The Miss Virginia USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Virginia in the Miss USA pageant.
Virginia has been only moderately successful in terms of number of semi-finalists. They have had two Miss USAs. They are one of only four states to have had two Miss USAs in succession (the others being Illinois, Texas, and District of Columbia). Virginia's greatest success came from the late 1960s to early 1980s. Virginia should have had the first Miss USA crown in 1954, as Ellen Whitehead finished 1st runner-up, and Miss USA 1954, Miriam Stevenson, became Miss Universe 1954. However, there was no rule until the 1960s that the 1st runner-up became Miss USA after the winner won Miss Universe. If that was true, 2nd runner-up, Miss New York USA, Karin Hultman would have become Miss USA 1954, as Whitehead was disqualified due to being underage.
Eleven Miss Virginia USA winners have previously held the Miss Virginia Teen USA title and competed at Miss Teen USA and three were previously competed in other states (Georgia, New Jersey and New York), at thirteen. Virginia also currently holds the record for the most Miss Teen USA state winners to win a Miss USA state title from the same state. Two Miss winners have also competed at Miss America.
Justus Kelley of Arlington was crowned on July 18, 2026, at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner in McLean. She represented Virginia and was named the Diamond Anniversary Miss USA 2026 on August 27, 2026.
Gallery of titleholders
Results summary Miss USAs: Wendy Dascomb (1969), Deborah Shelton (1970), Justus Kelley (2026) 1st runners-up: Ellen Whitehead (1954), Patricia "Pat" Southall (1994) 2nd runner-up: Samantha "Sam" Casey (2010) 4th runner-up: Lynn Herring (1977) Top 10: Meredith Blankenship (1998), Kellie Lightbourn (1999), Lauren Barnette (2007), Desiree Williams (2016), Himanvi Panidepu (2024) Top 11/12: Brenda Joyce Miller (1971), Linda McKee (1975), Robin Shadle (1978), Betsy Bott (1979), Pam Hutchens (1981), Sondra Dee Jones (1982), Marsha Ralls (1987), Brandi Bottorff (1992) Top 15/16/20: Elizabeth "Betty" Karen Kallmyer (1967), Laurie Burke (1968), Maegan Phillips (2009), Arielle Rosmarino (2014), Laura Puleo (2015), Christina Thompson (2021), Ashley Williams (2023)
Virginia holds a record of 27 placements at Miss USA.
Awards Miss Congeniality: Kimberly Nicewonder (1989) Miss Photogenic: Elizabeth "Betty" Karen Kallmyer (1967), Deborah Shelton (1970), Brenda Joyce Miller (1971), Sondra Dee Jones (1982), Patricia "Pat" Southall (1994), Audra Wilks (1997) Best in Swimsuit: Patricia Southall (1994), Justus Kelley (2026)
Winners
Color key
Year Name HometownAge Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2026 Alexia Andrachik Roanoke 21 Miss Roanoke colspan="2" Originally second runner-up; assumed the title when Justus Kelley won Miss USA Previously Miss Teen Universe USA 2022 and 1st Runner-up at Miss Teen Universe 2022 Justus Kelley Arlington 31 Miss Arlington Miss USA 2026 Best in Swimsuit 2025 Erin Houston Tysons 27 Miss Tysons Corner 2024 Himanvi Preeti Panidepu Centreville 23 Miss Shenandoah Top 10 Social Impact Award Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2018 2023 Ashley Williams Reston 24 Miss Reston Top 20 Former professional cheerleader for the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders 2022 Kailee Horvath Ashburn 23 Miss Shenandoah Valley 2021 Christina Thompson Leesburg 25 Miss Southwest Virginia Top 16 Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2013 Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2013 Daughter of Hallie Bonnell, Miss Ohio USA 1987 Shortest reigning Miss Virginia USA at 2020 Susie Evans Poquoson 26 Miss Williamsburg Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2011 Longest reigning Miss Virginia USA at Later winner of season 26 of The Bachelor2019Courtney Lynne SmitsWoodbridge22 Miss WoodbridgePreviously Miss Georgia Teen USA 2012 Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2012 2018 Ashley Amanda VollrathBlacksburg 22 Miss Blacksburg 2017 Jacqueline Carroll Stanardsville 22 Miss Greene County Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2010 Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2010 2016 Desiree Janine Williams Newport News 26 Top 10Previously National Sweetheart 2012 Previously Miss Virginia 2013 Later contestant of Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers 2015 Laura Jordan Puleo Lexington 25 Top 15Sister of Ashley Puleo, Miss North Carolina USA 2004 1st runner up at Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen 2006 2014 Arielle Saige Rosmarino Salem 22 Top 20Later Miss Virginia World 2015 4th runner up at Miss World America 2015 2013 Shannon Kelli McAnally Arlington 23 2012 Catherine Muldoon Virginia Beach 26 Previously Miss New York Teen USA 2004 Top 10 finalist at Miss Teen USA 2004 2011 Nikki Poteet Richmond 24 2010 Samantha Evelyn "Sam" Casey Jeffersonton 21 2nd runner-up Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2006 3rd Runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2006 2009 Maegan Phillips Quantico 22 Top 15 2008 Victoria "Tori" Marie Hall Midlothian 21 Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2005 Top 10 at Miss Teen USA 2005 2007 Lauren Elizabeth Barnette Wise 21 Top 10 Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2002 2006 Amber Brooke Copley Abingdon 20 Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2003 2005 Jennifer Pitts Richmond 26 Previously Miss Virginia 2002 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2001 2004 Kristi Lauren Glakas Centreville 23 Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 1999 Top 10 at Miss Teen USA 1999 Later Miss Virginia 2005 3rd runner-up to Miss America 2006 2003 Meron Mimi Abraham Alexandria 24 2002 Julie Marie LaipplyAlexandria 24 Public speaker 2001 Kristel Jenkins Vinton 23 Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 1995 Current producer & choreographer of the Miss Virginia USA and Miss Virginia Teen USA pageants under her married name, Kristel Jenkins-Wittensoldner 2000 Crystal Marie Jones Virginia Beach 1999 Kellie Lightbourn Vienna 21 Semi-finalist Later Mrs. Florida America 2010 Top 12 at Mrs. America 2011 1998 Meredith Blankenship Hurley 21 Semi-finalist 1997 Audra Elizabeth Wilks Richmond 26 Miss Photogenic Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 1988 1996 Danielle Connors Forest 1995 Susan Elizabeth Robinson Lynchburg 1994 Patricia "Pat" Southall Chesapeake 21 1st runner-up Miss Photogenic & Best in Swimsuit Married to Emmitt Smith 1993 Stephanie Satterfield Virginia Beach Previously Miss Virginia Teen USA 1989 1992 Brandi Bottrof Fairfax 21 Semi-finalist 1991 Traci Dority Fairfax 1990 Evelyn Green Richmond 1989 Kimberly Nicewonder Bristol Miss Congeniality Current director of the Miss Virginia USA and Miss Virginia Teen USA pageants under her married name, Kim Nicewonder-Johnson 1988 Denise Adrian Smith Fairfax 1987 Marsha Ann Ralls Alexandria 24 Top 11 1986 Maureen McDonnell Alexandria Cheerleader for Notre Dame. 1985 Dana Margaret Bryant Richmond Miss Teen All American 1984 1984 Leah Vivian Rush Leesburg 1983 Tai Collins Virginia Beach Model and actress whose credits include Baywatch and Playboy magazine, Television Writer and Producer whose credits include SAF3 and Baywatch 1982 Sondra Dee Jones Richmond 24 Semi-finalist Miss Photogenic 1981 Pamela Elizabeth Hutchens Newport News 22 Semi-finalist General District Court Judge in Virginia Beach, Virginia 1980 Kelly Humphrey Hampton 1979 Betsy Ann Bott Falls Church 26 Semi-finalist 1978 Robin Lee Shadle Springfield 22 Semi-finalist 1977 Sheryl Lynn Herring Fairfax 19 4th runner-up Actress best known for her role as Lucy Coe on General Hospital 1976 Donna Dixon Alexandria 18 Actress best known for her role as Sonny Lumet on the 1980s sitcom Bosom Buddies 1st runner up at Miss World USA 1977 as Miss District of Columbia World 1975 Linda McKee Alexandria 19 Semi-finalist 1974 Hazel Thomas Alexandria 1973 Brenda Childress Richmond 1972 Diane Elizabeth "Dede" Moore Radford 1971 Brenda Joyce Miller Norfolk 20 Semi-finalist Miss Photogenic 1970 Deborah Shelton Norfolk 21 Miss USA 1970 Miss Photogenic1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1970 1st runner up at Miss World USA 1968 1969 Wendy Dascomb Danville 19 Miss USA 1969 Semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1969 1968 Laurie Burke McLean 18 Semi-finalist 1967 Elizabeth "Betty" Karen Kallmyer Richmond 18 Semi-finalist Miss Photogenic 1966 Beverly Johnson Alexandria 1965 Mary Montgomery Martinsville 1964 Heidi Karen Smith Fort Lee Was Miss Richmond in 1964. German-born Heidi Karin Smith Long died on November 19, 2019, at 76. 1963 Did Not Compete 1962 1961 Bonnie Lea Jones Norfolk 1960 Elizabeth "Betty" Noreen Fulford Norfolk 1959 Pat Poindexter Salem 1958 Betty Marsh Lynchburg 1957 Patricia Bush Portsmouth 1956 Audra Stark Virginia Beach 1955 Jeannie Asble Portsmouth 1954 Ellen Whitehead Chatham 1st runner-up (later disqualified for being underage) 1953 Dorothy Lee Bailey Norfolk 1952 Elizabeth Glenn Roanoke
References
External links Official Website