 | |
| Formation | 1932 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Little Rock |
| Location | |
| Membership | Miss America |
Official language | English |
Key people | Lacy Glover (executive director) |
| Website | missarkansas |
TheMiss Arkansas competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state ofArkansas in theMiss America pageant. Arkansas has won the Miss America title three times (1964, 1982, 2017).
Kennedy Holland ofGreenwood was crowned Miss Arkansas 2025 on June 14, 2025, atRobinson Center Auditorium inLittle Rock. She competed for the title ofMiss America 2026.
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The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Arkansas 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.
| Year | Name | Hometown | Age | Local Title | Miss America Talent | Placement at Miss America | Special scholarships at Miss America | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kennedy Holland | Greenwood | 20 | Miss Metro | Vocal | Top 11 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 2024 | Camille Cathey | Wynne | 22 | Miss White River | Vocal | PreviouslyMiss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen 2018 | ||
| 2023 | Cori Keller[1] | Stuttgart | 25 | Miss Metro | Tap Dance | Top 11 | ||
| 2022 | Ebony Mitchell[2] | Harrison | 25 | Miss Dogwood | Dance | Preliminary Red Carpet, Talent, and On Stage Question Winner at Miss Arkansas 2022 | ||
| 2021 | Whitney Williams[3] | Conway | 23 | Miss University of Arkansas | Baton Twirling, "Conga" byMiami Sound Machine | |||
| 2019–20[a] | Darynne Dahlem[4][5] | Greenwood | 22 | Miss Apple Blossom | Vocal, "Somewhere" fromWest Side Story | STEM Scholarship Award Finalist | ||
| 2018 | Claudia Raffo[6] | Jonesboro | 22 | Miss Historic Batesville | Jazz Dance, "That's Life" | Quality of Life Award[7] | ||
| 2017 | Maggie Benton[8] | 22 | Miss Greater Jonesboro | Vocal, "The Music of the Night" | ||||
| 2016 | Savannah Skidmore[9] | Calico Rock | 21 | Miss University of Arkansas | Vocal | Did not compete; originally first runner-up, later assumed the title after Shields won Miss America 2017[10] | ||
| LaterMiss Arkansas USA 2019[11] Top 5 atMiss USA 2019 pageant[12] | ||||||||
| Savvy Shields[10] | Fayetteville | 21 | Miss Heart of the Ozarks | Jazz Dance, "They Just Keep Moving the Line" | Winner[9] | Preliminary Talent Award | PreviouslyMiss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen 2009[13] | |
| 2015 | Loren McDaniel | Van Buren | 22 | Miss Northwest Arkansas | Vocal,"Bring Him Home" fromLes Misérables | Top 15 | ||
| 2014 | Ashton Campbell[14] | Hindsville | 20 | Miss Ouachita River | Vocal, "Via Dolorosa" | 2nd runner-up[15] | Charles & Theresa Brown Scholarship[16] | |
| 2013 | Amy Crain | Hot Springs | 23 | Miss Diamond Lakes | Contemporary Clogging, "Game Time" | Top 15 | 4th runner-up atNational Sweetheart 2010 pageant[citation needed] | |
| 2012 | Sloane Roberts[17] | Rison | 19 | Miss Heart of the Ozarks | A cappella Tap Dance | Miss Congeniality | PreviouslyMiss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen 2008[18] 2nd runner-up atMiss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 pageant[19] | |
| 2011 | Kristen Glover | Stuttgart | 22 | Miss Ouachita Baptist University | Tap Dance, "Piano Sonata No. 11" | Quality of Life Award Finalist | ||
| 2010 | Alyse Eady[20] | Fort Smith | 22 | Miss South Central Arkansas | Ventriloquism / Vocal, "I Want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" | 1st runner-up[21] | PreviouslyMiss Teen Arkansas 2004[22] | |
| 2009 | Sarah Slocum | Sheridan | 23 | Miss Ouachita River | Vocal, "The Prayer" | Top 15 | America's Choice | |
| 2008 | Ashlen Batson | Newark | 21 | Miss Spirit of Arkansas | Flute, Medley fromCarmen | Top 12 | ||
| 2007 | Katie Bailey | Conway | 25 | Miss South Arkansas | Vocal, "Feeling Good" | Top 16 | ||
| 2006 | Amber Bennett[citation needed] | Carlisle | 23 | Miss Central Arkansas | Vocal, "Come Rain or Come Shine" | |||
| 2005 | Eudora Mosby | Hazen | 23 | Miss Central Arkansas | Vocal, "Dream In Color" | Top 10 | ||
| 2004 | Lacy Fleming | Hampton | 22 | Miss Ouachita Baptist University | Vocal, "Last Dance" | 3rd runner-up | ||
| 2003 | Whitney Kirk | Cabot | 22 | Miss Three Rivers | Vocal / Dance, "All That Jazz" | Non-finalist Interview Award | Contestant atNational Sweetheart 2000 pageant | |
| 2002 | Lauren Davidson | El Dorado | 20 | Miss White River | Vocal, "It's Time" | Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award | ||
| 2001 | Jessie Ward | Prescott | 21 | Miss Texarkana | Tap Dance,Michael Jackson Medley | Top 10 | Current executive director of the Miss Arkansas organization[23] | |
| 2000 | Sara Harris | Forrest City | 20 | Miss Delta | Vocal, "Unchained Melody" | |||
| 1999 | Brandy Rhodes | Hot Springs | 22 | Miss Lake Dardanelle | Original Tap Dance, "American Rhapsody" | Top 10 | ||
| 1998 | Erin Wheatley | Little Rock | Miss White River | Vocal / Tap Dance, "I Got Rhythm" | ||||
| 1997 | Stacy Freeman | Sheridan | 22 | Miss White River | Tap Dance, "Sing, Sing, Sing" | PreviouslyMiss Arkansas Teen USA 1992 | ||
| 1996 | Melonie McGarrah | Rogers | 22 | Vocal, "I Will Always Love You" | ||||
| 1995 | Paula Montgomery | Cabot | 22 | Miss Greater Little Rock | Vocal, "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" | 2nd runner-up | PreviouslyMiss Arkansas Teen USA 1991 Mother ofMiss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen 2017, Aubrey Reed[24] | |
| 1994 | Beth Anne Rankin | Magnolia | 23 | Miss Diamond Lakes | Piano | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1993 | Nicole Bethmann | Rogers | 24 | Miss Diamond Lakes | Vocal, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" | Top 10 | ||
| 1992 | Shannon Boy | Alma | 21 | Miss Diamond Lakes | Flute, Theme fromStar Wars | |||
| 1991 | Heather Hunnicutt | Fayetteville | 22 | Miss Northwest Arkansas | Vocal, "Born To Be Blue" | Daughter of Claudette Smith, Miss Arkansas 1960[citation needed] | ||
| 1990 | Karissa Rushing | Benton | 24 | Miss White River | Vocal, "With a Song In My Heart" | |||
| 1989 | Marci Lewallen | Dardanelle | 22 | Miss Arkansas Valley | Vocal / Banjo, "Boogie Woogie Banjo Blues" | |||
| 1988 | Patti Thorn | Hot Springs | 23 | Miss Diamond Lakes | Vocal, "Love Is Where You Find It" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1987 | Carole Lawson | Paragould | 21 | Miss University of Arkansas | Flute / Piccolo, Medley fromCarmen | PreviouslyNational Sweetheart 1986 | ||
| 1986 | Julie Russell | Fort Smith | 22 | Miss Lake Dardanelle | Classical Piano with Narration | Top 10 | ||
| 1985 | Christi Taunton | Camden | 20 | Miss Camden | Popular Vocal, "Remembering" | Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship | ||
| 1984 | Lisa Stevens | Arkadelphia | 22 | Miss Ouachita Baptist University | Flute, "Sabre Dance" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1983 | Regina Hopper | Springdale | 24 | Miss Northwest Arkansas | Popular Vocal, "You're Gonna Hear From Me" | Non-finalist Talent Award | Elected to theMiss America Board of Directors[citation needed] | |
| 1982 | Mary Stuart | Little Rock | 20 | Miss White River | Vocal / Broadway Jazz Dance, "The Birth of the Blues" | Top 10 | Later cast as Frannie Hughes onAs the World Turns from 1990 to 1993[citation needed] | |
| 1981 | Micki Petrus | Hazen | Miss University of Central Arkansas | Did not compete; originally second runner-up, later assumed the title after Ward won Miss America 1982 | ||||
| Grace Elizabeth Ward | Russellville | 20 | Miss White River | Vocal, "After You've Gone" | Winner[25] | Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award | PreviouslyNational Sweetheart 1980[25] Infamously had short-lived affair with PresidentBill Clinton in 1998[26][27] | |
| 1980 | Lencola Sullivan | Morrilton | 22 | Miss White River | Blues Vocal, "St. Louis Blues" | 4th runner-up | Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award | First African-American contestant to place as a runner-up at aMiss America pageant[citation needed] |
| 1979 | Janet Holman | North Little Rock | 22 | Miss University of Arkansas | Vocal, "Somewhere" | |||
| 1978 | Naylene Vuurens | Searcy | 20 | Miss Diamond Lakes | Piano, "Etude in G Minor" | |||
| 1977 | Bunnie Holbert | Stuttgart | 20 | Miss White River | Vocal, "Feelings" | Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award | ||
| 1976 | Joyce McCormack | Little Rock | 21 | Ballet en Pointe, "Polonaise" | Non-finalist Talent Award | |||
| 1975 | Paula Roach | Jonesboro | 20 | Miss Jonesboro | Piano, Theme fromSummer of '42 | Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award | ||
| 1974 | Rhonda Pope | Hot Springs | 21 | Miss Hot Springs | Vocal Medley, "Friends" & "With a Little Help from My Friends" | Miss Congeniality (tie) | ||
| 1973 | Becky Hume | Jonesboro | 23 | Miss Osceola | Free Floor Exercise & Balance Beam Routine | |||
| 1972 | Debbye Hazelwood | Magnolia | 20 | Miss Southern State College | Piano,Warsaw Concerto | |||
| 1971 | Marilyn Morgan | Clarksville | 20 | Miss Clarksville | Popular Vocal, "Something" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||
| 1970 | Donna Connelly | Hope | 19 | Miss State College of Arkansas | Vocal Medley, "Who Will Buy" fromOliver! & "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" | Top 10 | ||
| 1969 | Marilyn Allen | North Little Rock | 20 | Miss North Little Rock | Acrobatic Ballet, Theme fromExodus | |||
| 1968 | Helen Gennings | Batesville | 20 | Miss Ouachita Baptist University | Popular Vocal, "What the World Needs Now Is Love" & "Love Makes the World Go Round" | |||
| 1967 | Sharon Evans | North Little Rock | 20 | Miss Ouachita Baptist University | Vocal / Dance, "Mame" fromMame | Miss Congeniality (tie) Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award | ||
| 1966 | Mary Craig | Batesville | 18 | Miss Batesville | Vocal / Dancing | |||
| 1965 | Nita Vanhook | Newport | 20 | Miss Newport | Did not compete; originally second runner-up, later assumed the title after Oglesby resigned | |||
| Rhonda Oglesby | Pine Bluff | 19 | Miss University of Arkansas | Popular Vocal | Resigned after holding the title for three months[28][29] | |||
| 1964 | Karen Carlson | Fayetteville | 20 | Miss University of Arkansas | Vocal, "As Long As He Needs Me" fromOliver! | 1st runner-up | Ex-wife ofDavid Soul[citation needed] | |
| 1963 | Pam Jackson | North Little Rock | Miss North Little Rock | Did not compete; originally first runner-up, later assumed the title after Axum won Miss America 1964 | ||||
| Donna Axum | El Dorado | 21 | Miss El Dorado | Vocal Medley, "Quando me'n vo'" & "I Love Paris" | Winner[30] | Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award | ||
| 1962 | Edye Addington | Texarkana | 19 | Miss Arkansas State Teachers' College | Vocal Medley, "When I Fall In Love" & "This Can't Be Love" | |||
| 1961 | Frances Anderson | Pine Bluff | 19 | Miss Pine Bluff | Vocal, "I Enjoy Being a Girl" | 1st runner-up | Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award | |
| 1960 | Claudette Smith | Star City | 18 | Miss Pine Bluff | Vocal | Mother of Heather Hunnicut, Miss Arkansas 1991[citation needed] | ||
| 1959 | Suzanne Jackson | North Little Rock | 19 | Miss University of Arkansas | Vocal Medley fromThe King and I | |||
| 1958 | Sally Miller | Pine Bluff | Miss Pine Bluff | Classical Vocal, "Caro Nome" fromRigoletto | Top 10 | |||
| 1957 | Suzanne Scudder | Hot Springs | Miss University of Arkansas | Vocal | ||||
| 1956 | Barbara Banks | Little Rock | Interpretive Ballet,Slaughter on Tenth Avenue | Preliminary Talent Award | ||||
| 1955 | Charlene Bowers | Helena | Vocal, "I Want To Be Evil" | |||||
| 1954 | Sarah Martin | Little Rock | Classical Vocal | |||||
| 1953 | Helen Reed | Fayetteville | Tap Dance | |||||
| 1952 | Bonnie Nicksic | Hot Springs | Vocal / Dance, "Life Upon the Wicked Stage" fromShow Boat | |||||
| 1951 | Charlotte Simmen | Little Rock | Vocal & Art Exhibition | 3rd runner-up | Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award | |||
| 1950 | Mary Jennings | Hot Springs | Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Di" fromMadame Butterfly | 3rd runner-up | Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award | Was a featured soprano with theNew York City Opera Judged theMiss America 1989 and1991 pageants[citation needed] | ||
| 1949 | Barbara Brothers | Little Rock | Painting Display & Poetry Recitation, "Old Black Joe" & "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy" | Top 15 | ||||
| 1948 | Van Louis McDaniel | Forrest City | Monologue, "Spartan Parents" | |||||
| 1947 | Pam Camp | Little Rock | Sketching | |||||
| 1946 | Rebecca McCall | Blytheville | Vocal, "Put the Blame on Mame" | 1st runner-up | Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award | |||
| 1945 | Leslie Hampton | Lake Village | Vocal, "My Man" | |||||
| 1944 | Mineola Graham | Brinkley | ||||||
| 1943 | Dorris Love | Jonesboro | Dramatic Reading, "Letter to a Soldier" | Top 10 | ||||
| 1942 | No Arkansas representative at Miss America pageant[31] | |||||||
| 1941 | Ferol Amelia Dumas | Magnolia | ||||||
| 1940 | Betty Benson | Forrest City | ||||||
| 1939 | Jean Thompson | Helena | ||||||
| 1938 | Lorene Bailey | Jonesboro | Piano, "Dinah" | |||||
| 1937 | No Arkansas representative at Miss America pageant[32][33][34] | |||||||
| 1936 | ||||||||
| 1935 | ||||||||
| 1934 | No national pageant was held[35] | |||||||
| 1933 | Vivian Ferguson | 20 | N/A | Disqualified for being married | ||||
| 1932 | Nina Ruth Hudson | Harrison | 14 | No national pageant was held[35] | ||||
| 1931 | No national pageants were held[35] | |||||||
| 1930 | ||||||||
| 1929 | ||||||||
| 1928 | ||||||||
| 1927 | No Arkansas representative at Miss America pageant[36][37][38][39][40][41][42] | |||||||
| 1926 | ||||||||
| 1925 | ||||||||
| 1924 | ||||||||
| 1923 | ||||||||
| 1922 | ||||||||
| 1921 | ||||||||