The Miss Texas USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Texas in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. This pageant is part of the Miss USA Organization, owned by Texas native Crystle Stewart, herself a Miss USA for 2008.
The pageant is currently held in Houston. It has previously been hosted by El Paso, San Antonio, South Padre Island, Lubbock and Laredo. It was televised from 1971 to 2009.
The current titleholder is Alexis Fuetsch of San Antonio, was appointed Miss Texas USA 2026 on June 30th, 2026 after the open casting call from Thomas Brodeur, the new owner of the national pageant. She will represent Texas at Miss USA 2026.
Background Unlike the rest of Miss and Teen state pageants in the Miss USA system have annually scheduled at the same time, this Miss and Teen pageants in Texas are held separately in different months, the Miss pageant goes first and is held on first Sunday of September every year. Those events have affected from the regular September schedule such as the 2018 pageant was held in January 2018 due to Hurricane Harvey devastated the pageant's host city, Houston; and the 2021 pageant was held in September 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, exactly a year originally planned for September 2020.
Ten Miss Texas USA titleholders have won the Miss USA title, including Chelsi Smith, has been crowned Miss Universe. In the 1980s Texas won the Miss USA title five consecutive years from 1985 to 1989, a streak known as the "Texas Aces". Prior to this no state had ever won the Miss USA pageant more than two times in succession. Past state directors have included Richard Guy and Rex Holt, "GuyRex" and Al and Gail Clark of "The Crystal Group".
Contestants enter by winning local pageants or may choose to compete "at large" with an assigned title. In 2001 a record number of former Miss Texas Teen USA winners, six, competed for the Miss Texas USA 2002 title.
Texas Aces Prior to the 1980s, no other state had won more than two Miss USA pageants in succession (the only two states to win twice in succession were Virginia in 1969-1970 and Illinois in 1973–1974). The five Texan Miss USA winners were all coached by "GuyRex", Richard Guy and Rex Holt, who held the Texas franchise from 1975. The term was first used in 1988 after Gibbs became their fourth consecutive titleholder, with Guy referring to the four queens as "four aces in a deck of cards", with their fifth titleholder, Kimberly "Kim" Tomes (1977) as the "wildcard". The following year Gretchen Polhemus became the fifth and final "ace". The term is still in use.
As well as directing the Texas pageant, GuyRex also acquired the Miss California USA franchise in 1986. In 1988, Diana Magaña of California placed first runner-up to Gibbs, the fourth ace. The two had both undergone extensive preparation by GuyRex, and even lived together prior to the pageant.
The five Aces were: 1985 - Laura Martinez-Herring (Miss USA, Top 10 at Miss Universe 1985) 1986 - Christy Fichtner (Miss USA, 1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1986) 1987 - Michelle Royer (Miss USA, 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1987) 1988 - Courtney Gibbs (Miss USA, Top 10 at Miss Universe 1988) 1989 - Gretchen Polhemus (Miss USA, 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1989)
Gallery
Results summary
Placements Miss USAs: Kimberly Tomes (1977), Laura Martinez Herring (1985), Christy Fichtner (1986), Michelle Royer (1987), Courtney Gibbs (1988), Gretchen Polhemus (1989), Chelsi Smith (1995), Kandace Krueger (2001), Crystle Stewart (2008), R'Bonney Gabriel (2022) 1st runners-up: Carelgean Douglas (1959), Diane Balloun (1964), Brenda Box (1971), Luann Caughey (1982), Lisa Allred (1983), Ylianna Guerra (2015) 2nd runners-up: Barbara Horan (1978), Nicole O'Brian (2003) 3rd runners-up: Betty Lee (1954), Ana Rodriguez (2011), Taylor Lauren Davis (2025) 4th runners-up: Jo Dodson (1956), Aundie Evers (1975), Alexandria Nugent (2013), Lluvia Alzate (2023) Top 5/6/8: Christine Friedel (1994), Amanda Little (1997), Holly Mills (1998), Victoria Hinojosa (2021) Top 10/11/12: Lavonne McConnell (1973), Candace Gray (1976), Anne Hinnant (1979), Barbara Buckley (1980), Diana Durnford (1981), Laura Shaw (1984), Stephanie Kuehne (1990), Katie Young (1992), Angie Sisk (1993), Kara Williams (1996), Kasi Kelly (2002), Lauren Lanning (2006), Magen Ellis (2007), Brooke Daniels (2009), Brittany Booker (2012), Aareianna Ware (2024) Top 15: Joan Bradshaw (1953), Mary Daughters (1955), Gloria Hunt (1957), Linda Daugherty (1958), Jackie Williams (1962), Phillis Johnson (1965), Dorothy Pickens (1966), Bonnie Robinson (1967), Sandy Drewes (1969), Diane Swendeman (1970), Stephanie Guerrero (2004), Tyler Willis (2005), Logan Lester (2018)
Texas holds a record of 58 placements at Miss USA, being placed first overall.
Awards Miss Congeniality: Diane Swendeman (1970), Chelsi Smith (1995) Miss Photogenic: Susan Peters (1972), Lisa Allred (1983), Laura Shaw (1984), Tyler Willis (2005) Best State Costume: Lavonne McConnell (1973), Kimberly Tomes (1977), Barbara Horan (1978), R'Bonney Gabriel (2022) Best in Swimsuit: Chelsi Smith (1995), Lluvia Alzate (2023)
Winners Color key
Year Name Hometown Local Title Age Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2026 Alexis Maxine Fuetsch San Antonio Miss San Antonio 20 2025 Taylor Lauren Davis Dallas Miss Dallas 26 3rd runner-up 2nd runner-up at Miss Maryland USA 2021 3rd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2023 Top 18 at Miss Texas USA 2024 2024 Taia Aarieanna Ware Dallas Miss Dallas 26 Top 10 2023 Lluvia Camila Alzate Houston Miss Houston 26 4th runner-up Best in Swimsuit3rd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2022 2022 Allison "Allie" Drake Dallas Miss Dallas 26 colspan=3 R'Bonney Nola Gabriel Houston Miss Friendswood 28 Miss USA 2022 Best State Costume Miss Universe 2022 First Asian American Miss Texas USA 1st runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2021 2021 Victoria Alejandra Hinojosa McAllen Miss South Texas 22 Top 8Granddaughter of U.S. Representative TX-15 Rubén Hinojosa Top 18 at Miss Texas Teen USA 2015 2nd runner-up at Miss Texas Teen USA 2016 3rd runner-up at Miss Texas Teen USA 2017 2020 Taylor Leigh Kessler Houston Miss Lone Star24Previously Miss Grand USA 2017 Longest reigning Miss Texas USA () and also the longest reigning Miss USA state titleholder under three calendar years in the organization's history Top 18 at Miss Texas Teen USA 2015 Participated in Miss Texas USA 2016 Top 16 at Miss Texas USA 2019 2019 Alayah Nicole Benavidez San Antonio Miss San Antonio 23 Previously Miss United States 2016 2nd runner-up at Miss Texas Teen USA 2014 Participated in Miss Texas USA 2015 and 2016 Later a contestant on season 24 of The Bachelor 2018 Logan Makenzie Lester Houston Miss Harris County 23 Top 15 Shortest reigning Miss Texas USA () Top 15 at Miss Texas Teen USA 2011 and 2013 4th runner-up at Miss Texas Teen USA 2012 3rd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2015 Top 17 at Miss Texas USA 2016 Top 16 at Miss Texas USA 2017 2017 Nancy Gonzalez Freeport Miss Kemah 27 Competed in Nuestra Belleza Latina 2010 Top 17 at Miss Texas USA 2016 2016 Daniella Rodriguez Laredo Miss Central Webb County 19Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2013 Participated in Miss Texas Teen USA 2011 Top 15 at Miss Texas Teen USA 2012 Married to Carlos Correa 2015 Ylianna Lucia Marie Guerra McAllen Miss Tropics of Texas 22 1st runner-upTop 16 at Miss Texas USA 2012 2nd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2014 2014 Lauren Nicole Guzman Laredo Miss Central Laredo 24 Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2008 3rd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2011 1st runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2012 4th runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2013 2013 Alexandria Nichole "Ali" Nugent Dallas Miss North Texas 20 4th runner-up Fan Vote WinnerNiece of rock musician Ted Nugent Participated in Miss Texas USA 2012 2012 Brittany Lynn Booker Friendswood Miss Houston 21 Top 10 2011 Ana Christina Rodriguez Laredo Miss Central Laredo 24 3rd runner-upTop 16 at Miss Texas USA 2007 2nd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2008 and 2009 1st runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2010 2010 Kelsey Elizabeth Moore El Paso Miss El Paso 19 2009 Brooke Nicole Daniels Tomball Miss Harris County 22 Top 10Top 16 at Miss Texas Teen USA 2004 3rd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2007 1st runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2008 2008 Crystle Danae Stewart Missouri City Miss Fort Bend County 26 Miss USA 2008 Top 10 at Miss Universe 2008 Former President of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Top 12 at Miss Texas USA 2003 3rd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2004 1st runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2006 and 2007 2007 Magen Leigh Ellis Tyler Miss Houston 19 Top 10Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2004 (Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2004) 3rd runner-up at Miss Texas Teen USA 2002 Top 16 at Miss Texas Teen USA 2003 Top 10 at Miss Texas USA 2006 2006 Lauren Lanning Friendswood Miss Houston 22 Top 10Top 16 at Miss Texas Teen USA 2002 Participated in Miss Texas USA 2003 3rd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2004 2nd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2005 2005 Tyler Colie Willis Lubbock Miss Central Plains 25 Top 15 Miss PhotogenicParticipated in Miss Texas USA 2001 Top 16 at Miss Texas USA 2002 1st runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2004 2004 Stephanie Guerrero Lake Jackson Miss Houston 23 Top 15Top 12 at Miss Texas USA 2000 3rd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2001 1st runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2002 Participated in Miss Texas USA 2003 2003 Claudia Nicole O'Brian Friendswood Miss Bay Area 20 2nd runner-upPreviously Miss Texas Teen USA 2000 1st Runner-up & Best in Swimsuit at Miss Teen USA 2000 3rd runner-up at Miss Texas Teen USA 1999 Participated in Miss Texas USA 2002 Contestant on The Amazing Race 5 2002 Kasi Laine Kelly Bridgeport Miss DFW 20 Top 12 Top 12 at Miss Texas USA 2000 2nd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 2001 2001 Kandace Gayle "Kandy" Krueger Austin Miss Austin 24 Miss USA 2001 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 2001 Participated in Miss Texas USA 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000 2000 Heather Ogilvie Houston Miss Southeast Texas 22Participated in Miss Texas USA 1998 1999 Carissa Nicole Blair Houston Miss Southeast Texas 25 Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 1992 Top 12 at Miss Texas USA 1997 3rd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 1998 1998 Holly Christine Mills San Antonio Miss San Antonio 22 Top 53rd runner-up at Miss Texas Teen USA 1991 Participated in Miss Texas USA 1996 and 1997 1997 Amanda Elizabeth Little Wylie Miss Metroplex 21 Top 6Top 12 at Miss Texas USA 1995 4th runner-up at Miss Texas USA 1996 1996 Kara Williams Houston Miss Harris County 23 Top 10 Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 1991 (Top 12 at Miss Teen USA 1991) Top 12 at Miss Texas USA 1994 2nd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 1995 colspan="8" 1995 Chelsi Mariam-Pearl Smith Deer Park Miss Galveston County 21 Miss USA 1995 Miss Congeniality and Best in SwimsuitMiss Universe 1995 First African American Miss Texas USA Top 12 at Miss Texas USA 1994 1994 Christine Louise Friedel El Paso Miss El Paso 22 Top 6 1993 Angie Sisk Houston Miss Fort Bend County 25 Top 123rd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 1991 Top 15 at Miss Texas USA 1992 1992 Katie Nicole Young Fort Worth Miss Fort Worth 19 Top 11Semi-finalist at Miss Texas Teen USA 1988 1991 Christy Lea "Chris" Bogard Tomball Miss North Harris County 223rd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 1990 1990 Sue Stephanie Kuehne Missouri City Miss Houston 22 Top 12Miss Wonderland 1989 1st runner-up at Miss Texas USA 1989 1989 Gretchen Lynn Polhemus Fort Worth Miss Fort Worth 23 Miss USA 19892nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1989 2nd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 1988 Mother of Miss Utah USA 2017, Baylee Jensen 1988 Courtney Ann Gibbs Fort Worth Miss Metroplex 21 Miss USA 1988 Top 10 at Miss Universe 1988 1987 Michelle Renee Royer Keller Miss Keller 21 Miss USA 1987 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1987 1986 Christiane Crane "Christy" Fichtner Dallas Miss Dallas County 23 Miss USA 1986 1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1986