The Miss West Virginia competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of West Virginia in the Miss America Pageant.
In the fall of 2018, the Miss America Organization terminated the Miss West Virginia organization's license as well as licenses from Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
The Miss America Organization reinstated the license to Shelley Nichols-Franklin of Martinsburg who was the former executive director of Miss Berkeley County (WV) between 2000 and 2019.
With Alaska became the latest state crowned the Miss America title, West Virginia is one of the few states along with Maine, South Dakota and Wyoming that has yet to win a Miss America, Miss USA, or Miss Teen USA title.
Elizabeth Romanek of Wheeling was crowned Miss West Virginia on June 20, 2026, at the Airborne Event Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2027.
Results summary The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss West Virginia 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 2nd runners-up: Ella Dee Kessel (1965) 3rd runners-up: Elizabeth Lynch (2023) Top 10: Deborah Davis (1980), Danae DeMasi (2002) Top 15: Lillian Ward (1927), Juanita Park Wright (1940), Joan Elizabeth Estep (1947), Phyllis Walker (1952), Chelsea Malone (2016) Top 16: Norma Lee Salisbury (1946) Top 18: Mildred Fetty (1933)
Awards Preliminary awards Preliminary Evening Gown: Danae DeMasi (2002) Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Ella Dee Kessel (1965), Cynthia Sims (1994)
Non-finalist awards Non-finalist Interview: Leah Lasker (1992) Non-finalist Talent: Karen Childers (1964), Lois Gay Ratcliff (1966), Judith Shoup (1970), Mary Derry (1975), Patricia Paugh (1978), Kari Safford (1997), Paige Madden (2015)
Other awards Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award: Morgan Breeden (2016) Fruit of the Loom Award: Melissa Costello (1991)
Winners
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes2026Elizabeth RomanekWheeling24Miss MorgantownJazz Dance2025Courtney BearerMorgantown23Miss MorgantownHula Hoop Dance2024 Jennifer ReutherWheeling26Miss Tri-State AreaJazz Dance2023 Karrington ChildressCharles Town21Miss Shenandoah Original Monologue2022 Elizabeth LynchMartinsburg 25Miss Jefferson CountyOriginal Monologue3rd Runner-Up 2021Jaelyn WratchfordMartinsburg20Miss Jefferson CountyOriginal Monologue2019–20 Toriane Graal Morgantown 25 Miss Tygart Valley Baton Twirling, music from Man of La Mancha Former featured twirler for West Virginia University's Pride of the Mountaineer Marching Band 2018 Madeline Collins Charleston 23 Miss Elkins Area Jazz Dance, "Shake Your Groove Thing" 2017 Tamia Hardy Martinsburg 22 Miss Berkeley County Hip Hop Dance, "BURNITUP!" by Janet Jackson First African American woman crowned Miss West Virginia 2nd Runner Up at Miss West Virginia USA Pageant 2016 Morgan Breeden Charles Town 21 Miss Jefferson County Piano Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award Previously Miss West Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2012Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageantAunt of Miss West Virginia's Teen 2024, Demi Breeden 2015 Chelsea Malone Morgantown 23 Miss Wheeling Vocal, "Over You" Top 15 2014 Paige Madden Moundsville 21 Miss Southern West Virginia Vocal, "Gravity" Non-finalist Talent Award 2013 Miranda Harrison Charleston 19 Vocal, "Feeling Good" 2012 Kaitlin Gates Bridgeport 20 Miss Harrison County Vocal, "Since I Fell for You" Previously Miss West Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2006 2011 Spenser Wempe Shepherdstown 18 Miss North Eastern Dance, "Hallelujah" Contestant at National Sweetheart 2010 pageant 2010 Cali Young Glen Dale 24 Miss Northern West Virginia Jazz Dance, "I've Got 'Cha" 2009 Talia Markham Ripley 22 Miss Capital City Vocal, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" 2008 Kayla Lynam Short Gap 21 Miss Eastern Panhandle Piano Previously West Virginia's Junior Miss 2005 2007 Summer Wyatt Athens 21 Miss Capital City Vocal, "Why Haven't I Heard from You" 2nd runner-up at Miss West Virginia USA 2013 pageant 2006 Tiffany Lawrence Shepherdstown 24 Miss Jefferson County Vocal, "Black Velvet" 2005 Kimberly Goodwin Morgantown 21 Miss Morgantown Tap Dance 2004 Julia Burton Petersburg 22 Miss Southern West Virginia Vocal, "The Promise" 2003 Allison Williams Charles Town 22 Miss Mountain State Vocal, "Where the Boys Are" 2002 Janna Kerns Terra Alta 23 Miss Morgantown Vocal, "There You'll Be" 2001 Danae DeMasi Morgantown 20 Miss Appalachia Ballet en Pointe, "Ravendhi" Top 10 Preliminary Evening Gown Award 2000 Jodi Clark Moundsville 22 Miss Point Pleasant Ballet en Pointe, "Who Will Love Me As I Am?" from Side Show Contestant at National Sweetheart 1999 pageant 1999 Lucy Ours Petersburg 22 Miss Mason County Vocal, "He Grew the Tree" 1998 Amy Townsend Morgantown 23 Miss Marion County Area Vocal, "Hopelessly Devoted to You" from Grease 1997 Eisa Krushansky Westover 24 Miss North Central Tap Dance, "Dancin' Fool" from Copacabana 1996 Kari Safford Point Pleasant 23 Miss Ohio Valley Vocal, "God Help the Outcasts" Non-finalist Talent Award 1995 Elizabeth McIntyre Dunbar 24 Miss Appalachia Clogging, "Dance" 1994 Jennifer Bopp Elkins 22 Miss South Central Vocal, "It's Only a Paper Moon" 1993 Cynthia Sims Vienna 22 Miss Ohio Valley Vocal, "There! I've Said It Again" Preliminary Swimsuit Award 1992 Kimberly Parrish Parkersburg 22 Miss Marion County Area Contemporary Ballet en Pointe, "Part of Your World" 1991 Leah Lasker Bluefield 23 Miss Mercer County Tap Dance, "I'm a Brass Band" from Sweet Charity Non-finalist Interview Award 1990 Melissa Costello Shenandoah Junction 20 Miss Jefferson County Vocal, "Hurt" Fruit of the Loom Award 1989 Lisa Bittinger Fairmont 21 Miss North Central Vocal, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from The Phantom of the Opera 1988 Lisa Seagroves Morgantown 24 Tap Dance, "They're Playing Our Song" Contestant at National Sweetheart 1985 pageant as Miss Georgia 1987 Saundra Patton Morgantown 22 Variety Act 1986 Shannon Barill Charleston 23 Miss Charleston Area Jazz en Pointe 1985 Rebecca Porterfield Martinsburg 21 Miss Berkeley County Jazz Dance, "Dance Attack" 1984 Melanne Pennington Cross Lanes 24 Miss Kanawha County Semi-classical Vocal, "One Kiss" from The New Moon Died of leukemia in 1988 1983 Andrea Lynn Patrick Morgantown 23 Miss West Virginia University Tap Dance, "Malagueña" & "España cañí" Previously Miss Pennsylvania USA 1980 1982 Kelly Lea Anderson Clarksburg 21 Miss Harrison County Stylized Can-Can Later Miss West Virginia USA 19841st runner-up at Miss USA 1984 pageantTop 7 finalist at Miss World 1984 pageant 1981 Candy Cohen Huntington 24 Miss Marshall University Tap Dance, "How High the Moon" 1980 Pamela Ellen Paugh Charleston 21 Miss South Charleston Vocal, "Anytime" Sister of Miss West Virginia 1977, Patricia Paugh 1979 Deborah Davis Huntington 22 Miss Southern West Virginia Vocal Medley, "He Touched Me" from Drat! The Cat! & "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret Top 10 Previously Miss West Virginia USA 1978Later Mrs. America 19841st runner-up at Mrs. World pageant 1978 Ivy Meadows St. Albans 22 Miss South Charleston Interpretive Dance, "Brian's Song" 1977 Patricia Paugh Parkersburg 20 Miss Parkersburg Area Original Dramatic Monologue, "Deadline" Non-finalist Talent Award Sister of Miss West Virginia 1980, Pamela PaughMother of JonBenét Ramsey 1976 Teresa Lucas Elkins 22 Miss Fayette County Gymnastics Routine 1975 Kristi Wick South Charleston 20 Miss South Charleston Vocal, "Am I Blue?" 1974 Mary Derry Morgantown 21 Miss West Virginia University Semi-classical Vocal, "Cycles" Non-finalist Talent Award 1973 Myra Elizabeth "Beth" McVey Huntington 20 Miss Huntington Classical Vocal, "Quando me'n vo'" 1972 Lynette Koper Weirton 21 Presentation of Original Art Works 1971 Deborah Lambert Morgantown 19 Miss West Virginia University Piano, "What the World Needs Now Is Love" 1970 Linda Dianne Barnett Parkersburg 19 Miss Wood County Modern Jazz Dance, "The Electric Indian" 1969 Judith Shoup Gibsonia, Pennsylvania 22 Miss West Virginia University Vocal Medley & French Horn, "Days of Wine and Roses," "A Taste of Honey," & "I've Gotta Be Me" Non-finalist Talent Award 1968 Charlotte Warwick Charleston 22 Miss Morris-Harvey College Semi-classical Vocal, "The Impossible Dream" 1967 Helen Morgan Lewisburg 19 Miss Beckley Toe & Acrobatic Dance, "Teakwood Nocturne" by Roger Williams 1966 Judith Skunda Weirton 18 Miss Weirton Dramatic Monologue 1965 Lois Gay Ratcliff Bluefield 19 Miss Greater Bluefield Dramatic Reading, "Lonesome Train" Non-finalist Talent Award 1964 Ella Dee Kessel Ripley 21 Miss Morgantown Piano, "Three Preludes" by Gershwin 2nd runner-up Preliminary Swimsuit Award 1963 Karen Childers South Charleston Miss Marshall University Dramatic Reading from "The Yellow Wallpaper" Non-finalist Talent Award 1962 Diane Hunter Arlington, Virginia 20 Miss Morgantown Dance & Dramatic Sketch 1961 Carole Johnson Rivesville Vocal & Dance, "Hey, Look Me Over" from Wildcat & "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun" from Annie Get Your Gun Later Miss West Virginia World 1962 1960 Mary Hoback Bluefield 18 Miss Bluefield Original Dramatic Reading 1959 Janet Hill Nitro 21 Miss Nitro Dramatic Reading 1958 Sandra Boyd Fairmont Vocal, "Money Honey" 1957 Janice Sickle Vocal & Dance 1956 Carolyn Jane Miller Martinsburg 19 Drama Carolyn Jane (Miller) Miller died at 84 on April 17, 2021. 1955 Mary Fryman Madison Vocal 1954 Miriam Reep Clarksburg Dance 1953 Patricia Stewart Pineville Vocal & Impersonations 1952 Nancy Rohrbough Grafton Dance 1951 Phyllis Walker Charleston Drama Top 15 1950No West Virginia representative at Miss America pageant 1949 Georganne Steiss Barrackville Piano 1948 Jane Queen Huntington Vocal & Piano 1947 Joan Elizabeth Estep Wheeling Piano, Rhapsody in Blue Top 15 1946 Norma Lee Salisbury Parkersburg Top 16 1945No West Virginia representative at Miss America pageant 1944 Sharon Allyson Scott 1943No West Virginia representative at Miss America pageant 1942 1941 Juanita Park Wright Huntington 1940 Juanita Park Wright Huntington Miss Huntington Top 15 Multiple West Virginia representativesContestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant Mary Schlarmann Bowles Montgomery Miss West Virginia 1939No West Virginia representative at Miss America pageant 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934No national pageant was held 1933 Mildred Fetty 20 Miss West Virginia University Top 18 1932No national pageants were held 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 Lillian Ward Huntington Miss Huntington Top 15 Multiple West Virginia representativesContestants competed under local title at national pageant Mildred Dorothy Bright Wheeling Miss Wheeling 1926 Olive Davis Huntington Miss Huntington Multiple West Virginia representativesContestants competed under local title at national pageant Mary Cecilia Cresap Wheeling Miss Wheeling 1925 Eleanor McCracken Huntington Miss Huntington 1924No West Virginia representative at Miss America pageant 1923 Neva Jackson Philippi Miss West Virginia 1922 Mary Dague Wheeling Miss Wheeling 1921
References
External links Official website