Outstanding Teen Prelim Wins

Looking back on ten years (2005-2014) of Miss America's Outstanding Teens' preliminary winners and their final placement

Miss America's Outstanding Teen Winners who did not win a preliminary

2013-LEAH SYKES (FLORIDA)

2012-RACHEL WYATT (SOUTH CAROLINA)

2009-JEANETTE MORELAN (WISCONSIN)

2008-TAYLOR FITCH (SOUTH CAROLINA)

Double Preliminary Winners

2005-MEGHAN MILLER (TEXAS) (TALENT, EVENING WEAR)

2013-Ashten Vincent (Oklahoma)-1st Runner-up (Talent, Evening Wear)

2013-Jessica Procter (Alabama)-2nd Runner-up (Evening Wear, Fitness)

2013-Julia Smith (Michigan)-Non Finalist Talent Award (Talent, Fitness)
2008-Sloane Roberts (Arkansas)-2nd Runner-up (Talent, Evening Wear)

2010-Courtney Jamison (Virginia)-4th Runner-up (Talent, Evening Wear)

2009-Monica Stainer (California)-4th Runner-up (Talent, Evening Wear)

2006-Dorothy Shepherd (Arkansas)-4th Runner-up (Evening Wear, Sportswear)

2008-Sydney Capello (Texas)-Top 10 (Talent, Evening Wear)

2005-Hannah Joiner (Arkansas)-Top 10 (Evening Wear, Fitness)

2013-Julia Smith (Michigan)-Non-Finalist Talent Award (Talent, Fitness)

2012-Jessica Richards (Utah)-non finalist (Talent, Evening Wear)

2007-MerrieBeth Cox (Illinois)-non finalist (Talent, Evening Wear)-Miss Indiana 2012 & Top 12 at Miss America

2006-Kendall Morris (Texas)-non finalist (Talent, Evening Wear)-Miss Texas 2011 & Top 10 at Miss America

Talent Winners

2014-OLIVIA McMULLIN (GEORGIA)

2006-MARIA DE SANTIS (NEW YORK)

2014-Lexie Perry (Tennessee)-1st Runner-up

2010-Scarlett Walker (Alabama)-1st Runner-up

2005-Arianna Afsar(California)-1st Runner-up-Miss California 2010

2012-Laura Turner (Arkansas)-2nd Runner-up

2011-Mi'a Callens (Alabama)-2nd Runner-up

2006-Brittany Young (Virginia)-2nd runner-up

2012-Jamerson Kenerly (Georgia)-3rd Runner-up

2007-Mary Jane Hobgood (Louisiana)-3rd Runner-up

2013-Cassie Donegan (Virginia)-4th Runner-up

2012-Molly May (Mississippi)-4th Runner-up

2005-Jennifer Gulbrandsen (Utah)-4th Runner-up

2011-Ivy Shen (Rhode Island)-Top 10

2009-Lydia Daley (Indiana)-Top 10

2008-Alicia Clifton (Oklahoma)-Top 10-Miss Oklahoma 2012 & 2nd Runner-up at Miss America

2006-Maggie Hill (South Carolina)-Top 10

2014- Raghen Lucy (North Dakota)-Top 12 Semi-Finalist

2009- Emily Luther (Rhode Island)-Non-Finalist Talent

2011-Nicole Renard (Washington)-non finalist
2010-Alison Stroming (New York)-non finalist
2009-Emily Luther (Rhode Island)-non finalist

Evening Wear Winners

2011-ELIZABETH FECHTEL (FLORIDA)

2010-LACEY RUSS (OKLAHOMA)

2007-CAITLIN BRUNELL (VIRGINIA)

2012-Jaine LeFebvre (Connecticut)-1st Runner-up

2009-Brenna Weick (New Jersey)-1st Runner-up

2006-Nina Davalauri-(Michigan)-1st Runner-up-Miss New York 2013 & Miss America 2014

2014-Morgan Green (Alabama)-2nd Runner-up

2009-Myrrhanda Jones (Florida)-2nd Runner-up-Miss Florida 2013 & 3rd Runner-up at Miss America

2007-Elena LaQuatra (Pennsylvania)-2nd Runner-up
2005-Sierra Minot (Florida)-3rd Runner-up-Miss Florida 2008 & 4th Runner-up at Miss America

2011-Alexis Houle (Minnesota)-4th Runner-up

2013-Heather Shen (Rhode Island)-Top 10 Semi-Finalist

2005-Adrienne Nurss (Arizona)-Top 10 Semi-Finalist

2010-Laura Jones (Kentucky)-Top 10
2010-Cecili Weber (Ohio)-Top 10
2012-Andolyn Medina (Virginia)-Top 12 Semi-Finalist

2014-Joei Whisenant (Oklahoma)-Non-Finalist Gown

2014-Tayler Plunkett (Washington)-Non-Finalist Gown
2008-Ariana Walker (North Dakota)-Non-Finalist Interview-Miss North Dakota 2011

2011-Summer Robbins (Illinois)-non finalist

2011-Brooke Ludemann (Nebraska)-non finalist
2006-Lauren Edmonds (Georgia)-non finalist

Fitness/Sportwear Winners

2007-Lindsey Brinton (Utah)-1st Runner-up

2013-Sydnee Stottlemyre (Missouri)-4th Runner-up

2008-Joanna Guy (Maryland)-3rd Runner-up-Miss Maryland 2012 & Top 10 at Miss America

2006-Leah Bolton (Tennessee)-3rd Runner-up

2008-Crystal Lee (California)-Top 10-Miss California 2013 & 1st Runner-up at Miss America

2007-Bishara Dorre (Wisconsin)-Top 10

2013-Kristen Boxman (Kansas)-non-finalist

2008-McKenna Lewis (Utah)-non finalist
2007-Devin Grissom (Tennessee)

Did I miss anyone?  Updates, corrections, and additional information may always be posted on Facebook on the Crowned page or by sending me an email at crownedmissa@gmail.com.

Ballet Dancers

Women en pointe.  Another Miss America tradition in talent.

States with most Ballet winners (1954-2014-the television years)
Rhode Island-8
California-7
Delaware-7
Florida-7
Texas-7
Wisconsin-7

States with fewest Ballet winners (1954-2014)
Hawaii-0
Minnesota-0
Ohio-1
Vermont-1

All 50 states combined have sent an average of 4 ballet dancers to Miss America in the last 60 years.

Top 10 Finalists (1954-2014)
1954-Barbara Nager-Pennsylvania-3rd Runner-up-Egyptian Suite
1958-Billie Turner (Connecticut)-Top 10 & Talent Prelim-Les Sylphides
1958-Janet Secor (Utah)-Top 10-Sleeping Beauty Waltz
1962-Evelyn Ellis (South Carolina)-3rd Runner-up-Thank Heaven For Little Girls & Gigi
1968-Marjean Langley (Oregon)-3rd Runner-up-The Dying Swan
1969-PAMELA ELDRED (MICHIGAN)-MISS AMERICA 1970-Theme from Romeo & Juliet
1972-Constance Dorn (North Carolina)-1st Runner-up-The Grand Holiday
1974-Jean Ahern (Illinois)-2nd Runner-up & Talent Prelim-Kitri's Variation from Don Quixote
1974-Libby Lovejoy (Louisiana)-4th Runner-up-The Grenadiers
1975-Cyndi Legler (Indiana)-Top 10-Dawn from Coppelia
1980-Donna Pope (Mississippi)-2nd Runner-up (tie)-Overture from Oklahoma
1981-Karen Hopson (Mississippi)-Top 10-Overture from Annie
1985-Angela Tower (Alabama)-4th Runner-up-Chariots of Fire
1985-Laurie Keller (Kentucky)-Top 10-combined with Vocal-Don't Cry For Me Argentina
1987-Robin Riley (Missouri)-Top 10-Overture from Funny Girl
1987-Heidi Lammi (Virginia)-Top 10-Grand Tarantelle
1988-Valerie Brosset (Louisiana)-Top 10-Singin' in the Rain
1988-Tina Curran (North Dakota)-Top 10-Capriccio Espangol
1989-Sandra Frick (Florida)-Top 10-Yankee Doodle Dandy
1992-Lisa Deroches (Massachusetts)-Top 10-Can-Can
1994-HEATHER WHITESTONE (ALABAMA)-MISS AMERICA 1995-Talent Prelim-Via Dolorosa
1998- Kelli Bradshaw (North Carolina)-1st Runner-up-PS 491
1999-Keri Schrader (Maryland)-3rd Runner-up-Stars & Stripes Forever
2000-Melissa Jeka (Pennsylvania)-Top 10-The Diamond
2001-Danae DeMasi (West Virginia)-Top 10-Ravendhi

The following contestants competed during the Vegas years.  They are listed by the year in which they won their state title and not in the year in which the national competition occurred.

2005-Alexa Jones (Alabama)-2nd Runner-up-Fuego
2007- Hannah Kiefer (Virginia)-3rd runner-up-Chocolate Dance from The Nutcracker
2007- Jessica Jacobs (North Carolina)-4th Runner-up-Spring from The Four Seasons
2007- Molly Hazlett (Texas)-Top 8-Rich Man's Frug from Sweet Charity
2008-Jackie Giest (California)-Top 7-The Dying Swan
2008-Kate Grinold (District of Columbia)-Top 10-Tanguera
2009-Kristy Cavinder (California)-1st Runner-up & Talent Prelim-Slave Maiden variation from Le Corsaire
2010-Emoly West (Oklahoma)-4th Runner-up-Time
2011-Noelle Freeman (California)-4th Runner-up-The Black Swan variation from Swan Lake
2011-Kayla Martell (Delaware)-Top 10-The Way You Make Me Feel
2011-Hannah Smith (Illinois)-Top 10-Palladio
2011-Hope Anderson (Louisiana)-Top 10-Sway
2013-Crystal Lee (California)-1st Runner-up-The Dying Swan

Did I miss anyone?  Updates, corrections, and additional information may always be posted on Facebook on the Crowned page or by sending me an email at crownedmissa@gmail.com.

Ventriloquists - revisited

I originally posted this a year ago after Mackenzie Bart won Miss Ohio.  I revisit it this summer with updated information during the international ventriloquists convention week.

Row, row, row your boat, ROW, gently, ROW, down, ROW, the stream, YOUR BOAT...

As entertainment and performance, ventriloquism is a 250+ year-old art form. As a religious practice, it has been around for thousands of years.

Let's consider the women who have brought a "friend" or two onstage with them in talent at Miss America.

Ventriloquism at Miss America peaked during the 1970's with seven contestants performing it as their talent and four of those making Top 10 (including TWO in 1971, the only year that two ventriloquists have made Top 10).

Vonda Kay Van Dyke

Miss Arizona 1964

Miss Congeniality

MISS AMERICA 1965

Together from GYPSY

Paige Phillips

Miss Alabama 1980

1st Runner-up & Prelim Talent winner

Rock-a-Bye Your Baby,

Swanee, & Mame

Patricia Brant

Miss Louisiana 1987

1st Runner-up & Prelim Talent winner

Row, Row, Row Your Boat & 

Arizona Yodeler

Alyse Eady

Miss Arkansas 2010

1st Runner-up

I Want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart

Stacey Peterson

Miss Arizona 1975

4th Runner-up

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Cynthia Cook

Miss Georgia 1971

Top 10 & Prelim Talent winner

Impersonations of celebrities

Sandy Rings

Miss Kansas 1971

Top 10 & Prelim Talent winner

Toyland

Marie McLaughlin

Miss Pennsylvania 1976

Top 10

Together

Maria Wynne

Miss Pennsylvania 1990

Top 10

Together

Mackenzie Bart
Miss Ohio 2014
Top 10 & Prelim Talent Winner
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Gloria Gilbert

Miss Texas 1982

Non-Finalist Talent

I've Been Everywhere

Barbara Crandall

Miss Michigan 1984

Non-Finalist Talent

Auctioneer's Song

Cheryl Hirst

Miss Rhode Island 1961

Non-Finalist Talent-Best Variety Act

Ventriloquism & Organ

This Can't Be Love

Pam Long

Miss Alabama 1974

selection unknown

Darby Moore

Miss Alaska 1974

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Sharon Pelc

Miss Nebraska 1974

Those Were The Days

Angelina Johnson

Miss Tennessee 1981

Laverne and Shirley

Sandra Dornak

Miss Nevada 1992

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Heather Dupree
Miss Louisiana 1998
Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)

Did I miss anyone?  Updates, corrections, and additional information may always posted on Facebook on the Crowned page or by sending me an email at crownedmissa@gmail.com.

Batons and gymnastics

Baton twirlers and gymnasts/acrobats have won many preliminary talent awards at Miss America over the years. In this week's post, I have also included those women who have performed ice or roller skating, trampoline, parallel bar gymnasts, and karate as Top 10 finalists.

States with Most Gymnasts and Acrobats (1954-2014)
Montana-5
Vermont-5
Nebraska-4
Wyoming-4

States with Most Baton Twirlers (1954-2014)
Florida-5
Iowa-5
Wyoming-4
22 states have never sent a baton twirler to Miss America

Gymnasts/Acrobats in Top 10 (1954-2014)
unless otherwise notes, these contestants performed gymnastics/acrobatics in talent
1967-Mary Haglund (Indiana)-Ice Skating-Top 10 & Talent Prelim
1967-Charlotte Sims (Minnesota)-Top 10-Ebb Tide
1968-JUDITH FORD (Illinois)-MISS AMERICA 1969-Trampoline-Talent Prelim-Blue Danube
1969-Katherine Baumann (Ohio)-1st Runner-up & Talent Prelim-Those Were The Days
1970-Maggie Walker (Pennsylvania)-Uneven Parallel Bars-4th Runner-up-Contessa
1971-Sheila Bernhagen (Minnesota)-Top 10-Flim Flam Man
1971-Susan Buckner (Washington)-Top 10-The Joker
1972-Rebecca Graham (Indiana)-4th Runner-up
1978-KYLENE BARKER (Virginia)-MISS AMERICA 1979-Gonna Fly Now & Feelin So Good
1979-Pam Wenzel (Arizona)-Top 10 & Talent Prelim-Children Of Sanchez
1981-Sheri Ryman (Texas)-4th Runner-up & Talent Prelim-Close Encounters of the Third Kind
1982-Debra Daniels (Arizona)-Top 10-Chariots of Fire
1985-Alecia Rae Masalkoski (Michigan)-Top 10-Karate Kata
1997-Christy Neuman (Florida)-Top 10 & Talent Prelim-Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves
     Christy performed Rhythmic Gymnastics with ball, hoop, and ribbon

Baton Twirlers in Top 10 (1954-2014)
1955-Sandra Wirth (Florida)-Top 10 & Talent Prelim-Jazz medley
1962-Mary Lee Jepsen (Nebraska)-Top 10 & Talent Prelim-Ritual Fire Danse
1967-Dawn Cashwell (Florida)-4th RU & Talent Prelim-Blue Tango
1969-Adria Easton (Colorado)-Top 10-Funny Girl medley
1972-Renee Stuedemann (Iowa)-Top 10-Can-Can
1979-Kelli Krull (New York)-Top 10 & Talent Prelim-If My Friends Could See Me Now
1985-Laurie Broderick (Indiana)-Top 10 & Talent Prelim-up tempo medley
2001-Marshawn Evans (District of Columbia)-3rd RU & Talent Prelim-I Will Survive
2008-Diana Reed (Iowa-2007)-Top 10 & Talent Prelim-You Can't Stop The Beat
     Diana was Miss Iowa 2007 and competed at Miss America in January, 2008 in Las Vegas
2013a-DaNae Couch (Texas 2012)-Top 10-Last Dance
     DaNae was Miss Texas 2012 and competed at Miss America in January, 2013 in Las Vegas
2013b-Myrrhanda Jones (Florida)-3rd RU & Talent Prelim-Big Noise From Winnetka

Gymnasts/Acrobats Top 12/15 Semi-Finalists & Non-Finalist Talent awards
2012-Lauren Cheape (Miss Hawaii 2011)-Jump Rope-Talent Prelim-Hawaii Five-O
     Lauren was Miss Hawaii 2011 and competed at Miss America in January, 2012 in Las Vegas
1996-Lori Flick (Massachusetts)-Beauty & The Beast
1989-Tami Elliott (Virginia)-Phantom of the Opera
1989-Tammy Kattunen (Arizona)-roller skating-Amazing Grace
1984-Allison Boyd (Nebraska)
1974-Karen Smith (Kansas)-The Entertainer
1971-Susan Supernaw (Oklahoma)-Special Judges Award
1964-Sarah Noble (Michigan)-free exercise routine

Baton-Top 12/15 Semi-Finalists & Non-Finalist Talent awards
2013-MerrieBeth Cox (Indiana 2012)-Top 12 Semi-Finalist-Sparkling Diamonds
     MerrieBeth was Miss Indiana 2012 and competed at Miss America in January, 2013 in Las Vegas
2003-Angelea Busby (Kansas)-Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves
2001-Christina Froelinger (Nebraska)-Top 20 Quarter Finalist-Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves
1998-Amanda Meadows (Illinois)-1-2-3 Maria
1997-Kelli Masters (Oklahoma)-Gonna Fly Now
1991-Debra Fries (Maryland)-Hooked On America
1990-Lisa Munzert (Delaware)-They're Playing Our Song
1989-Jana Sanchez (Iowa)-Another Cha Cha
1988-Hetaher Smith (Missouri)-Whistler and His Dog
1987-Michelle Eaton (Connecticut)-They're Playing Our Song
1983-Holly Mayer (Massachusetts)-Gypsy medley
1982-Linda Simon (Iowa)
1980-Kimberly Christiansen (Colorado)-The Main Event
1978-Kim Pring (Wyoming)-There's No Business Like Show Business
1975-Elaine Campanelli (Delaware)-fire baton
1964-Cherie Martin (Louisiana)-combined with toreador dance
1962-Paula Welch (Arizona)-fire baton
1957-Jennie Blatchford (Pennsylvania)-Talent Prelim award only-St. Louis Blues & Stars/Stripes Forever

Questions, corrections, feedback, or suggestions?  Post on the CROWNED Facebook page or email me at crownedmissa@gmail.com.

Instrumentalists (non-Piano)

Did you know that the 1970s saw 17 women make Top 10 at Miss America playing a musical instrument other than the piano?  During the television years (1954-present) Top 10 talents have included women playing flute, clarinet, saxophone, harp, violin/fiddle, cello, banjo, and marimba.

Five of our Miss Americas in the television years have played a musical instrument (other than piano) in talent. (See below).

1979 was THE record year for instrumentalists:
1st Runner-up - Tana Carli, Ohio, accordion (Talent Prelim Winner)-Tea for Two & Dizzy Fingers
2nd Runner-up - Michelle Whitson, Kansas, harp-Never On Sunday
3rd Runner-up - Susan Wilson, Missouri, piano-Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu
4th Runner-up - Marti Phillips, Florida, clarinet-Rhapsody in Blue & Begin the Beguine
Top 10 Finalist - Lori Froeling, Iowa, Flute-Carnival of Venice
Even Miss America, Cheryl Prewitt, Mississippi, accompanied herself on the piano when she sang 'Don't Cry Out Loud.

Instrumentalists in Top 10 by Decade
1950s - 4
1960's - 2
1970's - 17
1980s - 7
1990s - 5
2000s - 6
2010s - 0 

In the television era (1954-2014), states have sent an average of four (4) women to Miss America who played a musical instrument other than piano for talent.

States with most instrumentalists in the television era (1954-2014)
Idaho - 15
Minnesota - 12
Colorado - 8
Iowa - 8
Wisconsin - 8

States with fewest instrumentalists in the television era (1954-2014)
Virginia - 0
North Carolina - 0
Arizona - 1
Georgia - 1
Indiana - 1
Nebraska - 1
West Virginia - 1

States with the most Top 10 Finalists playing instruments
Texas-5
Wisconsin-4
South Carolina-3

Top 10 Finalists by Instrument (1954-2014)
As you will see from their selections, it helps to play Csardas, no matter what instrument.

Violin/Fiddle-14
Five women have played Orange Blossom Special in Top 10
1970-Oklahoma-Judy Adams-Top 10 & Tal-Hot Canary by Florian ZaBach
1973-Texas-Judy Mallett-Top 10-Csardas & Orange Blossom Special
1978-Kansas-Lori Bergen-Top 10 & Tal-Csardas & Orange Blossom Special
1983-Missouri-Barbara Webster-Top 10 & Tal-Listen to the Mockingbird & Orange Blossom Special
1985-Texas-Jonna Fitzgerald-2nd Runner-up & Tal-Csardas & Orange Blossom Special
1986-Michigan-Kelly Lynn Garver-3rd Runner-up & Tal-New Country & Orange Blossom Special
1988-MINNESOTA-GRETCHEN CARLSON-MISS AMERICA 1989 & Tal-Zigeunerweisen
1993-Wisconsin-Tania Ziegler-Top 10-Bruch's Concerto No 1 in G minor
1999-Pennsylvania-Susan Spafford-2nd Runner-up-Polish Caprice
2002-Maryland-Camille Lewis-4th Runner-up & Tal-Victory
2003-Rhode Island-Laurie Gray-Top 10 & Tal-Concerto in E minor, Opus 64
2006-Utah-Katie Millar-Top 10-Souvenirs d'Amerique & Variations on Yankee Doodle
2007-Wisconsin-Christina Thompson-Top 8-Praeludium & Allegro by Fritz Kreisler
2013 - Minnesota-Rebecca Yeh-4th Runner-up & Tal-Scherzo Tarantella by Henryk Weiniawski

Flute-8
1959-Pennsylvania-Lois Piercy-Top 10 & Tal-original composition Rain On the City (w/art display)
1969-Minnesota-Judy Mendenhall-4th Runner-up & Tal-Swiss Shepherd's Song by Pietro Morlachi
1973-Wisconsin-Judy Hieke-1st Runner-up-Medley incl Cuanto Le Gusta
1974-TEXAS-SHIRLEY COTHRAN-MISS AMERICA 1975-Bumble Boogie & Swingin Shepherd Blues
1977-Oregon-Suzanne Bunker-Top 10-Fantasie for Flute
1979-Iowa-Lori Froeling-Top 10-Carnival of Venice
1989-Colorado-Debbie Riecks-2nd Runner-up-Shenandoah & Duelin' Banjos
2002-Texas-Lisa Dalzell-Top 10-Shenandoah & Duelin' Banjos

Marimba-5

1963-Alabama-Judy Short-Top 10 & Tal-Horst Toccata

1989-MISSOURI-DEBBYE TURNER-MISS AMERICA 1990 & Tal-Flight of the Bumble Bee, Csardas, Can-Can

1990-South Carolina-Mary Gainey-1st Runner-up-Scherzo for Marimba in C

1992-South Carolina-Carrie Lee Davis-Top 10-Csardas

1999-Alabama-Julie Smith-Top 10-Flight of the Bumble Bee & Csardas

Accordion-5
1954-Florida-Ann Gloria Daniel-1st Runner-up-Lady of Spain
1957-California-Lorna Anderson-3rd Runner-up-Dark Eyes
1971-Nevada-Joan Burachio-Top 10-Csardas
1979-Ohio-Tana Carli-1st Runner-up & Tal-Tea for Two & Dizzy Fingers
1981-Indiana-Pam Carlberg-3rd Runner-up-Sabre Danse & Ritual Fire Dance

Harp-4
1970-New York-Katherine Karlsrud-Top 10-Whirlwind by Carlos Salzedo
1974-California-Lucianne Buchanan-1st Runner-up-Concerto in B flat
1979-Kansas-Michelle Whitson-2nd RU-Never On Sunday
1984-UTAH-SHARLENE WELLS-MISS AMERICA 1985-Mis Noches Sin Ti (w/Vocal)

Organ-2
1957-COLORADO-MARILYN VAN DERBUR-MISS AMERICA 1958-Tea for two & Tenderly
1971-Idaho-Karen Herd-1st Runner-up-Ebb Tide & Espana Cani

Saxophone-2
1976-Texas-Carmen McCullom-2nd Runner-up & Tal-Wabash Cannonball, If He Walked Into My Life, Yakety Sax
1977-South Carolina-Catherine hinson-2nd Runner-up-What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life & Flight '76

Banjo-1972-Delaware-Catherine Lawton-Top 10-Banjo Memories
Cello-2003-Wisconsin-Tina Sauerhammer-2nd Runner-up & Tal-The Swan
Clarinet-1979-Florida-Marti Phillips-4th Runner-up-Rhapsody in Blue & Begin the Beguine


Questions, corrections, feedback, or suggestions?  Post on the CROWNED Facebook page or email me at crownedmissa@gmail.com.

Piano Players

Classical and popular pianists have been a consistent staple in the Top 10.  Over the last 60 years (1954-2014, the television era), states have sent an average of 8 piano players to Miss America.  Utah has sent 16, and New Hampshire has only sent 2.

Except for a slight dip in 2000's, each decade starting with the 60's has seen between 12-15 pianists make Top 10, which is an average of 1 or 2 each year:

1954-1959:        2
1960-1969:      12
1970-1979:      15
1980-1989:      15
1990-1999:      14
2000-2009:   9
2010-2014:     7 (the decade is on track to see 13-14 piano players in Top 10 by 2019)

We've had three pianists make Top 10 in five (5) separate years:
1969 (Sheryl Akaka-Hawaii, Georgina Hossfeld-Massachusetts, and Cheryl Carter-New Jersey)
1975 (Tawny Godin-New York, Ann Shmalzried-Florida, Cynthia Carpenter-Masschusetts)
1976 (Barbara Jennings-Maryland, Donna Grotberg-North Dakota,  and Lavinia Cox-South Carolina)
1989 (Virginia Cha-Maryland, Leah Kay Lyle-Texas, Jennifer Wall-Washington)
1990 (Marjorie Vincent-Illinois, Cynthia White-Oklahoma, and Shannon DePuy-Virginia).

Years with no pianists in Top 10: 54, 55, 56, 59, 60, 62, 71, 80, 87, 92, 93, 98, 07, 08, 09

Miss Americas who played piano in talent competition
Bess Myerson (Miss New York City 1945) Concerto in A minor (Grieg) & Summertime (on flute)
Neva Jane Langley (Miss Georgia 1952)  Toccata (Khachaturian), Talent Prelim Winner
Debra Dene Barnes (Miss Kansas 1967) Born Free
Phyllis George (Miss Texas 1970) Promises, Promises & Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
Tawny Godin (Miss New York 1975) Images in Pastels (original composition)
Marjorie Vincent (Miss Illinois 1990) Fantasie Impromptu (Chopin), Talent Prelim Winner
Teresa Scanlan (Miss Nebraska 2010) White Water Chopped Sticks (Calvin Jones), Talent Prelim Winner
*I have chosen to NOT include Cheryl Prewitt or Kellye Cash since I consider them to be primarily vocalists who accompanied themselves on the piano.

States with the MOST piano players (1954-2014-the tv era)
UTAH-16
including Top 10 Finalist Jaclyn Hunt (2001), Top 16 Semi-Finalist Kara Arnold (2012), and Non-Finalist talent award winners Sally Peterson (1972), Lynn Lambert (1983), Sophia Symko (1988-also a Preliminary Talent Winner), Elizabeth Anne Johnson (1991), Amanda Moody (1995-also a Preliminary Talent Winner), Mary McDonough (1997), and Jami Palmer (2000).
IDAHO-14
including Non-Finalist Talent award winners: Judith Steubbe (1964), Stephanie Kambitsch (1981), Sadie Quigley (2007), and Whitney Wood (2012).
VIRGINIA-14
including 1st Runner-up Cullen Johnson (1995), Top 10 Finalists-Shannon DePuy (1990), and Nancy Redd (2003); and Non-Finalist Talent award winners Terri Bartlett (1977), Lora Flattum (1992), and Michelle Kang (1996).
WASHINGTON-12
including Top 10 Finalists Jennifer Wall (1989) & SoYoung Kwon (1991) and Top 15 Semi-Finalist Amanda Beers (2002).
WISCONSIN-12
including Top 10 Finalist Keungsuk Kim (1981), Top 12 Semi-Finalist Paula Kuiper (2013), and Non-Finalist Talent award winners Tricia Luedtke (1990), Maria Kim (1987-also a Preliminary Talent Winner), Marilyn Sembell (1975), and Lynn Holden (1956).

States with the FEWEST piano players (1954-2014-the tv era)
4 each-CALIFORNIA(but all four made Top 10 at Miss America), COLORADO,  GEORGIA, & OHIO
3 each-CONNECTICUT & WEST VIRGINIA, 
2-NEW HAMPSHIRE

States with the MOST pianists in TOP 10
ALABAMA-7-Leigh Sherer 1995, Jenny Jackson 1988-4th RU, Angela Callahan-1986, Pam Battles-1983-2nd RU, Yolanda Fernandez-1982-3rd RU, Dellynne Catching-1968, Delores Hodgens-1961, 
TEXAS-6-Kendall Morris-2011, Jamie Story-2004, Michelle Martinez-1996, Leah Kay Lyle-1989, Sandi Miller-1978, Phyllis George-1970, 
CALIFORNIA-4-Rita Ng-2000-2nd RU, Susan Shipley-1973, Charlene Dallas-1966-1st RU, Sandra Jennings-1958
MASSACHUSETTS-4-Lauren Kuhn-2014-4th RU, Marcia Turner-1995, Cynthia Carpenter-1975, Georgina Hossfeld-1969

WHAT DID THEY PLAY?
(Chopin and Gershwin, mostly)

CHOPIN (12 selections)
Fantasie Impromptu-Missouri 1979-Top 10; Alabama-1982-3rd RU; Illinois 1990-Miss America & Tal Prelim; Tennessee 2001
Etude in C# minor, # 4, Opus 10-Minnesota 1984 & Talent Prelim; Illinois 1999
Polonaise in G# minor-New Mexico 1985; Georgia 2005
Revolutionary Etude-Virginia 1990
Scherzo # 2 in B flat minor-Oregon 1997
Ballade # 1 in G minor-Texas 1996
Etude # 1, Opus 25-Maryland 1989 & 1st RU

GERSHWIN (7 selections)
Medley of Gershwin songs-Pennsylvania 1972 & Tal Prelim; Pennsylvania 1977 & Tal Prelim; Alabama 1983 & 2nd RU
Rhapsody in Blue-Tennessee 1963 & Mississippi 2002
Second Concerto in F minor-Texas 1978
Gershwin Prelude-West Virginia 1964

RACHMANINOFF (5 selections)
Second Concerto-Utah 2001
Prelude in G minor, Opus 23-North Dakota 1997
Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini-Oklahoma 1990
Polichinelle-Maryland 1976
Prelude in E flat Major-Hawaii 1969

Other selections/composers
Malaguena-California-1973, Massachusetts 1975 & Talent Prelim; Virginia 2003
Warsaw Concerto-Iowa-1968, Alabama 1988
Debussy's Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum-Maryland 1967; Alabama 1968
Debussy's Fireworks-Oklahoma 1982
Debussy's Clare de Lune-California 1958
Debussy's Gardens in the Rain-Florida 1975
Grieg's Concerto in A minor-Massachusetts 1969 (w/Bumble Boogie); Nevada 1957
Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody-Alabama 1961, Iowa 1991 & Talent Prelim
Liszt's Totentantz-North Carolina 1995 (Lisa Bamford-Talent Prelim & Non-Finalist Talent Award)
Beethoven's Sonata No. 23 (Appassionata)-California 1990, Tal Prelim
Beethoven's Sonata No. 8 (Pathetique)-Virginia 1994
Tchaikovsky's Concerto in B minor-Ohio 1974 & Talent Prelim
Khachaturian's Toccata-California 1966 & Talent Prelim
Liszt's Mephisto Waltz-Washington 1991
Copland's The Cat and The Mouse-North Dakota 1976
Kabalevsky's Preludes-Wisconsin 1981
Prokofiev's Toccata-Oregon 1981
Ginastera's Sonata in C, 4th mvmt-Texas 1989
Gottschalk's Souvenirs d'Andalousie-Massachusetts 1995
Mendelssohn's Concerto No 1 in G minor-Texas 2004
Dvorak's New World Symphony-Texas 2012
Dance of the Bullfighter-New York 1984 & Talent Prelim
Toccata (Tauriello) and Nocturne (Grieg)-Nebraska 1978 & Talent Prelim

Chopsticks/Classical medley-Ohio 1985 & Talent Prelim
Whitewater Chopped Sticks-Nebraska 2011-Miss America & Talent Prelim
Valse Dramatico-Massachusetts 2014-4th RU
I Want You Back-South Carolina 2012-1st RU
Hallelujah Chorus-Louisiana 2010-3rd RU
El Cumbanchero-Mississippi 2006-3rd RU
Theme from The Apartment-Mississippi 2000-3rd RU
Theme from The Piano-Connecticut 1999
Carmen medley-Alabama 1995 (with classical vocal)
Opus 706-Washington 1989
Windmills of Your Mind-Alabama 1986
Medley of classical music-Arkansas 1986 (with vocal)
The Man I Love & Sunny-South Carolina 1976-1st RU
Stardust-New Jersey 1973-2nd RU
Promises, Promises & Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head-Texas 1970-Miss America
Theme from An Affair to Remember-New jersey 1969-2nd RU
Born Free-Kansas 1967-Miss America
Variations on There She Is, Miss America-South Carolina 1965-1st RU & Talent Prelim

Original compositions-Wyoming 2013-3rd RU; Louisiana 1996-1st RU; New York 1975-Miss America

Questions, corrections, feedback, or suggestions?  Post on the CROWNED Facebook page or email me at crownedmissa@gmail.com.

How many women participate at each state competition?

Have you ever wondered which state program is the largest?  And if those rankings have changed over the years?

In 1989 (in the dark ages before the internet), I was in Atlantic City as part of the Miss Texas delegation, and I actually went to the Miss America offices where they had a copy of each state's program in the lobby.  I sat in the lobby and went through EVERY program and counted the number of contestants. Yeah, I'm that nerdy and statistic-obsessed.

Then the internet became available to the general public, and research became MUCH easier!

State competitions as we know them today began in 1945 when Lenora Slaughter, Miss America's ED from 1935 through her retirement in 1967, approached the North Carolina Jaycees about starting a state program.  Texas followed two months later and soon each state had an official program that selected a representative for Miss America, many run by Jaycees chapters.  City winners going directly to Miss America started being phased out, and by 1959 every state was finally sending a winner to Atlantic City.

For many years NORTH CAROLINA conducted the largest state program in the country.  1964 & 1965 both saw 93 contestants at state and the number rose to 98 (!) in 1966 & 1968 before dropping to 70 in 1970 (MINNESOTA had the largest state program in 1970 with 72 contestants).

TEXAS averaged in the teens in the 1940s, ranged from the high teens to the low 40s in the 1950s (14 in 1952 and 42 in 1959), hit the 50s and 60s in the 1960s, stayed in the upper 50s and the 60s during the 1970s, and reached its peak in 1982 when it had 82 local winners competing over four nights of preliminary competition (and they all had to be Ziegfeld girls for the opening number - legend has it that Dawan McPeak, who would later became Miss New York 1986,  had live birds in birdcages hanging from her head dress). Texas stayed in the 60s for most of the 1980s.  In the mid and late 1990s the numbers dipped back into the upper 40s, and the numbers kept dropping in the 2000s bottoming out at 32 in 2007.  In the 2010s Texas has grown back into one of the largest state programs in the nation.  Randy Pruett's "A Dream As Big As Texas" (2010) provided a few contestants totals that I didn't already have.

FLORIDA (which had 38 contestants in 1963) hit the 50 contestant level in the early 80's and stayed in the 47-53 contestant range through 1996.  The contestant total then dropped into the upper 30s and low 40s, but Florida has brought its contestant total back into that 47-53 range in the last several years.

INDIANA averaged in the 20s throughout the 1960s and 70's, peaking at 29 contestants in 1969. In the 1990s the state dropped into the teens, bottoming out at 14 contestants in 1997.  Since then the state has grown consistently under new leadership and has had more than 30 contestants for five years straight.  2015 will be Indiana's largest program in history with 35 contestants.

Here is a comparison of the number of contestants in each state in 2015, 2010, 1999, and 1989. What's interesting is that 25+ years ago there were very few locals that awarded more than one title, and today there are few locals that DON'T award more than one title.

The rankings were determined by averaging the total contestants over the four representative years (or three, if I don't have the current total).

SEND ME UPDATES for states I don't have totals for yet, or if I have any numbers wrong.  Post on the CROWNED Facebook page or email me at crownedmissa@gmail.com.

Rank	STATE	2015	2010	1999	1989	Average
1	UTAH	53	54	58	60	56
2	TEXAS	57	33	54	69	53
3	ALABAMA	50	48	47	57	51
4	CALIFORNIA	53	56	49	42	50
5	SOUTH CAROLINA	55	50	42	43	48
6	ARKANSAS	46	44	46	48	46
7	FLORIDA	47	46	40	50	46
8	OKLAHOMA	47	43	42	48	45
9	GEORGIA	44	40	47	47	45
10	MISSISSIPPI	30	45	37	40	38
11	NORTH CAROLINA	37	28	35	47	37
12	TENNESSEE	36	37	30	40	36
13	LOUISIANA	35	29	26	40	33
14	PENNSYLVANIA	40	35	26	26	32
15	MISSOURI	26	24	32	40	31
16	MICHIGAN	34	30	26	31	30
17	KENTUCKY	32	30	31	27	30
18	OHIO	22	26	30	38	29
19	VIRGINIA	27	30	26	31	29
20	ILLINOIS	31	24	24	32	28
21	NEW JERSEY	28	27	21	26	26
22	INDIANA	35	29	17	19	25
23	WISCONSIN	26	25	23	25	25
24	COLORADO	30	28	11	22	23
25	NEW YORK	29	20	21	20	23
26	NORTH DAKOTA	22	20	24	22	22
27	MARYLAND	24	22	21	20	22
28	KANSAS	22	20	18	26	22
29	MASSACHUSETTS	23	22	18	23	22
30	MINNESOTA	27	20	15	24	22
31	NEW HAMPSHIRE	27	27	15	15	21
32	OREGON	21	24	21	17	21
33	WEST VIRGINIA	20	25	22	14	20
34	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	18	17	16	22	18
35	ARIZONA	24	21	16	12	18
36	HAWAII	28	22	10	12	18
37	WASHINGTON	21	19	14	18	18
38	IOWA	16	18	17	17	17
39	CONNECTICUT	13	18	11	22	16
40	NEBRASKA	13	14	18	18	16
41	IDAHO	12	22	12	15	15
42	NEW MEXICO	23	23	7	7	15
43	DELAWARE	10	16	17	15	15
44	RHODE ISLAND	12	11	13	19	14
45	SOUTH DAKOTA	13	13	14	15	14
46	ALASKA	13	12	15	12	13
47	NEVADA		14	16	9	13
48	MONTANA		15	6	14	12
49	WYOMING		9	16	8	11
50	VERMONT	9	12	10	11	11
51	MAINE	7	13	8	10	10
52	PUERTO RICO			n/a	n/a	0
53	VIRGIN ISLANDS	n/a		n/a	n/a	0
	TOTALS	1368	1350	1231	1385	1342