vocal, "Love Is Spreading All Over" | | | |
| 1985 | Lisa Anne Patrick | Newark | 24 | Miss Newark | Character Ballet en Pointe | | | |
| 1984 | Nancy Lynn Ball | Rehoboth Beach | 24 | Miss Cape Henlopen | Jazz Ballet en Pointe | | | |
| 1983 | Tammy Renee Copeland | Newark | 21 | Miss Greater Wilmington | Vocal, "Cry Me a River" | | | |
| 1982 | Nancy Ellen Farley | Elsmere | 21 | Miss New Castle | Comedy Monologue, "Report of the Nominating Committee" | | | |
| 1981 | Jodi Meade Graham | Wilmington | 19 | Miss Brandywine College | Vocal, "Can You Read My Mind" | | | Daughter of Miss Pennsylvania 1956, Lorna Ringler Graham, and grand-niece of Miss America 1924, Ruth Malcomson |
| 1980 | Andra Lee Dickerson | Newark | 21 | Miss Newark | Piano / Vocal | | | |
| 1979 | Ann Lorraine Harrington | Milford | 22 | Miss Milford | Magic Act | | | |
| 1978 | Janice Anne Albro | Claymont | 25 | Miss Brandywine Hundred | Piano Medley, "The Entertainer" & "Maple Leaf Rag" | | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |
| 1977 | Sandra Louise Aiken | Seaford | 21 | Miss Seaford | Classical Vocal, "Quando me'n vo'" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1976 | Debora Rica Lipford | Newark | 21 | Miss Newark | Dramatic Interpretation, "It Was a Good Time" from Ryan's Daughter | Top 10 | | First African-American contestant to reach the top 10 at Miss America pageant |
| 1975 | Elaine Campanelli | Ocean View | 20 | Miss Ocean View | Fire Baton Routine | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1974 | Kathleen Attanasi | Rehoboth Beach | 22 | Miss Rehoboth Beach | Harp Medley, "Harmonious Blacksmith" & "Close To You" | | | |
| 1973 | Jackie LaGuardia | Milford | 19 | Miss Sussex West | Vocal from Irma La Douce | | | |
| 1972 | Catherine Lawton | Clayton | 20 | Miss University Motors | Banjo, "Banjo Memories" | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1971 | Paula Kusmer | Wilmington | 19 | Miss Goldey-Beacom College | Dramatic reading from The Diary of Anne Frank | | Miss Congeniality | |
| 1970 | Linda Sue Hitchens | Seaford | 20 | Miss Nylon Capital | Vocal / Dance, "Give My Regards to Broadway" | | | |
| 1969 | Margo Ewing | Wilmington | 19 | Miss Talleyville | Vocal, "My Mother's Wedding Day" | | | Served as a Delaware state senator |
| 1968 | Gayle Freeman | Wilmington | 19 | Miss Brandywine College | Vocal & Guitar, "Times They Are a-Changin'" | | | |
| 1967 | Susan Alice Levens | Dover | 18 | Miss Wesley College | Vocal, "Who Will Buy" from Oliver! | | | |
| 1966 | Mary Lee Mancini | Wilmington | 19 | Miss Greater Wilmington | Ballet / Sketch | | | |
| 1965 | Kathleen Grandell | Wilmington | 18 | Miss Brandywine | Multi-lingual Monologue | | | |
| 1964 | Anita Gail Eubank | Wilmington | 20 | Miss Brandywine | Popular Vocal & Dance | | | |
| 1963 | Diane Beverly Isaacs | Greenwood | | Miss Greenwood | Piano & Popular Vocal | | | Previously married to current United States Senator, Tom Carper |
| 1962 | Alice Richards Watts | Lewes | 19 | Miss Harrington | Pantomime, "Seventeen" | | | |
| 1961 | Robin Jane Whempner | Wilmington | 18 | Miss Newark | Vocal & Dance, "That's What Makes Paris Paree" from April in Paris | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1960 | Deborah Dunkenfield Benoit | Wilmington | 21 | | Composite Expression of Special Training | | | |
| 1959 | Ester Olney | Newark | 18 | | Vocal | | | |
| 1958 | Nancy M. Williams | Wilmington | | | Dance to musical selections from Gone With the Wind | | | |
| 1957 | Kathleen Ann D'Attillio | Wilmington | | | Piano | | | |
| 1956 | Janice Olson | Newark | | | | | | |
| 1955 | Joanne Sakowski | Wilmington | | | Vocal | | | |
| 1954 | Barbara Woodall | Claymont | | | Piano | | | |
| 1953 | Lois Anne Alava | Wilmington | | | Piano, "Concerto in A Minor" | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1952 | Helen Blackwell | Wilmington | | | Classical Vocal | | | Later, competed in Miss USA 1955 as Miss Delaware USA |
| 1951 | Suzanne Parrott | Dover | | | Piano | | | |
| 1950 | Lorna Edwardson | Dover | | | Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Di" from Madame Butterfly | | | |
| 1949 | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1948 | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1947 | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1946 | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1945 | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1944 | Jacquelyn Vasseur | Wilmington | | | | | | |
| 1943 | Mona Crawford | Wilmington | | | | | | |
| 1942 | Dorothy McGovern | Wilmington | | | | | | |
| 1941 | Verona Smith | Bridgeville | | | | | | |
| 1940 | Peggy Insolo | Wilmington | | | Piano | Top 15 | | |
| 1939 | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1938 | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1937 | Nickey Harriet | Harrington | | | | | | |
| 1936 | Lillian Shamers | Wilmington | | | | | | |
| 1935 | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware 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 | Victoria A. George | Wilmington | 18 | | N/A | | | |
| 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 | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1926 | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1925 | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1924 | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1923 | Ruth Agnes Brady | Wilmington | | Miss Wilmington | N/A | | | Competed under local title at national pageant |
| 1922 | A. Adele Senft | Wilmington | | Miss Wilmington | N/A | | | Competed under local title at national pageant |
| 1921 | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant | No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant |