The Miss Indiana competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Indiana in the Miss America Pageant.
Ellise Edwards of Corydon was crowned Miss Indiana 2026 on June 20, 2026, at STAR Bank Performing Arts Center in Zionsville. She competed for the title of Miss America 2027 on September 6, 2026, at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Gallery of past titleholders
Results summary The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Indiana 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 Miss Americas: Katie Stam (2009) 1st runners-up: Carol Mitchell (1952), Ann Garnier (1953), Barbara Mougin (1978), Nicole Rash (2008) 2nd runners-up: Eileen Smith (1966), Shelli Yoder (1993), Cydney Bridges (2024) 3rd runners-up: Pam Carlberg (1982) 4th runners-up: Tommye Glaze (1961), Kit Field (1969), Rebecca Graham (1973), Tiffany Storm (1995) Top 5: Anna Howe (1927) Top 7: Elizabeth Hallal (2023) Top 10: Mary Haglund (1968), Penny Tichenor (1975), Cyndi Legler (1976), Laurie Broderick (1986), Shani Nielsen (1997), Julianne Hackney (1999), Bryn Chapman (2004) Top 12: MerrieBeth Cox (2013) Top 15: Helen Emly (1938), Tangra Riggle (2003), Nicole Pollard (2010), Lydia Tremaine (2019) Top 20: Allison Hatcher (2002)
Preliminary awards Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Anita Hursh (1959), Rebecca Graham (1973), Shelli Yoder (1993) (tie), Tiffany Storm (1995), Katie Stam (2009) Preliminary Talent: Gloria Rupprecht (1958), Tommye Glaze (1961), Eileen Smith (1966), Mary Haglund (1968), Laurie Broderick (1986), Shani Nielsen (1997), Tangra Riggle (2003), Lydia Tremaine (2019), Elizabeth Hallal (2023)
Non-finalist awards Non-finalist Talent: Kathleen Burke (1962), Pat Patterson (1972), Sheila Stephen (1988), Sarah Wiley (2005), Gabrielle Reed (2011), Audra Casterline (2015)
Other awards Miss Congeniality: Debbie May (1971), Cydney Bridges (2024) Albert A. Marks Jr. Interview Award: Kelly Lloyd (2000) Bernie Wayne Talent Award: Tiffany Storm (1995), Shani Nielsen (1997) Evening Dress Award: Thelma Blossom (1922) Intercity Roller Chair Parade Award: Thelma Blossom (1922) Neat as a Pin Award: Pat Patterson (1972) (tie) Professional Beauty Award Third Prize: Sydney Nelson (1922) Quality of Life Award Finalists: Betsy Uschkrat (2007), Katie Stam (2009)
Winners
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes2026Ellise EdwardsCorydon22Miss Harvest HomecomingLyrical Dance2025Kinley ShoemakerFranklin20Miss MetropolitanVocalPreviously Miss Indiana Teen USA 20232024Kalyn MelhamMuncie23Miss Southern HeartlandVocal, "Don't Forget Me"2023 Cydney Bridges Fort Wayne 22 Miss Fort Wayne Vocal, "I'll Be There"2nd Runner-UpMiss Congeniality 2022Elizabeth HallalGeorgetown21Miss Southern HeartlandMusical Theater Vocal "Defying Gravity"Top 7Preliminary Talent Award 2021 Braxton Hiser Indianapolis 24 Miss West Central Indiana Vocal2019–20Tiarra TaylorNew Albany21Miss Indiana State University2018Lydia TremaineKendallville20Miss Fort WayneVocal, "That's Life" Top 15Preliminary Talent Award Later 2nd runner-up at Miss Indiana USA 2021 2017 Haley Jordan Begay Pittsboro 19 Miss Metropolitan Vocal, "Hallelujah" Later crowned Miss Indiana USA 2023 2016 Brianna DeCamp Kendallville 22 Miss Limberlost Tap Dance Previously Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen 2011 2015 Morgan Jackson Charlestown 21 Miss Harvest Homecoming Lyrical Ballet, "It Is Well with My Soul" by Bill Gaither Daughter of Miss New Mexico 1984, Trina CollinsPreviously Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen 2007Top 10 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 pageantContestant at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant 2014 Audra Casterline Fishers 23 Miss Hoosier Heartland Vocal, "Over the Rainbow" Non-finalist Talent Award Contestant at National Sweetheart 2012 pageant 2013 Terrin Thomas Auburn 21 Miss Indiana University Vocal, "I'm Afraid This Must Be Love" Arrested and charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting law enforcement in December 2014Charges were dropped as of May 2015 2012 MerrieBeth Cox Roselle, IL 22 Miss Duneland Baton Twirling, "Sparkling Diamonds" Top 12 Eligible as a student at Purdue UniversityPreviously Miss Illinois' Outstanding Teen 2007Purdue University's 27th Golden Girl 2011 Jackie Jerlecki Goshen 22 Miss Duneland Vocal, "Take Me to the World" from Evening Primrose 2010 Gabrielle Reed Bloomington 22 Miss Southern Heartland Vocal, "You'll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel Non-finalist Talent Award 2009 Nicole Pollard Lafayette 23 Miss Duneland Broadway Vocal, "And This Is My Beloved" Top 15 Previously Indiana's Junior Miss 2004 2008 Megan Meadors Auburn 22 Miss Pride of Indiana Vocal colspan=3 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2005 pageantCheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts Katie Stam Seymour 22 Miss Duneland Vocal, "Via Dolorosa" Winner Preliminary Swimsuit AwardQuality of Life Award Finalist Received a "Golden Sash" and automatic Top 15 placement at Miss America 2009 pageant on Miss America: Countdown to the Crown 2007 Nicole Rash Plymouth 23 Miss Ball State University Vocal, "Bandito" 1st runner-up Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2006 pageantLater Ms. Missouri 2012 and Ms. America 2012Later Mrs. America 2018 (under married name, Nicole Cook)Top 6 at Mrs. World 2018 pageant 2006 Betsy Uschkrat Bloomington 24 Miss Indiana University Classical Vocal, "Quando me'n vo'" Quality of Life Award Finalist 2005 Susan Guilkey Noblesville 22 Miss North Central Vocal, "I, Don Quixote" from Man of La Mancha Later married Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith 2004 Sarah Wiley Carmel 24 Miss Wabash Valley Vocal, "What Kind of Fool Am I?" Non-finalist Talent Award Top 10 (2002) and contestant (2003) at National Sweetheart pageants 2003 Bryn Chapman Indianapolis 21 Miss South Central Vocal, "Home" from Phantom Top 10 3rd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2002 pageant as Miss Kentucky 2002 Tangra Riggle West Lafayette 21Miss North Central Vocal, "God Bless America" Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award 2001 Allison Hatcher Evansville 24 Classical Piano, "Prelude in G Minor" Top 20 2000 Betsy Bobel Peru 23 Miss Duneland Gymnastics, "In the Mood" Sister of Miss Indiana USA 2006, Bridget Bobel 1999 Kelly Lloyd Indianapolis 22 Miss North Central Jazz Dance, "Jump, Jive an' Wail" Albert A. Marks Jr. Interview Award Triple Crown Winner Previously Miss Indiana Teen USA 1993 1st runner-up at Miss Teen USA 1993 pageant Later Miss Indiana USA 20022nd runner-up at Miss USA 2002 pageant