Miss Kentucky USA

{{for|the state pageant affiliated with Miss America|Miss Kentucky}}

{{Infobox organization

|name = Miss Kentucky USA

|image =

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|formation = {{Start date and age|1952}}

|type = Beauty pageant

|headquarters = Cincinnati

|location = Ohio

|membership = Miss USA

|language = English

|leader_title =

|leader_name =

|key_people = Melissa Proctor-Pitchford (State Pageant Director)

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|website = {{official|http://misskentuckyusa.com}}

}}

File:TaraConneratWillowGrove3.jpg, Miss Kentucky USA 2006 & Miss USA 2006]]

The Miss Kentucky USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Kentucky in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by Proctor Productions and it was formerly directed by Connie Clark Harrison, Miss Kentucky USA 1976.{{cite web|url=http://www.misskentuckyusa.com/producers|title=Producers|publisher=Miss Kentucky USA}}{{cn|date=November 2021}}

Tara Conner became the first Kentucky delegate to win Miss USA, after being crowned Miss USA 2006. She later finished as fourth runner-up at Miss Universe 2006. Elle Smith later became the second Kentucky delegate to win Miss USA, being crowned Miss USA 2021.

Three Miss Kentucky USA titleholders have also held the Miss Kentucky Teen USA title and competed at Miss Teen USA, including Conner. Two Miss Kentucky USA titleholders have also competed at Miss America, with one representing Wyoming.

Connor Perry of Lexington was crowned Miss Kentucky USA 2024 on May 19, 2024, at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset. She will represent Kentucky for the title of Miss USA 2024.

Media coverage

In 2006, it was reported that Miss Kentucky USA 2002, Elizabeth Arnold was in a relationship with celebrity Nick Lachey.[https://web.archive.org/web/20071020002244/http://www.starmagazine.com/celebrity_news_gossip/ STAR'S WORLD EXCLUSIVE: THE FATHER OF NICK LACHEY'S NEW GIRL SAYS SHE AND NICK ARE "VERY CLOSE"], Star Magazine (accessed 6 May 2006)[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/celebrities/3827583.html Nick Lachey: poster boy for the brokenhearted], Houston Chronicle, 28 April 2006 (accessed 6 May 2006) That same year Tara Conner became the first Kentucky delegate to win the Miss USA title, putting Kentucky in the top five for the second consecutive year, after Kristen Johnson placed 2nd runner-up in 2005. She later came under intense scrutiny when it was revealed that she had been drinking underage, tested positive for the use of cocaine, and kissed Miss Teen USA Katie Blair, among other things.{{cite web | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/480614p-404432c.html | title=Queen is way out of line |access-date=2007-10-27 | last=Piazza | first=Jo | publisher=NY Daily News | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128220604/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/480614p-404432c.html | archive-date=2007-01-28}} Conner was allowed to keep her title, but was ordered into rehab for one month. After her rehab session, she resumed her reign until her year was completed.

In 2008, Miss Kentucky USA Alysha Harris was involved in an incident involving photos in which she was photographed dancing with New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss in a manner some saw as sexually suggestive.{{cite web|title=Randy Moss Drafts Wide Receiver - TMZ.com|date=5 May 2008 |url=http://www.tmz.com/2008/05/05/randy-moss-drafts-wide-receiver/}}{{cite news|title=C.J.: Randy Moss' naughty dance moves photographed at Derby party|url=http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/18731924.html?page=1&c=y|publisher=Minneapolis Star-Tribune|date=2008-05-07|access-date=2008-05-11}}{{cite news|url=http://www.lvrj.com/news/18758924.html|title='Idol' contestant set to go country|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Norm|last=Clarke|date=2008-05-08|access-date=2015-02-26}}

Results summary

=Placements=

Miss USA: Tara Conner (2006), Elle Smith (2021)
1st runners-up: Connor Perry (2024)
2nd runners-up: Kristen Johnson (2005)
3rd runners-up: Julie Andrus (1965)
4th runners-up: Johanna Reid (1964), Patricia Barnstable (1971), Lisa Devillez (1980), Kristina Leah Chapman (1982), Maria Montgomery (2009)
Top 6: Tiffany Tenfelde (1990), Angela Hines (1992)
Top 11/12: Carol Wallace (1975), Mitzi Jones (1995), Katie George (2015)
Top 15/20: Mary Ann Stice (1953), Marcia Chumbler (1961)

Kentucky holds a record of 16 placements at Miss USA.

=Awards=

Miss Congeniality: June Pinkley (1968), Connie Clark (1976), Kia Hampton (2011)
Miss Photogenic: Robyn Overby (1985)
Best State Costume: Charlesy Gulick (1974)

Winners

;Color key

{{plainlist|

{{Color box|gold|border=darkgray}} Declared as Winner
{{Color box|#FFFF66|border=darkgray}} Ended as runner-up
{{Color box|#FFFACD|border=darkgray}} Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists

}}

class="wikitable"style="font-size:90%;"

bgcolor="#efefef"

! width=5% | Year

! width=20%| Name

! width=10%| Hometown

! width=3%|Age¹

! width=12%| Local title

! width=14%| Placement at Miss USA

! width=17%| Special awards at Miss USA

! width=31%| Notes

style="background-color:#FFFF66;"

| 2024

| Connor Perry

| Lexington

| 23

| Miss Heart of Lexington

| 1st Runner-up

2023

| Madalyne Kinnett

| Lexington

| 21

| Miss Greater Lexington

2022

| Elizabeth "Lizzy" Neutz

| Louisville

| 22

| Miss Greater Louisville

style="background-color:gold"

| 2021

| Elle Smith

| Louisville

| 23

| Miss Germantown

| Miss USA 2021

Top 10 at Miss Universe 2021

2020

| Lexie Iles

| Louisville

| 23

| Miss Louisville

Previously Miss Ohio Teen United States 2016 (top 15 at Miss Teen United States 2016)

2019

| Jordan Weiter

| Louisville

| 22

| Miss Bluegrass

2018

| Braea Tilford

| Louisville

| 25

| Miss Jefferson County

2017

| Madelynne Myers

| Louisville

| 22

| Miss Louisville

2016

| Kyle Hornback

| Louisville

| 20

| Miss Louisville

style="background-color:#FFFACD;"

| 2015

| Katie George

| Louisville

| 21

| Miss Louisville

| Top 11

| Advanced to top 11 as fan vote winner

2014

| Destin Kincer

| Whitesburg

| 21

| Miss Keeneland

2013

| Allie Leggett{{cn|date=October 2023}}

| McCreary County

| 19

| Miss Lake Cumberland

| December 2017 Playboy Playmate of the Month{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/playboys-novemberdecember-2017-collectors-edition-300538640.html|title=Playboy's November/December 2017 Collector's Edition|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=2018-07-05}}

2012

| Amanda Mertz

| Louisville

| 25

| Miss Louisville

| Monster Energy Girl{{Cite news|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/04/nascar-monster-energy-girls-critics-controversy-amanda-mertz-responds-to-comments|title=NASCAR's Monster Energy Girl Amanda Mertz perfectly shuts down outfit critics|date=2017-04-19|work=For The Win|access-date=2018-07-05|language=en-US}}

2011

| Kia Hampton

| Louisville

| 21

| Miss Congeniality

| Later Pussycat Dolls member

2010

| Kindra Clark

| Mt. Washington

| 19

style="background-color:#FFFF66;"

| 2009

| Maria Montgomery

| Danville

| 19

| 4th runner-up

2008

| Alysha Harris

| Carrollton

| 20

Later represented Kentucky at Miss United States International 2020

2007

| Michelle Banzer

| Louisville

| 24

| First minority woman to win state pageant{{cite news|title=Cardinal to compete for Miss USA crown|publisher=The Louisville Cardinal|url=http://media.www.louisvillecardinal.com/media/storage/paper964/news/2007/03/20/News/Cardinal.To.Compete.For.Miss.Usa.Crown-2780816.shtml|date=2007-03-20|access-date=2008-05-10|first=Tejas|last=Shastry|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510082615/http://media.www.louisvillecardinal.com/media/storage/paper964/news/2007/03/20/News/Cardinal.To.Compete.For.Miss.Usa.Crown-2780816.shtml|archive-date=2008-05-10}}

style="background-color:gold;"

| 2006

| Tara Conner

| Russell Springs

| 20

| Miss USA 2006

Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2002 (2nd runner-up & Best in Swimsuit at Miss Teen USA 2002)
4th runner-up at Miss Universe 2006

style="background-color:#FFFF66;"

| 2005

| Kristen Johnson

| Slaughters

| 23

| 2nd runner-up

Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2000 (2nd runner-up & Miss Photogenic at Miss Teen USA 2000)
Contestant on Fear Factor in 2005 on the Miss USA episode #5.29

2004

| Lauren Stengel

| Louisville

| 22

2003

| Lori Mitchell

| Scottsville

| 21

| Reporter for WRCB in Chattanooga

2002

| Elizabeth Arnold

| Columbia

| 24

Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 1998
Appears on The Real Housewives of Orange County

2001

| Jo Pritchard

| Hardin

| 20

2000

| Jolene Youngster

| Glasgow

| 18

1999

| Lori Menshouse

| Ashland

| 25

Previously Miss Kentucky 1997

1998

| Nancy Bradley

| Franklin

| 23

1997

| Rachyl Hoskins

| Liberty

| 22

1996

| Lorie West

| Campbellsville

| 22

style="background-color:#FFFACD;"

| 1995

| Mitzi Jones

| White Plains

| 22

| Semi-finalist, finishing in 8th Place

1994

| Kim Buford

| Paducah

| 26

1993

| Karen Gibson

| Kevil

style="background-color:#FFFF66;"

| 1992

| Angela Hines

| Maysville

| Finalist, finishing in 5th place

1991

| Susan Farris

| Benton

| 24

| Runner-up state costume

style="background-color:#FFFF66;"

| 1990

| Tiffany Tenfelde

| Lakeside Park

| Top 6 finalist

1989

| Veronica Hensley

| Danville

1988

| Suzanne Pitman

| Murray

1987

| Beth Ann Clark

| Mayfield

| 21

| Guinness Beer Spokesmodel, Swimwear Illustrated Cover Model of the Year 1989, Mrs. Kentucky United States 1999, Mrs. Georgia America 2001

1986

| Jackie Taylor

| Paducah

1985

| Robin Overby

| Calvert City

| Miss Photogenic

1st runner-up at Miss World USA 1979

1984

| Tammy Melendez

| Murray

| 25

1983

| Lee Ann Austin

| Benton

style="background-color:#FFFF66;"

| 1982

| Kristina Leah Chapman

| Owensboro

| 19

| 4th runner-up

1981

| Denise Gibbs

| Paducah

style="background-color:#FFFF66;"

| 1980

| Lisa Devillez

| Owensboro

| 4th runner-up

1979

| Linda Passmore

| Hopkinsville

1978

| Linda Woodruff

| Louisville

1977

| Sandy Smith

| Princeton

1976

| Connie Clark

| Benton

| Miss Congeniality

| Former director of the Miss Kentucky USA and Miss Kentucky Teen USA pageants under her married name, Connie Clark-Harrison

style="background-color:#FFFACD;"

| 1975

| Carol June Wallace

| Somerset

| 23

| Semi-finalist

Later Miss Wyoming 1976,{{cite news|title=Home state girls hard to find|publisher=Kingman Daily Miner|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GiIPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4YIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5608,5398435&dq=miss-nevada+miss-usa&hl=en|date=1976-09-10|page=7}} mother of Miss Kentucky 2002, Mary Catherine Correll

1974

| Charlesy Gulick

| Williamstown

| Best State Costume

1973

| Nancy Coplen

| Mayfield

1972

| Tamara Branstetter

| Summer Shade

style="background-color:#FFFF66;"

| 1971

| Patricia Barnstable

| Louisville

| 4th runner-up

| Joanna Smith

| Regina Pryor

| Kay Pinkley{{cite news |title=Miss Kentucky |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119871769/miss-kentucky-1968/ |access-date=28 February 2023 |publisher=The Paducah Sun |date=16 April 1968}}

| Miss Congeniality

1967

| Debbie Dibble

1966

| Jennifer Burcham

style="background-color:#FFFF66;"

| 1965

| Julie Andrus

| Mayfield

| 3rd runner-up

style="background-color:#FFFF66;"

| 1964